474 - Mobile Authoring; Mobile Questions, More Hotels

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 30, 2007.
#474 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
53,794 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2007 - Oct 21-24 - Orlando, Florida, USA.
Complete Program Guide Now Available - http://www.learning 2007.com -
--- Over 1,845 Colleagues Registered Already ---

1. Mobile Content Authoring Gets Easier.
2. Text a Question to the Stage.
3. More Hotels - Extended Discount for Learning 2007.

1. Mobile Content Authoring Gets Easier: We've been talking about Mobile Content for a while, but it hasn't been easy to fully implement. Now that we are getting more "Broadband to the Hand", such as my iPhone browser, and the rise of SMS - Text Messaging, mobile knowledge applications are becoming more of a reality.

For example, over this weekend, Judy Brown, our MASIE Learning Fellow, focused on Mobile, took the Learning 2007 complete schedule and converted to a "mobi" application, allowing hand-held (or full browser) access. You can see this working example at:

http://masie.mobi

She used a free, on-line authoring system called MobiSite Galore. You can try it out at http://www.mobisitegalore.com/

2. Text a Question to the Stage: Talking about Mobile, we are also experimenting with the use of SMS Text Messaging to provide extended community and networking for our upcoming event. We are playing with 3 different applications:

a. Text Question to the Stage: Participants can send a text message question in our general sessions from their mobile phones.
b. Pre-Event Learning Modules: We will send weekly pre-learning modules via text messages learning up to the event.
c. Un-Conference Mash-Up Sessions: People can organize instant sessions while in Orlando and we will announce them to your mobile phone.

If you would like to be part of this experiment, send the world LEARN to
25827 from your mobile phone as a text messaging.

3. More Hotels - Extended Discount for Learning 2007: We have added additional Disney hotels, with free shuttle service, for our Learning 2007 attendees. There are over 1,800 registered learning colleagues. With this strong early response, we have decided to extend the Advanced Discount until October 17th. Save over $100. Go to:

http://www.learning2007.com

Recent PodCasts and Demonstrations:
Social Networking Demo: http://www.learning2007.com/social
Dan Pink PodCast: http://www.learning2007.com/danpink
Learning Changes Video: http://www.learning2007.com/changes

Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
* Learning 2007: Oct 21 to 24 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM.
Information at http://www.masie.com
Email for Elliott to emasie@masie.com

473 - Stretch Assignments, Beyond SCORM, Unmentionables

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 28, 2007.
#473 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
53,794 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2007 - Oct 21-24 - Orlando, Florida, USA.
--- Over 1,845 Colleagues Registered Already ---

1. Stretch Assignments - Most Powerful Development Tool
2. Beyond SCORM - LETSI Organizes!
3. Unmentionables & What We Call Ourselves - Mash-Up

1. Stretch Assignments - Most Powerful Development Tool: In recent years, I have become a huge fan of Stretch Job Assignments as one of the most powerful learning and development tools. Yet, many learning organizations do not have the capacity to create or appropriately process large numbers of stretch assignments.

Here is a link to my column on Stretch Assignments in this month's Chief Learning Officer magazine:

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mediatec/clo0907/index.php

Would love to hear your perspectives on this topic. Send me a note to emasie@masie.com

2. Beyond SCORM - LETSI Organizes! As the stewardship of SCORM shifts from the Pentagon to a more global organization, we are proud to be Charter members of LETSI (Learning, Education, Training, Systems Interoperability).

Organizations from around the world are joining together to collaborate on the road to "plug and play learning content". We will be having a meeting of LETSI at Learning 2007 on Sunday, Oct 21st. If your organization would like to get involved, please send a note to info@letsi.org

3. Unmentionables & What We Call Ourselves - Two conversations that I am looking forward to having with learning colleagues in a few weeks are:

* Unmentionables in Learning: How do we cope with learners that we don't like or even have intense body odor? What happens when we have to teach content that conficts with our values or beliefs?
* What We Call Ourselves: OK, what do we call ourselves? Learning Professionals has a lot of letters. Trainer is very classroom-centric.
Hmmm.

These are just 2 of the the Un-Conference Mash-Ups that we will host at Learning 2007. No facilitator or PowerPoint: just a small group of colleagues passionately working an issue for an hour. We'll post the results of these mash-ups in a Learning 2007 Wiki that we will be launching next week. Register now and save $100: http://www.learning2007.com

Recent PodCasts and Demonstrations:
Dan Pink PodCast: http://www.learning2007.com/danpink
Learning Changes Video: http://www.learning2007.com/changes
Social Networking Demo: http://www.learning2007.com/social

Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
* Learning 2007: Oct 21 to 24 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM.
Information at http://www.masie.com
Email for Elliott to emasie@masie.com

User Created Content & Mini-Content

TO: Learning & Training Colleagues
FROM: Elliott Masie

User Created Content & Mini-Content

I am very excited about the role that User Created Content can play in a learning and development program. Increasingly, we will find ways to turn to our employees and colleagues to create content and teach "mini-sessions" on how to tackle projects.

We have been doing our own experiment with User Created Content. In addition to our over 300 regular sessions at Learning 2007, I reached out to the 1,800 registered attendees who are coming to our event and said - "Come share a small story or learning lesson with a dozen colleagues for 20 minutes, in a large ballroom and document it on a wiki." We were swamped with volunteers. Here is a sample of the User Generated Content:

* Learning Logs: Bringing Out the Creative Learner in Everyone - Deborah
Orlowski- University of Michigan.
* e-Delivery of Survival Skills: Perspectives From an Instructional Designer Flight Commander - Michael Young- USAF SERE School
* How "Lunch With The Gurus" Made me a Better Instructor! - Richard
Anderson- Bricker and Eckler.
* Harvesting Gold: Creating Effective Partnerships With Your Subject Matter Experts - Nicole Westrick- Johns Hopkins University.
* Critical Success Factors For Aligning Learning Processes to Business Results - Francisco Soeltl- MicroPower Brazil.
* Higher Education: Will It Meet the Challenge? - Thomas Kinsey- California University of Pennsylvania.
* Social Networking and e-Learning: Overlap or Integrated? - Matthew
Murray- PricewaterhouseCoopers.
* The Power of Learning by Self-Discovery - Beverley Wallstead- Biomet Orthopedics.
* How We Reduced "No-Show" Participants: A Collaboration with Senior Leaders - Dave Angel- Covenant Health.
* Challenges For Implementing Learning Globally: The Organization, Systems and Processes - Mick Thomas - Dow Chemical.
* You've Got to be Kidding: Trainer Tales From the Trenches! - Perry
Mumme- CSAA.
* Ad Hoc Training by Non-Trainers: Friend or Foe? - Mark Zedella- Nationwide Insurance.
* Help: How do you Support Your Learning Team in a Changing Market? - Kitty Munroe - David Weekley Homes
* Engaging Your Audience With Simple and Interactive Activities - Deb Hagen-Moe - Mayo Clinic.
* Enhancing Your Presentation: Characteristics for Success - Kathleen
Toms- VHA VEIN.
* What is a Learning Organization? -- Experiences in our Transformation - Randy Taylor- Veterans Health Administration.
* Help: Making Decisions About Learning Methods and Media - Debbie Strong- COUNTRY Insurance & Financial Services.
* Learning and Teaching: Goes Both Ways - Ceagus Reed- South Central VA Health Care Network.
* e-Learning and Soft Skills: A Good Mix? - Louis Biggie- Johns Hopkins University.
* Change: How Much is Too Much? - Joe Horoszko- Progressive Insurance.
* Working With a Co-Presenter: Pitfalls to Watch Out For - Dana Hopson- The Regence Group.
* Experiences With Distance Learning via Satellite Video Conferencing - John Parrish - Philips Healthcare.
* IT Implementations: It's All About The People! - Liz Meyers- SYSCO.
* Role-based vs.Topic-based Training: Differences and Effectiveness - Gretchen Morris- RSIS / NASA IT Security Awareness and Training Center.
* Appreciative Learning Evaluation: Truths and Consequences - Eva
Damsgaard- ATTRACTOR.
* Accessibility in the Metaverse? Efforts in 508 Compliance in Second Life
- Karen Ngowe- Northrop Grumman IT.
* The I Team: Tale of a Learning Inventory! - Sharon Sapienz- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
* Belief Formation and Behavior Change: How a Little Bit of Philosophy Can Help You Learn - Todd Willer- The Ken Blanchard Companies.
* Customized Learning Programs: Roadblocks and Options - Carole Wald- Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.
* Mentoring: What is the Best Approach? - Sharon Shelton- Booz Allen Hamilton.
* Think Business - Not Learning! - John Higgins- Accenture.
* Time is Money or How to Pack 3 Pounds of Training Into a 1 Pound Bag? - Bill Mills- Ameriprise Financial.
* Don't Forget the Learner! - Lynn Edmark- Microsoft.
* How Do You Engage Free Speakers For Your Programs at Non-Profits? - Patricia Kutt - American Public Works Association.
* Jumpstarting a Videoblogging Program: Idea Exchange - Michael Glazer- Burson-Marsteller.
* Performance Support: Threat to Formal Training? - Gary Wise- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

Recent PodCasts and Demonstrations:
Dan Pink PodCast: http://www.learning2007.com/danpink
Learning Changes Video: http://www.learning2007.com/changes
Social Networking Demo: http://www.learning2007.com/social

Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
* Learning 2007: Oct 21 to 24 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM.
Information at http://www.masie.com
Email for Elliott to emasie@masie.com

Note to Learning and Training Colleagues on Sputnik

TO: Learning and Training Colleagues

Fifty years ago, Sputnik was launched into space by the U.S.S.R.

I was seven at the time and still have clear memories of listening to the sounds from this satellite in space on a ham radio headset. The launching of Sputnik triggered much activity in the world of science and foreign policy. Some even link the launch of Sputnik to the start of the rise of global technology.

Take a few minutes and listen to the sounds that we heard 50 years ago as Sputnik circled the earth:

http://www.masieweb.com/sputnik

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Host, Learning 2007

Recent PodCasts and Demonstrations:
Dan Pink PodCast: http://www.learning2007.com/danpink
Learning Changes Video: http://www.learning2007.com/changes
Social Networking Demo: http://www.learning2007.com/social

Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
* Learning 2007: Oct 21 to 24 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM.
Information at http://www.masie.com
Email for Elliott to emasie@masie.com

469 - A Last Lecture of a Lifetime - Moving, Smiles and Inspiring

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 21, 2007.
#469 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
53,788 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2007 - Oct 21-24 - Orlando, Florida, USA.
--- Over 1,749 Colleagues Registered Already ---

A Last Lecture: Randy Pausch Video Game Professor - Carnegie Mellon.

Here is a touching, moving and bittersweet item for us in the learning
field: http://www.masieweb.com/lasttalk

There is a trend to ask thought leaders to present a "Last Lecture" at colleges, delivering the presentation they would do if it were the last one in their lives.

However, Randy Pausch's was quite different. Randy is one of the pioneers in Video Game Education and a professor at Carnegie Mellon. He was asked to present a "Last Lecture". Here is the report from the Wall Street Journal about this talk:

"Dr. Pausch's speech was more than just an academic exercise. The 46-year-old father of three has pancreatic cancer and expects to live for just a few months. His lecture, using images on a giant screen, turned out to be a rollicking and riveting journey through the lessons of his life.

He began by showing his CT scans, revealing 10 tumors on his liver. But after that, he talked about living. If anyone expected him to be morose, he said, "I'm sorry to disappoint you." He then dropped to the floor and did one-handed pushups."

"He paid tribute to his techie background. "I've experienced a deathbed conversion," he said, smiling. "I just bought a Macintosh." Flashing his rejection letters on the screen, he talked about setbacks in his career,
repeating: "Brick walls are there for a reason. They let us prove how badly we want things." He encouraged us to be patient with others. "Wait long enough, and people will surprise and impress you." After showing photos of his childhood bedroom, decorated with mathematical notations he'd drawn on the walls, he said: "If your kids want to paint their bedrooms, as a favor to me, let 'em do it."

"While displaying photos of his bosses and students over the years, he said that helping others fulfill their dreams is even more fun than achieving your own. He talked of requiring his students to create videogames without sex and violence. "You'd be surprised how many 19-year-old boys run out of ideas when you take those possibilities away, but they all rose to the challenge."

"He then spoke about his legacy. Considered one of the nation's foremost teachers of videogame and virtual-reality technology, he helped develop "Alice," a Carnegie Mellon software project that allows people to easily create 3-D animations. It had one million downloads in the past year, and usage is expected to soar."

A short video report on the speech is available at:
http://www.masieweb.com/lasttalk

The complete speech is available here:
http://www.etc.cmu.edu/global_news/?q=node/42

If you were to give your Last Talk, what would it be? I'd love to hear from you about this at emasie@maasie.

Thanks to John Abele, our colleague and MASIE Learning Fellow, for passing this on to us.

Recent PodCasts and Demonstrations:
Dan Pink PodCast: http://www.learning2007.com/danpink
Learning Changes Video: http://www.learning2007.com/changes
Social Networking Demo: http://www.learning2007.com/social

Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
* Learning 2007: Oct 21 to 24 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM.
Information at http://www.masie.com
Email for Elliott to emasie@masie.com

468 - Live Elliott Masie Presentation; Pandemic Readiness; New Intrepid CEO

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 18, 2007.
#468 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
53,761 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2007 - Oct 21-24 - Orlando, Florida, USA.
-- Over 1,704 Colleagues Registered Already --

1. Live Elliott Masie Presentation - Learning Changes!
2. Pandemic Readiness & Learning.
3. Intrepid CEO Change - Evolutions.

1. Live Elliott Masie Presentation - Learning Changes! If you have the chance, please join me for a free, one-hour webinar on "Learning Changes".
Hosted by Centra, this webinar will look at several dimensions of Learning Changes - Content, Learners, Issues, Roles and Systems. Here are the
details:

Wednesday, September 19, 2007
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Eastern Time (US & Canada) To Reserve a Space:
http://www.saba.com/offers/20070907_elliot_masie/reg_getinfo.htm

2. Pandemic Readiness & Learning. The issue of Pandemic Readiness will become a major one for the learning field. We WILL be asked to help prepare for a significant disruption such as a Pandemic. I am honored to announce that we will have Scott McPherson, CIO of the Florida House of Representatives and head of the Florida CIO Pandemic Preparedness Committee, leading a Pandemic & Learning Readiness Simulation Exercise at Learning 2007. This will be a real time exercise to look at how organizations can (and must) prepare for the role of learning and knowledge in an emergency disruption.

3. Intrepid CEO Change - Evolutions. As reported earlier, the current CEO of Intrepid, a major learning services provider, is leaving to become the Peace Corps Country Director in Senegal, Africa. Today, Intrepid announced that the new CEO and President will be Vikesh Mahendroo, currently a senior partner at Mercer HR Consulting. This continues the trend of "learning outsourcing" groups evolving to address larger Talent and Performance issues. Once again, good luck and thumbs up to Chris Hedrick as he heads to his mission in Africa.

Recent PodCasts and Demonstrations:
Dan Pink PodCast: http://www.learning2007.com/danpink
Learning Changes Video: http://www.learning2007.com/changes
Social Networking Demo: http://www.learning2007.com/social

Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
* Learning 2007: Oct 21 to 24 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM.
Information at http://www.masie.com
Email for Elliott to emasie@masie.com

467 - Virtually Open Tennis; Mobile Phones on Planes Reactions

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 17, 2007.
#467 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
53,754 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2007 - Oct 21-24 - Orlando, Florida, USA.
-- Over 1,704 Colleagues Registered Already --

1. Virtually Open Tennis: Wii at Learning 2007!
2. Results: Mobile Phones on Planes -- Reactions!

1. Virtually Open Tennis: Wii at Learning 2007! We will be holding a fun and educationally interesting competition at Learning 2007. "Virtually Open Tennis" will be a series of matches, played by learning professionals of all abilities - on a Nintendo Wii!

Matches arranged for brand new novices to experienced "gamers" will be held during the 3 1/2 days of Learning 2007 in Orlando, Florida (Oct 21 to 24). We will have fun as we play and observe the newness of competing with the easy-to-use Nintendo Wii interface and a championship tennis game. Prizes will be awarded (both virtual and real).

2. Results: Mobile Phones on Planes -- Reactions! Over 100 Learning TRENDS readers responded to our recent request for feedback on the possibility of using mobile/cell phones on airplanes. The complete summary of their comments can be found at:

http://www.learning2007.com/cellphones

Recent PodCasts and Demonstrations:
Dan Pink PodCast: http://www.learning2007.com/danpink
Social Networking Demo: http://www.learning2007.com/social

Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
* Learning 2007: Oct 21 to 24 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM.
Information at http://www.masie.com
Email for Elliott to emasie@masie.com

Facilitated Social Network - Demonstration

TO: Learning & Training Colleagues.
FROM: Elliott Masie, The Learning CONSORTIUM.

Here is a 3 1/2 minute on-line demonstration and briefing of:

Facilitated Social Networking!
Combining Systems & People.
http://www.learning2007.com/social

On this short video (done in Adobe Captivate), we explain and demonstrate how we are using Social Networking Systems, along with a live colleague "Connector" to link the 2,500 participants in our upcoming Learning 2007 event.

Using some aspects of the "Facebook and MySpace" culture, adapted to a professional setting, and adding the old fashioned personal introduction, we are experimenting with a very different model of pre-event networking and benchmarking.

Once again, take a few minutes and view this demo and meet Sarah Lynes, the MASIE Center NextGen "Connector".

http://www.learning2007.com/social

Yours in learning (and Happy Jewish New Year to all),

Elliott Masie, Host
Learning 2007
http://www.learning2007.com
October 21 to 24 - Orlando, Florida
Over 1,600 Colleagues Registered Already.

466 - Departing Employee? Intensive Knowledge Capture!

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 9, 2007.
#466 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
53,724 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2007 - Oct 21-24 - Orlando, Florida, USA.
-- Over 1,612 Colleagues Registered Already --

Departing Employees? Intensive Knowledge Capture.

What is your "knowledge capture" process when a key employee departs or retires? I have been experimenting with this issue in our organization - triggered by the impending departure of my IT and Media Coordinator. The good news is that he gave us one month's notice and is very engaged in the "transition" phase. Here are a few Knowledge Capture strategies that we are using:

* Video Taped "Brain Dumps": We have done 5 hours of video taped knowledge de-briefings. Each one-hour session has a specific focus, which combines formal and tacit knowledge. Two staff are involved in the de-briefing, which takes place in different work settings, using specific workplace items as triggers for more questions. We are digitizing and "chunking"
these tapes, including getting key elements transcribed.

* A Documentation Manual: During the past month, we have had our employee develop a manual with key documentation for various tasks. We built a mind-map to outline the content of this documentation.

* Departure as Trigger for Re-Engineering: Rather than attempt to fill the job as currently formatted, we have spent the month in a redesigning the function. This has included asking the core question - "How have things changed since this person started working 6 years ago?" It has led us to move toward "Thinner Technology", more systems hosted externally and turning to a partner vendor to redesign much of our network.

* Relationship Transfer: Every key employee has a network of external relationships that need to be transfered. This is much more than just getting a list of "contacts" to be called. It requires a hand-off and even some context of the change. Once again, the tacit knowledge in external relationships is key and often ignored.

Clearly, this process works best when there is good will between the departing employee and the employer. It takes time and energy, including engagement from our most senior managers. And, it is well worth it! As organizations face significant bursts of retirements in the coming years, structured Knowledge Capture is even more important.

On a personal note, we wish Chris Pascucci, our IT and media whiz, best wishes as he and his wife start their family and as he moves on to his next career opportunity. Thanks for your great work and thanks for being a wonderful partner in this Knowledge Capture!

Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
* Learning 2007: Oct 21 to 24 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM.
Information at http://www.masie.com
Email for Elliott to emasie@masie.com

465 - Cell Phones on Planes?; Academic Dialogues for Learning!

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 6, 2007.
#465 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
53,714 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2007 - Oct 21-24 - Orlando, Florida, USA.
— Over 1,507 Colleagues Registered Already —

1. Cell Phones on the Airplane?
2. Academic Dialogues for Learning Field!

1. Cell Phones on the Airplane? I’ve been involved in a very heated task force looking at the impact of Cell Phone use in the air. They reached out to me, since I was involved in a debate years ago about whether people should be able to use laptops. The technology is there. Is the desire?

The discussions are fierce and fascinating, including these key issues:

* Do people want to be trapped on an airplane, next to a person talking loudly for 4 hours?
* Does the ambient noise on the airplane, actually drown out a lot of cell phone “noise”?
* Should people be allowed to text message but not talk?
* Will there be a push for a “Quiet Zone” on the plane?
* Is this a generational dividing issue?

One funny note came to me from a colleague who said: “I am in favor of people using their cell phones on the plane, as long as they step out on the wing to use them.”

I am asking Learning TRENDS readers for input that we can pass along to the panels working on this issue. Please send me a note to emasie@masie.com and I’ll also publish a summary in a future edition of TRENDS.

2. Academic Dialogues for Learning Field! It is time to build a stronger bridge between the world of Academic Research and the Learning field. I am pleased to announce that the faculty from the new program on learning at Wharton School of Business & U of Penn Graduate School of Education will play a key role at Learning 2007. They will be structuring two major segments for our keynotes sessions:

Vice-Dean Doug Lynch: Economics of Learning & Evidence-Based Decisions (Beyond ROI) Professor Stanton E.F. Wortham: What is Your Theory of Learning?
(Behaviorist or Cognitivist)

They will take the 2,500 participants through an academic deep dive on these two topics, followed by discussion sessions. They will also bring a number of Ph.D. students from this program to lead dialogues on key issues in learning. This will be a very engaging and rich experience for the attendees. Register now at http://www.learning2007.com

Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
* Performance Support LAB: Sept 10 to 12 - Saratoga Springs.
* Learning 2007: Oct 21 to 24 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM.
Information at http://www.masie.com
Email for Elliott to emasie@masie.com

464 - Learning Afloat on the Queen Mary 2

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 2, 2007.
Special Edition: On Board Queen Mary 2 - Near Canada.
#464 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
53,705 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2007 - Oct 21-24 - Orlando, Florida, USA.
-- Over 1,416 Colleagues Registered Already --

Dear TRENDS Readers:

Today, Learning TRENDS comes to you from the deck of the Queen Mary 2, as Cathy and I are taking a 5-day sail from NY to Halifax, Canada and back again.

There are lots of "Learning Lessons" aboard this massive, ocean-crossing
ship:

* Computer Training Decades Later: Many years ago, Cunard sent two staff members to a workshop that I was teaching called "How To Teach People To Use Computers!" They were in the planning stages of setting up the first "at sea" computer training classroom. We worked together to create a workshop type room, where passengers could get some of their first experiences on a PC, learning WordPerfect, DOS, Harvard Graphics and VisiCalc. It is fun to see how Cunard has evolved this classroom and now provides a wide range of classes and even wireless connectivity throughout the ship.

* Structured On-The-Job Learning: I had a conversation with one of the key managers on board about their approach to training. They emphasized the role of Structured On-The-Job Learning. There is a culture of observation, feedback and "show, watch, improve and try again".

* Multi-Cultural and Global Workforce: The crew reflects almost four dozen countries of origin. They have an ongoing opportunity and challenge to integrate the range of language and cultural differences, as well as work through the communication and understanding links to passengers who reflect an equal diversity.

* Sustainability On The Agenda: We are seeing sustainability issues become more featured on corporate training agendas. How do organizations build awareness - on a personal level - among their staff to conserve resources and make sustainability part of the brand? It is quite a challenge with thousands of passengers onboard a moving eco-system. Note: Even though we asked if we could recycle/reuse our towels, clean and fresh ones appear every morning and night - so, some habits are harder to change :)

I hope that each of our TRENDS Readers has had a great summer. In a few days, you'll receive our Back to School edition, as we tend to think of the year starting fresh right after the United States Labor Day weekend.

Warm regards from the QE 2!

Yours in learning,

Elliott

Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
* Performance Support LAB: Sept 10 to 12 - Saratoga Springs.
* Learning 2007: Oct 21 to 24 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM.
Information at http://www.masie.com
Email for Elliott to emasie@masie.com