848 - ABBA: The Concert Booked; Building a Fluency List

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 30, 2014.
#848 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,699 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 1,347 Registered Already.

1. ABBA: The Concert - Confirmed for Learning 2014 Celebration!
2. Fluency - A List of Terms for Understanding.

1. ABBA: The Concert - Confirmed for Learning 2014 Celebration! I am honored to announce that we just booked ABBA: The Concert to perform the Learning 2014 Concert & Celebration (Oct 26-29 in Orlando).  They are a tribute group that has been performing ABBA songs since 1996 in 20 countries around the world.

On Tuesday night, ABBA: The Concert will perform for Learning 2014 participants and their guests. The songs of ABBA and Mama Mia will include: Dancing Queen, S.O.S, Money, Money, Money, The Winner Takes All, Waterloo, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme and more. Details and a video of ABBA: The Concert at our site: http://www.learning2014.com/index.php/item/abba-the-concert-learning-2014-party.html

We now have over 1,300 global colleagues registered for Learning 2014. Hotel space is limited and we encourage registrations as early as possible. http://www.learning2014.com

2. Fluency - A List of Terms for Understanding: Learning departments should consider building a set of Fluency Lists - collections of words and terms related to a specific job function, product line or even their entire company. As workers enter new roles or positions, it is quite helpful to build their “fluency” with terms and definitions that they will encounter. Often, they understand the concept but the language is different. Fluency lists can even be developed as “crowd sourced” surveys from users helping to list the key terms that would be high on a Fluency List.

Yours in Learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM
Host, Learning 2014

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

847 - Learning Thumballs; Jewish New Year Greetings

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 24, 2014.
#847 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,694 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 1,294 Registered Already.

1. Learning Thumball: Tossing for Topics!
2. Jewish New Year Tonight: Learning Thoughts.
3. MASIE Briefing Streamable Now: Learning Trends in 2014.

1. Learning Thumball: Tossing for Topics! A very cool 6 inch ball has arrived in our office. It is the Learning Thumball that we designed to add an element of non-digital gamification to Learning 2014.

There are 30 panels encircling the 6 inch wide Learning Thumball - each with a question or conversation trigger. Here are a few examples:

- Does Google Search Affect Learning?
- Learners I Don’t Like?
- Learning Interruptus!
- Your Favorite Teacher?
- Gaming & Gamification?
- Compliance & Learning?
- TED Videos: Why Do They Work?

We ordered 200 of these cute, soft and toss-able thumballs. Learning Thumballs will be a fun added element at Learning 2014 and we hope that 200 participants will want to take a Learning Thumball home - if they donate $10 to True Colors Fund, one of our Learning Gives Back grant honorees.

Check out a picture of our cool Learning Thumball at: http://www.learning2014.com/index.php/item/thumball.html

2. Jewish New Year Tonight - Learning Thoughts: Tonight, Jewish New Year begins with the Rosh Hoshana celebration. I have always seen the New Year as a time to reflect on learning and life. Here is a poem that I often think about at Rosh Hoshana that connects to our world of learning:

“How We Become Wise”

After a long, hard climb up the mountain, a group of spiritual seekers finally found themselves in front of the great teacher.

Bowing deeply, they asked the question that had been burning inside of them for so long.

“How do we become wise?”

There was a long pause until the teacher emerged from the meditation. Finally, the reply came:

“Good choices.”

“But teacher, how do we know how to make good choices?”

“From experience,” said the wise one.

“And how do we gain experience?” they asked.

“Bad choices” smiled the teacher.

May all of our New Years be a time to celebrate old traditions, life experiences, new changes and continual learning!

3. MASIE Briefing Streamable Now: Learning Trends in 2014. We just hosted over 1,800 colleagues online for our 60 Minute Learning Trends in 2014 Video. Several hundred folks were not able to get online due to server jam. So, here is the complete, no-charge, one-hour briefing addressing: Personalization, Compliance, Video in Learning, LearningTech, Connected Classrooms, Social Learning, Gamification, 50 Plus and Big Learning Data. To view the Briefing just go to:

http://www.learning2014.com/trends914

Yours in Learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM
Host, Learning 2014

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

846 - Learning Trends Video Now Streamable

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 23, 2014.
#846 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,681 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 1,257 Registered Already.

MASIE Briefing Streamable Now: Learning Trends in 2014.

We just hosted over 1,800 colleagues online for our 60 Minute Learning Trends in 2014 Video. Several hundred folks were not able to get online due to server jam. So, here is the complete, no-charge, one hour briefing addressing: Personalization, Compliance, Video in Learning, LearningTech, Connected Classrooms, Social Learning, Gamification, 50 Plus and Big Learning Data. To view the briefing, please visit:

http://www.learning2014.com/trends914

Yours in Learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM
Host, Learning 2014

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

845 - 110 Foot Curved Screen? Ambiguity and Learning

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 22, 2014.
#845 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,674 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 1,207 Registered Already.

1. AMBIGUITY: Embrace & Honor the Grey Area for Learning.
2. 110 Foot Screen? Engagement!
3. Free Video Briefing on Trends & Challenges in 2014: Tuesday, September 23rd from 1 to 2 PM (Eastern Time).

1. AMBIGUITY = Embrace & Honor the Grey Area for Learning: Most instructional design is about the RIGHT answer. Standard Operating Procedures define that CORRECT approach to a problem. The vast majority of eLearning modules test out for the learner’s ability to check the RIGHT box.

But, sometimes there is not a RIGHT vs WRONG answer. Increasingly, in our rapidly changing world, AMBIGUITY may be the reality. Even with a standard procedure, there may be six “DEPENDS” statements. CLOs are reporting the need for their new hires to have emotional intelligence to deal with the AMBIGUITY of a situation. Yet, we don’t really have the language to embrace and honor the reality of AMBIGUITY.

Yesterday, this became clear to me in a great conversation in a coffee shop in Manhattan. Six strangers were discussing world events at a Manhattan cafe. Our conversations focused on both EBOLA and ISIS in the Middle East. We were six adults, all clearly news aware and verbal. As we explored our perceptions of the challenges of ISIS and the risk of EBOLA, it became clear to me that we don’t easily know how to say, “We don’t know”. Media news shows create the opposite sides of an issue. But, there rarely is a GREY area representative. Only when the six of us verbalized the commonality of our shared (and diverse) AMBIGUITY about each of these topics were we able to listen and learn from each other more clearly. 

I left the coffee shop considering how we might better embrace AMBIGUITY into our learning designs and activities. Would love your thoughts. Send me an email to emasie@masie.com

2. 110 Foot Screen? Engagement! Today, I ordered a very BIG piece of technology. Larger than a big iPhone. Actually, larger than any technology I have ever used at an event.

Today, I ordered a 110 Foot Wide, 24 Foot Tall, Curved Video Projection Screen for Learning 2014. Why?  Engagement!
 
There will be 1,600 learning colleagues from around the world at the General Sessions for keynote speakers like Chef Bobby Flay, Robin Roberts from ABC News and Sir Ken Robinson.

I want to create a HIGH ENGAGEMENT, Rich Video Experience - even for the person sitting at the very back of the room. We will use many cameras, including overhead ones over Bobby Flay’s stove, that will then be projected in a large and varied fashion to engage the audience.

Actually, we could have as many as 24 different video images, but that would be overwhelming. However, we will be able to mix Graphics, Live Questions from the Audience, A Graphical Capture from California, Cameras and even Remote Feeds from around the world.  And, it will be Large, Bright and Curved, taking the entire width of the Learning 2014 Ballroom.

We are one of the first conferences in the world to use this technology and we will mix it with other Engagement tools and strategies. Check out a mock-up picture of this 110 Foot Screen here: http://www.learning2014.com/index.php/item/110-foot-screen-engagement.html I welcome ideas for creatively producing content experiences on it. Send me a note to emasie@masie.com

3. Free Video Briefing Trends & Challenges in 2014: Last call for our upcoming live video (with over 1,600 colleagues attending from around the world). You and your colleagues are invited to this free, interactive video that will be on Tuesday, September 23rd from 1 to 2 PM (Eastern Time).

This year, we will address these topics:

- Learning Personalization: Just in Time, Just for Me, Just Enough!
- Compliance and Learning Crisis
- Video in Learning: From TED to User Content to Live Chat
- LearningTech: Wearables, Apps and More
- The Connected Classroom: Stretching the Class
- Gaming & Gamification
- Collaborative & Social Learning
- 50+ & Learning: Boomers in the Workplace
- Big Learning Data & Metrics

To reserve a space in this briefing, please go to http://www.Learning2014.com/2014trends

Yours in Learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM
Host, Learning 2014

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

844 - 50 Plus and Learning with AARP; Really Short Video Clips; iWatch for Learning?

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 15, 2014.
#844 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,653 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 1,139 Registered Already.

1. 50 Plus & Learning: Collaboration with AARP.
2. Really Short Videos for Learning: 6 Seconds to 3 minutes?
3. iWatch Implications for Learning.
4. Free Video Briefing Trends & Challenges in 2014:

1. 50 Plus & Learning - Collaboration with AARP: As you may know, over the past few years I have organized and sponsored a 30 Under 30 Learning Leaders Program. It has been a delight to support and work with rising learning leaders in the first decade of their careers.  But, what about those of us that are in the older generation?

We are pleased to announce a 50 Plus & Learning project at Learning 2014. We are excited to announce that AARP will co-host a series of “50 Plus” & Learning elements at Learning 2014! Representatives from AARP will help lead sessions and conversations with event participants about the various opportunities and challenges that come with working and learning once employees are “50 Plus”. We look forward to featuring AARP as a co-host and cooperating organization at Learning 2014!

In addition, we will ask several key questions about 50 Plus & Learning:

- What happens as our more senior employees decide to NOT retire?  What happens to their development plans and the career plans of younger colleagues in their teams?
- What shifts in learning style, preference or approach of more senior employees?  How do they adapt as their learning approaches may shift?
- What are emerging models for 50 Plus employees in the workforce and how do different generations best collaborate in corporate culture?
- How do 50 Plus use or desire to use technology differently?

Details on our 50 Plus & Learning efforts at: http://www.learning2014.com/50plus

2. Really Short Videos for Learning - 6 Seconds to 3 minutes? The length of corporate video is getting shorter and shorter. Decades ago, it was common to have a 90 minute video. We then entered the 60 minute version, followed by the 30 minute video.  In the past few years, the length has dropped to 18 minutes, a la TED Video Length. But, recently we have seen corporate video for learning experiment with the very short length - like 6 seconds a la the app that creates 6 second segments - to 3 minute short video clips.

Why? The role of video may be to tell a quick story, provide a few seconds of context or to add a multi-media element to a text segment. The MASIE Center has been experimenting with shorter video and even micro-video clips.

We are honored to feature 2 sessions and a lab on creating Micro-Video segments at Learning 2014 - led by Eric Pokorny from Starbucks.  Info about Learning 2014 at http://www.learning2014.com

3. iWatch Implications for Learning: The recently announced iWatch from Apple may have intriguing implications for Workplace Learning. We will be working with a few app developers to explore the role of the iWatch for Learning. Imagine a few experimental uses of an iWatch (or similar wearable from other providers):

* Wearable Performance Support: Provide a workplace “learning at the moment of need” GPS functionality.
* Collaboration Adviser: Monitor and provide feedback on collaboration patterns in the workplace.
* Stress and Bio Feedback Loops: What topics trigger higher levels of stress in a learner - and how can content be adaptable?
* Motion Based Content: Imagine a series of gestures that would be sensed by the iWatch and shape content/context choices for the learner.
* Location Specific Content: Where you are could shape what you see and how you respond.

I am looking for several Learning TRENDS readers that would like to be part of the discussion about the iWatch and Learning.  Send me a note to emasie@masie.com

4. Free Video Briefing Trends & Challenges in 2014: You and your colleagues are invited to this free interactive video that will be on Tuesday, September 23rd from 1 to 2 PM (Eastern Time).

This year, we will address these topics:

- Learning Personalization: Just in Time, Just for Me, Just Enough!
- Compliance and Learning Crisis
- Video in Learning: From TED to User Content to Live Chat
- LearningTech: Wearables, Apps and More
- The Connected Classroom: Stretching the Class
- Gaming & Gamification
- Collaborative & Social Learning
- 50+ & Learning: Boomers in the Workplace
- Big Learning Data & Metrics

To reserve a space in this briefing, please go to http://www.Learning2014.com/2014trends

Yours in Learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM
Host, Learning 2014

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

843 - Video Briefing: Learning Trends in 2014

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 12, 2014.
#843 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,642 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 1,109 Registered Already.

Free Video Briefing by Elliott Masie - Learning Trends & Challenges in 2014!

Each year, I present a live video briefing on Learning Trends & Challenges. You and your colleagues are invited to this free interactive briefing that will be on Tuesday, September 23rd from 1 to 2 PM (Eastern Time).

This year, I will address these topics:

- Learning Personalization: Just in Time, Just for Me, Just Enough!
- Compliance and Learning Crisis
- Video in Learning: From TED to User Content to Live Chat
- LearningTech: Wearables, Apps and More
- The Connected Classroom: Stretching the Class
- Gaming & Gamification
- Collaborative & Social Learning
- “50+” & Learning: Boomers in the Workplace
- Big Learning Data & Metrics

I will present a free video briefing on these topics, with real-time questions and comments from the audience.

To reserve a space in this briefing, please go to http://www.Learning2014.com/2014trends

Yours in Learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM
Host, Learning 2014

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

841 - Brain Science, 8 Seconds for Questions, Love Letters

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 8, 2014.
#841 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,639 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 1,017 Registered Already.

1. How to Engage Every Brain by Ann Herrmann-Nehdi.
2. Wait Eight Seconds for Questions.
3. 1,017 Registrations & Groups Galore.
4. MASIE Productions: “Love Letters” with Carol Burnett, Alan Alda & More.

1. How to Engage Every Brain by Ann Herrmann-Nehdi: We are honored to feature articles by our Featured Speakers at Learning 2014. The first one is by Ann Herrmann-Nehdi, one of the leading authors and innovators in the arena of Brain Science and Learning. Her article, How to Engage Every Brain, is online at http://www.learning2014.com/index.php/item/how-to-engage-every-brain.html

2. Wait Eight Seconds for Questions: Recently, I was interviewed by a magazine and asked about the best tip I ever received about learning. I recounted a tip from Dr. Roger Johnson from U of Minnesota back in 1977 when he said, “Wait at least 8 seconds after asking for questions from a group of learners - before you say anything else as an instructor!” Turns out, the average instructor asks, “Are there any questions?” and only waits about 3 seconds. It takes the audience a few more seconds to process your request, formulate questions in their minds, scan the room for other people’s responses and decide to actually ask. Count to 8 and you will see an amazing difference.

3. 1,017 Registrations & Groups Galore: We are honored to be taking dozens of registrations every day for Learning 2014, to take place in Orlando from Oct 26 to 29th.  Today, we crossed the 1,000th registration mark.  And, as I write this, we are up to 1,017.  In addition, there are now over 30 groups of participants from corporations coming together - with meetings before, during or after the event.  Hotel space is quickly filling. Take advantage of our Early Registration Rate at http://www.learning2014.com

4. MASIE Productions: “Love Letters” with Carol Burnett, Alan Alda & More: Learning TRENDS readers may know that MASIE Productions is also producing several plays and musicals on Broadway. On Saturday, previews begin for “Love Letters”, which we are co-producing. Every 4 weeks, 2 stars will be featured. These include: Carol Burnett, Alan Alda, Mia Farrow, Brian Dennehy, Stacy Keach, Diana Rigg, Candice Bergen, Anjelica Huston and Martin Sheen. Two stars each night will read “Love Letters” in a powerful and moving show. Details at: http://lovelettersbroadway.com/

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
email: emasie@masie.com
twitter: @emasie

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

840 - Movie Attendance Down, LearningTech, Skillsoft Buys SumTotal

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 2, 2014.
#840 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,635 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 872 Registered Already.

1. Movie Attendance Down: What’s Happening?
2. LearningTech: Wearables, iBeacons, Drones.
3. SumTotal Bought by Skillsoft.

1. Movie Attendance Down: What’s Happening? Sales of summer movie theater tickets were down.  Actually, they were down quite a bit.  And, it may be an interesting compass pointer for how we are consuming content.

The film industry had its worst summer in North America, still the world’s No. 1 movie market, since at least 1997, after adjusting for inflation. Between the first weekend in May through the end of August, ticket sales in the United States and Canada are expected to total roughly $3.9 billion, a 15 percent decline from the same stretch last year, according to Rentrak, a box office data company.

Some of the decline might be due to weak titles or all too familiar sequels. But, there is also a larger shift in how people are choosing and consuming content.

This summer, I watched several TV and Movie series that went straight to streamable format - like “Orange is the New Black.” I wanted to control the when, where and how long my viewing would be.  More and more, we are choosing our laptops, smart phones and tablets as alternatives to the theater or even home TV.  The personalization preferences of learners, along with widespread use of high tech, high definition, large TVs at home is impacting some of the decrease in theater attendance.

Let’s map this to changes in how our employees are opting for learning content at the workplace. If they can access content from their tablets or even from home in the living room, the desire to attend some face-to-face classes will ebb. The learner (and viewer) will demand more content, better content, shorter content, and more agile delivery that is time/place/device agnostic and more. At Learning 2014, my keynote will focus deeply on Learning Personalization. 

Note: Ironically, I am heading over to the theater this evening for a movie. I want to watch something large in a big room with fresh popcorn and lose myself in that world for a while. Just remember, the theater has become just one of many choices for viewers. And, the same is true for many learning formats.

2. LearningTech: Wearables, iBeacons, Drones: I am pleased to announce a new series of sessions called LearningTech at Learning 2014. This year, we will focus on these emerging technologies and explore how they MIGHT impact designs for learning. Here is a sample:

* LearningTech: Wearables for Learning?
* LearningTech: iBeacons and Discoverables for Learning?
* LearningTech: Ariel Photographic Drones for Learning?

Check out our recent article and pictures on LearningTech at: http://www.learning2014.com/index.php/item/learningtech.html

3. SumTotal Bought by Skillsoft: The merger and acquisition pattern for Learning Management Systems continues with the recent announcement that Skillsoft is Acquiring SumTotal. At the same time, SumTotal is adding signification expansion into Talent areas. Details of this latest deal at: http://www.skillsoft.com/about/press_room/Skillsoft_Annoucement_Presentation_final.pdf

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
email: emasie@masie.com
twitter: @emasie

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie