690 - Walmart Lifelong Learning Program

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 30, 2011.
#690 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,489 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2011 - Over 1,446 Colleagues Registered!

1. Walmart Lifelong Learning - Support for Associates to College.
2. Energy Drinks for Breaks???

1. Walmart Lifelong Learning - Support for Associates to College: Walmart, as one of the world’s largest employers, has recently made a significant commitment to Lifelong Learning for their associates.  Walmart’s Lifelong Learning Program will make it more convenient and more affordable for their associates to attend college while also working at the company. Through a partnership with American Public University (APU), associates will be eligible for college credit for their formal training and job experience at Walmart. The partnership will put associates on a faster track to earning a college degree, reduce their length of time in school and make the overall cost more affordable.

I reached out to Brian Poland, Senior Director Talent Development, Walmart Stores to design a session about their unique program for Learning 2011:

Walmart’s Lifelong Learning Program: The Intersection of Corporate Ed & Higher Ed

Brian Poland, Director of Walmart Lifelong Learning, Walmart Stores

“At Walmart, we know better than anybody that talent and hard work will take you a long way, but education is the single biggest competitive advantage we can give our people in the 21st century. While a degree is not a guarantee of advancement, it has been the path to a better and more fulfilling life for generations of Americans. Over the past year, we’ve been developing a new education partnership that will help our associates learn, not just for Walmart, but for life. We will discuss lessons learned since our “grand opening” of the Lifelong Learning program.  Our session at Learning 2011 will address:

* How lifelong learning enhances your talent pipeline; building a competency-aligned model to maximize business impact and enable college credit for job learning.
* Impact on internal instructional design and LMS design.
* Effectively communicating to 1.4 million associates and leaders.”

I was part of a national group of learning advisers working with Walmart as they designed this program and it was inspirational to see their commitment to talent development, not just for their organization, but for the life futures of their associates.

More information on this session and links to details about the Walmart efforts at http://www.learning2011.com/477-Walmart-Lifelong-Learning.htm

2. Energy Drinks for Breaks??? Perhaps this is a generational reaction, but the other day I was at a Conference Center presenting an Executive Program, and during the afternoon break, there were rows of “5 Hour Energy” drink. These small bottles, containing a load of vitamins and supplements, were pretty strange to me. Yet, several participants reached for one and drank it in a few gulps. Maybe there is no difference than my large cup of caffeine-filled java, but it did stop me in my tracks. Wonder if any TRENDS readers have seen these types of drinks included in seminar refreshment offerings.  Send me an email to emasie@masie.com

Yours in Learning,

Elliott Masie.
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2011 - Nov 6 to 9, 2011 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

689 - Happy 5,772nd New Year, Neoprene Bag, Amazon Tablet Announced

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 28, 2011.
#689 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,487 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2011 - Over 1,417 Colleagues Registered!

1. Happy 5,772nd New Year - Rosh Hashanah Wishes!
2. Neoprene Laptop/Tablet Bag Selected!
3. Amazon Tablet Implications.

1. Happy 5,772nd New Year - Rosh Hashanah Wishes! If I saw you tonight, I would say “L’Shanah Tovah”, wishing you and your family a healthy and excellent New Year, which starts in the Jewish calendar today.  As I start year 5,772, thoughts turn to the need for us, across religions, nationalities, cultures, races, economics, identities and generations, to look towards our shared challenges and missed opportunities.

The world is clearly a rapidly changing place.  As shared residents of this world, we must develop new models of collaboration, learning, governance and solution finding.  Our economic and media models may not be up to the challenges that we face - but as citizens, we have to look to our communities, ourselves, our faiths and into the eyes and hearts of fellow humans, to find a way to make 5,772, 2012 or whatever your next year’s calendar count is, a successful solution finding year.

As a young child, growing up in a Jewish family, I associated our New Year with storytelling, singing, learning and a sense of importance about the coming year.  So, to my TRENDS readers of all faiths, “L’Shanah Tovah”.

2. Neoprene Laptop/Tablet Bag Selected! Design sometimes involves things other than modules or objectives. We have just selected a very cool Neoprene Laptop/Tablet BAG for attendees at Learning 2011. The choice involved many elements, from a shift in technology to a decrease in the papers distributed to a desire to avoid extra luggage fees on the way home.  Check out the design process and see a picture of the bag at http://www.learning2011.com/475-bag-blog.htm

3. Amazon Tablet Implications: It is intriguing to follow the announcement this morning by Amazon of their new entry into the tablet marketplace - the Kindle Fire, with a 7-inch touch screen, weighing 14.6 ounces and priced at $199. As a major user of the iPad, I have been hoping for one or two other successful entrants into the tablet marketplace to provide options, competition and also multiple tracks of innovation that can only help move this segment ahead. Amazon, with their role in book distribution, could add some interesting App affordances that would take the eBook from a digital equivalent to more robust form factor. The MASIE Center LAB is slated to get the new tablets in November and we will take it through our User Experience tests.  Stay tuned.

Yours in Learning,

Elliott Masie.
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2011 - Nov 6 to 9, 2011 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

688 - No CLO at Intel? Early Morning Speech; Parachutes 40 Years Later

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 27, 2011.
#688 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,481 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2011 - Over 1,342 Colleagues Registered!

1. Early Morning Speech in Blue Jeans!
2. No CLO at Intel?
3. What Color Is Your Parachute - 40 Years & Still Great!

1. Early Morning Speech in Blue Jeans! At 8:00 AM my speech started. Yet, I had rolled out of bed only 30 minutes before, stopped for a quick bagel and was sitting at my desk in Blue Jeans!  This was a pretty typical day in my life, with usually one or two speeches or coaching sessions, conducted by video, to a group somewhere in the world. This morning’s was to a cool group of learning colleagues assembled by our colleague Karen Freedman from FM Global in Rhode Island. She asked if I would spend about 40 minutes with the local chapter of ASTD, talking about key elements related to Learning Innovation. I said yes and it popped up on my schedule this morning. Here is what was interesting and evolving about the speech:

* We used desktop video from the webcam on my office Mac through Adobe Connect to a large meeting room at FM Global. One click and a phone call for higher level audio, and we were connected.
* The presentation was highly conversational, as folks from the meeting asked questions ranging from the impact of technology distraction to the decline in Analysis as a step for some learning design.
* I was able to get to the meeting without a flight, just in time, wear jeans (the camera only got the top 1/2 of Elliott) and use artifacts on my desk as part of my storytelling.
* 2 minutes after the speech was over, I was starting a call with some teammates in DC and New York City.

As we get more comfortable with bringing in speakers via video, from high end telepresence to desktop or webinar video, it increases our agility to be part of meetings and classes with less disruption, travel and expense.  Couple of things that a speaker needs to keep in mind during these presentations:

* Get comfortable talking to your own picture on the screen.
* Move the frame with your video to the top and close to the webcam, so you are looking right at the camera.
* Make your presence a bit larger than life - you may be on a very large projection screen on the other side - and fill it up with personality and attitude.
* Allow the content to be driven, as much as possible, by the questions from the remote audience.  I had many things I wanted to say, but trusted that I could integrate my points into their questions. In fact, I kept a list of points and checked them off as folks asked questions.
* If you are RELAXED, they will be. Show your comfort with the media and don’t focus on your virtual presence - be present!

2. No CLO at Intel? I was intrigued about how a global organization like Intel delivers and innovates in the learning world, in a highly decentralized learning organization without a CLO.  So, we asked them to present a key session at Learning 2011 (Nov 6-9, Orlando):

Learning @ Intel: Decentralized, Global & No CLO!
Presented by: Allison Anderson, Learning Innovations Program Manager.
 
We are a combination of small and large learning organizations serving a population diverse in culture, age, job role and geography. The learning landscape at Intel is complex, to say the least. Explore the challenges and benefits of serving the brightest, most driven employees in the world, in a wholly decentralized learning function. We’ll look at leading-edge programs and key “wins” from across the company:
 
- A look inside Intel’s leadership development.
- Going beyond the community hype cycle.
- Creating effective learning experiences: the secret sauce!

For more information on this session and the several hundred other learning choices at Learning 2011, go to http://tinyurl.com/3sfpqfn  41 days to go and over 1,340 colleagues registered!

3. What Color Is Your Parachute - 40 Years & Still Great! I was in the bookstore the other day and saw one of my favorite books out in a new edition:

“What Color is Your Parachute”
A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers By Richard Bolles - 2012 Edition

40 years ago, Bolles wrote this incredibly practical book. In many ways, it changed the model for job search, concentrating on both networking and personal clarification of your strengths, interests and opportunities. I used it early in my life when I found myself “between” jobs and also leveraged this book when I taught several classes on careers.  Forty years later, Bolles has updated it, including the search and networking opportunities available via the internet, honing his own models. I read it this weekend and it is still one of the most practical books ever written. In a time where we all know someone facing a job change situation, this would be great reference to pass along. 

Yours in Learning,

Elliott Masie.
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2011 - Nov 6 to 9, 2011 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

687 - 40 Years of Learning at Southwest Airlines; Godspell Update

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 26, 2011.
#687 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,479 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2011 - Over 1,342 Colleagues Registered!

1. Learning @ Southwest Airlines: Inspiring a Learning Culture for 40 Years!
2. Godspell to Broadway Update.

1. Learning at Southwest Airlines - Inspiring a Learning Culture for 40 Years: For the past 40 years, much has been written about the culture at Southwest Airlines.  So, we are honored to have this as one of our sessions at Learning 2011:

Learning at Southwest Airlines - Inspiring a Learning Culture for 40 Years:

How can a great training organization get even better? Learn how Southwest Airlines training has transformed over the last 40 years and how we plan to transform the company over the next 40 years.  We will discuss our various training structures and which of those might work best for your organization!

- Top-down leadership support for learning.
- Learning everywhere.
- The future of learning at Southwest Airlines.

Session Facilitators: Dave Curry, Sr. Director Operational Training; Kristi Owens, Manager e-learning; Leeann Watkins, Project Leader Operational Training.

This is just one of over 230 sessions to be offered at Learning 2011. More details about this and other sessions at: http://tinyurl.com/4y2p82t

2. Godspell to Broadway Update: As you may remember from a previous TRENDS, we are investors in the revival of the musical Godspell that starts previews on Broadway on October 13th. It has been fascinating to see the connections between the production process for Godspell and the learning field.  A few of the parallels that I have observed:

* Talent is Everything! You have got to hire TALENT. While you can coach, support and stretch new employees, if you are on a tight timeline to “opening”, the key is hiring great Talent.
* Talent Respects Talent! Watching how the young actors in the Godspell cast are interacting with each other - over Twitter and from rehearsal reports - talent that respects other talent supercharges the team.
* Make it Fresh! Godspell first was performed 40 years ago. And, while the story and music are defined, Steve Schwartz, the original composer of Godspell (and Wicked), is adding some elements to keep it fresh!

All good lessons for corporations and organizations :) If you want tickets to see the previews or post-opening show, go to http://www.godspell.com   Send me a note if you are coming to New York for the show.

Yours in Learning,

Elliott Masie.
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2011 - Nov 6 to 9, 2011 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com
 

686 - Idea: Nano-Coaching and Nano-Mentoring

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 22, 2011.
#686 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,472 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2011 - Over 1,312 Colleagues Registered!

Idea: Nano-Coaching or Nano-Mentoring (Very Short Burst Support)

Today, I am starting the DESIGN of my Welcome Keynote for Sunday night at Learning 2011. Each year, I look at an emerging trend or opportunity for learning, made available as an affordance by new technologies or new behavioral patterns.  This year, one of those is:

“Nano-Coaching or Nano-Mentoring”

Consider the opportunity to provide daily or weekly VERY SHORT coaching or mentoring from a person with expertise to the learner/worker who is attempting to learn or improve a process or behavior.

When I say VERY SHORT, I do not mean 15 minute conversations.  In fact, Nano-Coaching may happen via email or Instant Messenger and could be as quick as 3 minutes.  My source for this model is a good friend and colleague Marshall Goldsmith, who was my coach and would call me every evening for 2 minutes to ask me a series of quick questions, including “How often did you finish the sentence of one of your staff?” or “Did you un-delegate a task to your team?” 

Nano-Coaching could be delivered from a variety of sources:

- Mentoring Call Center (internal or external).
- Manager Delivered.
- Retirees as Contract Mentors.
- Peer within an internal Social Network.
- Crowd-Sourced to a Collaborative Process.

On a very personal note, I have been using Nano-Coaching for a quest to get healthier in my 61st year.  Since March 1st, I have been working with a doctor in Arizona on a changed diet and increased level of exercise. Every day, I enter the specifics of all that I have consumed and any exercise, along with periodic weigh-ins. I get weekly emails with comments, suggestions and even pushes (“stop eating so many avocados - they look healthy but are pretty fattening”). And, every few weeks, we talk for a few minutes.

A number of our Learning CONSORTIUM members have been experimenting with Nano-Coaching as a support or alternative to traditional training approaches.  They are seeing some dramatic increases in effectiveness and even have tracked how Nano-Mentoring can boost average sales per field representative. It is a live version of Performance Support for learning or behavioral change.

We have a lot to consider and experiment with Nano-Coaching, like what technology to use, methodologies, frequency and where it is not appropriate or effective, as well as the global implications in other cultures. 

I am very excited to explore Nano-Coaching.  It has helped me get much healthier, lose 50 pounds and have even more energy. I believe that we can, as a field, develop some very intriguing designs that leverage Nano-Coaching.  I would love to hear your thoughts, reactions or examples. Please send me an email to emasie@masie.com

To access this article on my Design Blog, go to: http://tinyurl.com/nanocoaching

Special Note: We have updated the listing of over 220 sessions to be offered at Learning 2011 - check it out at http://www.learning2011.com/sessions

Yours in Learning,

Elliott Masie.
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2011 - Nov 6 to 9, 2011 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

685 - Questions for John Lithgow, Waiting 9 Seconds for Engagement

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 19, 2011.
#685 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,464 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2011 - Over 1,265 Colleagues Registered!

1. Questions for John Lithgow on Storytelling?
2. 9-Second Pause - - - Learner Engagement Soars!
3. Godspell Cast as Learners.

1. Questions for John Lithgow on Storytelling? On November 8th, I will be conducting an in-depth interview on the power of Storytelling with the actor John Lithgow during Learning 2011. He is a Tony®, Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award Winner, with dozens of films, plays, television shows, books and more under his belt, including Footloose, Dexter, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Shrek and The World According to Garp. Lithgow is a passionate believer in the Power of the Story and Storytelling.

So, help me construct my “Actor’s Workshop” interview with John Lithgow. Send me one or more questions or lines of conversation that I can pursue with him. Even if you can’t attend this event, we will post an in-depth summary of his remarks. Send me a note to emasie@masie.com  Thanks!

2. 9-Second Pause - - - Learner Engagement Soars! The other day, I was asked by a journalist for the one tip that I would give to people who want to improve learning and training. They probably thought that I would give a very “Learning 4.0” type answer. Instead, I focused on the number of seconds between the time an instructor asks a question and the next sound that they make! Unfortunately, most teachers ask, “Any questions?” and, in less than 3 seconds, start to speak again, often saying, “OK, let’s go on!” It takes a learner many seconds to recognize that you have stopped teaching and asked for a question, review what you said, evaluate what they would like to ask, formulate the question, raise their hand and then ask it! Not possible in 3 seconds!!!! So, extend your wait time to at least 9 seconds and the levels of learning engagement will soar!

3. Godspell Cast as Learners: As many Learning TRENDS readers know, we are investors in the revival of Godspell that is coming to Broadway in just a few weeks. This weekend, we had the opportunity to meet the cast – incredible, young, talented and passionate singers and actors. It is fascinating to see the learning curve that they are on now as they rehearse and shape their roles and this new version of a classical play. Watching them formulate Godspell is fascinating and I realized that they are many of tomorrow’s musical and acting stars. Check out the website at http://www.godspell.com

Special Note: We have updated the list of over 220 sessions to be offered at Learning 2011 - check it out at http://www.learning2011.com/sessions

Yours in Learning,

Elliott Masie.
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2011 - Nov 6 to 9, 2011 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

684 - 201 Learning Sessions List Published

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 14, 2011.
#684 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,459 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2011 - Over 1,193 Colleagues Registered!

201 Learning Sessions List Published

We have just published the list of 201+ Sessions to be presented at Learning 2011 (Nov 6 to 9 - Orlando, Florida):

http://www.learning2011.com/sessions        

Yours in Learning,

Elliott Masie.
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2011 - Nov 6 to 9, 2011 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

683 - 9/11 Learning Perspectives: Peters, Covey, Blanchard, Cain from 2001

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 9, 2011.
#683 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,453 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2011 - Over 1,107 Colleagues Registered!

Special Note: 9/11 Learning Perspectives from 2001 - Covey, Blanchard, Peters & More.

In the days right after 9/11, I reached out to several key business authors and thought leaders to ask them for perspectives on what a manager might do (or not do) with their teams in that emotional and uncertain time.

We posted 2 - 4 minute audio podcasts from Steven Covey, Tom Peters, Herman Cain, Ken Blanchard, Scott O’Grady, Diane Hessen, Marshall Goldsmith and others. Every author I called gladly did these unrehearsed perspectives and tens of thousands of colleagues around the globe listened to these clips. I have re-published the page and would encourage you to listen to a few of these “in the moment” perspectives from those raw moments in 2001:

http://www.masie.com/perspectives

Yours in Learning,

Elliott Masie.
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2011 - Nov 6 to 9, 2011 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

682 - Gamification Cautions; Learning at Facebook, Starbucks & Southwest Airlines

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 6, 2011.
#682 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,449 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2011 - Over 1,107 Colleagues Registered!

1. Gamification Caution - Mechanics Aren’t Design!
2. Learning at Facebook, Southwest Airlines & Starbucks.

1. Gamification Caution - Mechanics Aren’t Design! One of the “hot” buzz words these days in Learning circles is “Gamification”  The idea, which on the surface is compelling, is to apply the elements of game theory and game design to a learning activity, like earning badges or getting virtual awards, in order to increase learner engagement and influence behavior. 

While I have been a long-time fan and proponent of Serious Gaming for Learning - the application of game design to learning design - the world of “Gamification” is more heavily focused on game mechanics, where one would simply add “a game layer” and get results. For example, take a compliance eLearning course and add one or more of the following game mechanics: score ratings, leaderboards, virtual badges or even real gifts. While it may alter behavior, it could just as easily either trivialize or backfire. The problem is not about applying the powerful world of gaming and competition: it is about the oversimplification, in my opinion, of the design process. It will take way more design and organizational change to introduce these elements into the organization than simply linking to a vendor for gaming badges or virtual prizes.

There is a parallel in the world of gaming in classroom training. We have all been in a seminar where the leader announces that we are going to start with an “Ice Breaker Game”. These might work or they might truly evoke a large groan from the audience. If they are designed right - with the experience and focus of the audience at top of mind - an ice breaker might really get a group learning process started.  But, more often than not, they are seen as a “cute” ritual, which many hope will just be over so they can dive into the content of the program. Games in the classroom are more complex than just picking a “Game Idea Card” and adding it to the agenda.

Let’s collectively explore how we can leverage new technology, social media and evolving designs to increase engagement and support performance and learning. Elements of game design are key, as will be apps and technologies that allow for lower cost deployment. But, don’t jump on the bandwagon thinking that you can take an unvisited SharePoint site and turn it into a highly valued Knowledge Village by dispensing Gamification tokens to users. For every quickly deployed Gamification for learning program, there will be a dozen ways in which learners can game the game to get around the system.  One colleague showed me a macro deployed in an organization to add short, automated comments to collaborative spaces in order to get higher Gamification scores and badges. Gaming Design is a great opportunity space for learning, but let’s not just roll with the hype and forget the critical role of design, experimentation and organizational change!

2. Learning at Facebook, Southwest Airlines & Starbucks: Ever wonder how Facebook uses social elements for Learning? How does Intel put Learning “inside” @ Intel? Does Learning @ Southwest Airlines take a very different route? Or, is a café culture embedded into Learning @ Starbucks?

At Learning 2011, we are asking 12 major “brand name” organizations to provide you with an up-close and deep overview of Learning @ Their Organization:

- Learning @ Facebook.
- Learning @ Farmers.
- Learning @ Intel.
- Learning @ Humana.
- Learning @ MetLife.
- Learning @ SC Johnson.
- Learning @ Southwest Airlines.
- Learning @ Starbucks.
- Learning @ Hospital Corporation of America.
- Learning @ The U.S. Senate.
- Learning @ Wendy’s.
- Learning @ Xerox.

In the mix of over 220 choices at the event, the “Learning @” sessions will be intriguing ways to take a look at how a well-known organization approaches learning: each in a different and distinct fashion.

We have asked Learning Leaders from each of these organizations to provide an overview of learning as well as focus on a key change, transformation or alignment to their corporate strategy. For example, how does Facebook leverage its social and agile culture as part of their learning strategy?

Check out my Design Decisions Blog for Learning 2011 for more details: http://tinyurl.com/3zwj87s -

Yours in Learning,

Elliott Masie.
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2011 - Nov 6 to 9, 2011 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

681 - Back to School Energy; Music Licenses for Learning

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 2, 2011.
#681 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,441 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2011 - Over 1,087 Colleagues Registered!

1. “School Days!” A New Year Begins After Labor Day.
2. Music Licenses for Learning - Design Decisions.

1. “School Days!” A New Year Begins After Labor Day: In just 4 days, my New Year begins. You see, I still think of the year as starting the first day of school, which was the day after Labor Day (here in the U.S.) as I was growing up.

The start of school meant a new teacher, new school books, new subjects to master and a deep dive into learning - after a great summer vacation.  It often meant some new clothes (or at least some new hand-me-down clothes from a neighbor), a new loose leaf notebook (with plastic reinforcements to keep the pages from tearing) and a few other school supplies.

Decades later, my year still starts right after Labor Day. Here are a few of the things that I will be doing on Tuesday, my virtual first day back at school:

* School Supplies - I’ll stop at the store and buy one or two new notebooks, pens and other school supplies.
* New Calendar - I’ll get a 2011 - 2012 Academic Calendar to hang on my wall, marking the Sept. to Sept. year cycle.
* Books Ordered - My Amazon account is busy as I buy eBooks and hardcovers to enjoy in this new year. I got 6 yesterday!
* Goals and Objectives - My whiteboard will get cleaned and the staff will see my targets for the next few months with a fresh eye.
* Registration Spikes - Once September starts, we watch a marked spike in the rate of registrations for Learning 2011 as people start to focus on the Fall.  We already have 1,087 colleagues signed up, but it will rise as it is now the Fall season.
* Style Shifts - Almost every Fall, I try to change up one aspect of my style: how I approach work or life.  This year…hmmmmm?

I find myself feeling the excitement of the kid going back to school as Labor Day comes around. I reach out to friends I haven’t spoken to since June, share summer stories and make plans to connect now that the “School Year” has started.  And, feeling alive and focused as a learner is great.

So, am I alone in this?  If you also think of the year as starting in September, send me a note to emasie@masie.com  .

2. Music Licenses for Learning - Design Decisions: If you walk into a session at Learning 2011 in Orlando in November and hear some music playing, it will be legal. We have a Code of Conduct at The MASIE Center to have full licensed rights to any music that we play at an event.

While it would be simple to just pop in a CD that we bought, or download a song from iTunes, or play a streamed clip from the web, it would not be legal or appropriate.

So, we use several music licensing bureaus, such as ASCAP and BMI, to have an event-wide license for Learning 2011. We pay between $800 to $1,300 per year (based on number of days and participants) and are fully covered.

Another strategy is to just use “royalty free” music, but I love to have familiar tunes and even songs that relate to the themes of the sessions: “Respect” for a talk about roles in Learning or “Lean on Me” for mentoring strategies. Knowing that we can play almost any song, I have fun in the next 9 weeks picking a play list for the General Sessions and breakouts.

Many events don’t bother with licensing or assume that the hotel has paid a fee. But, to be in full compliance, we are doing the paperwork for music licenses for the 4,000 ears that will be at Learning 2011 in just 66 days. Follow along with our Design Decisions blog at http://www.learning2011.com/designblog

Yours in Learning,

Elliott Masie.
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2011 - Nov 6 to 9, 2011 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com