870 - LinkedIn Buys lynda.com for 1.5 Billion; Testing Amazon Echo

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - April 10, 2015.
#870 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,849 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning Directions in Dallas, Seattle, Chicago & New York City.

1. LinkedIn Buys lynda.com for $1.5 Billion - Not an April Fools Message.
2. Testing Amazon Echo - Talking to My Speaker & Cloud.
3. Gamification & Learning LAB - New Section Added in June.

1. LinkedIn Buys lynda.com for $1.5 Billion - Not an April Fools Message: I was quite surprised by a message yesterday announcing that LinkedIn has purchased lynda.com (an eLearning site) for $1.5 Billion. Details at: http://www.cnet.com/news/linkedin-to-acquire-online-training-site-lynda-com/

Why surprised? Just a few days ago, as part of my annual April Fools Learning Trends message, I said, “LinkedIn leaders are convinced that a learner’s resume will have a key role in expanding learning. As a worker enrolls for a class, “LinkedLearn” will relate the content to the learner’s previous positions and work experience. If one shifts their job from a bank to a restaurant, their onboarding eLearning on how to work at the order counter will use visuals and even videos from a banking example. “LinkedLearn” is aimed at truly adaptive learning design. It may also leverage feedback from the last 10 years of a worker’s performance reviews.”  This was not a prediction - just a joke. But, I guess good jokes have some element of truth and prediction.

It will be interesting to see how LinkedIn leverages the resources and assets of lynda.com in the coming years. Stay tuned for more perspectives.

2. Testing Amazon Echo - Talking to My Speaker & Cloud: This week at The MASIE Center, I have been testing a new technology: Amazon’s Echo. It is a high quality speaker, about one foot tall and 3 inches wide, that takes some of the function of Apple’s Siri and rolls it into a Cloud-based Music, Knowledge and Control Center.

First, I plugged it in and downloaded an Echo app to my smartphone. It links to my Amazon Prime Account and the building’s wireless system. Then, just by calling the Echo’s name - “Alexa” - I can then ask for the weather, latest news or almost any song or album. It does an instant search of Amazon Prime Music and starts to play in less than 2 seconds.  And, it also will make me laugh if I say, “Alexa, tell me a joke.” Additional features are being added, including control of household appliances and linking multiple Echos together in different rooms.

Check it out at http://www.amazon.com/oc/echo  It is $199 and has a 3 month waiting list. I am intrigued about how it could also access a corporation’s knowledge or intranet for spoken assistance to a worker sitting at a desk or working on a factory floor. And, I have had fun with instant songs and much needed jokes.

3. Gamification & Learning LAB - New Section Added in June: We have sold out our first Gamification & Learning LAB, with a waiting list, for May. So, I have opened up a second section that will be held in Saratoga Springs, NY from June 23 -25. Register soon as we are already filling seats in this hands-on LAB.  Details at http://www.masie.com

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM.
- Learning Directions - Dallas, Seattle, Chicago and NYC in June.
- Gamification & Learning LAB - Led by Elliott Masie - June 23-25, 2015 - Saratoga Springs, NY.
- Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4 - Orlando, Florida.

Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

869 - Learning as a Habit, Experience Design, Connected Classrooms

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - April 7, 2015.
#869 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,845 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning Directions in Dallas, Seattle, Chicago & New York City.

1. Learning as a Habit? Research Findings & More.
2. Experience Design! A Blog Post.
3. 4 Monitors in a Classroom?
4. An American in Paris Opens.

1. Learning as a Habit? Research Findings & More: We are pleased to publish the first wave of findings from our Learning as a Habit Research Project at The MASIE Center. For the past three months, Jennifer Cheng, a research fellow on leave from PwC in Hong Kong, was resident at our Center and conducted a deep dive into the core idea of how people make learning a habit on a daily or weekly basis. Based on a survey of over 500 colleagues from around the world and intensive interviews with several dozen corporate executives, Jennifer published a Learning as a Habit white paper and infographic, and we also placed the raw survey results in Open Source. Please download these interesting assets at:

Learning as a Habit Paper and Infographic: http://www.masie.com/learninghabits   .

On a personal level, I have been building two learning habits. I am watching a TED video almost every day. And, I am wearing a button with a learning question or statement on my clothing every day. The first is triggering many thoughts and learning patterns - and others have been sending me cool videos to watch. My buttons - for example, today’s is “Personalize Me” - launch fascinating conversations with others. We are very intrigued how a learning system might support an employee’s learning habits with suggestions, reminders and connections.

If you are interested in conducting the next stage of research on Learning as a Habit - I would love to hear from you.  Send me a note to emasie@masie.com And, thanks to Jennifer Cheng and PwC for your support of this research. More to follow!

2. Experience Design! A Blog Post: I have started my annual Design Blog for the decisions and choices as we build Learning 2015. Today, there is a post about moving towards Learning Experiences as a core part of our event design.

“Experience Design! Learning Experiences are opportunities for Learning 2015 participants to be actively involved in doing, touching, experimenting, designing, challenging or other Engagement models of learning. One of our regular Experiences has included learning and then competing on a timed team challenge of how quickly and safely you can change the tires on a NASCAR vehicle:

Here are a few coming attractions of the Experiences you can choose to engage with at Learning 2015:

- Gamification LAB - Experiment with Gaming for Learning!
- Food Experiences - Cooking as a Metaphor for Design!
- MeetUps - Instant Conversations & Challenges!
- Ed Tech Jam - Brand New & Emerging Tech for Learning!
- The Connected Classroom - Teaching in a New Design!
- 30 Under 30 - Supporting the Next Generation of Learning Leaders!
- Wearables & Learning - For Knowledge & Learning!

To read the entire Experience Design Blog post, go to: http://www.learning2015.com/index.php/item/expereince-design.html

3. 4 Monitors in a Classroom? Start to say “goodbye” to the projector and screens in our classrooms. As the cost of larger monitors drops (you can buy a 55” monitor for as little as $900) it is possible to redesign classrooms into Connected Labs. By placing large LED/LCD monitors in each corner and hooking them up to a single computer through a long lead HDMI, you are able to reach out to remote locations for subject matter experts via Skype, Linx or Webex. The connected classroom is so much more flexible for leveraging high engagement of learners and bringing in multiple experts for short conversations or background. It will take a new style of teaching but the yield for your learners and budget can be huge.  We have built a Connected Classroom at The MASIE Center and will have a Connected Classroom LAB at Learning 2015.

4. An American in Paris Opens: As you may know, we also have a MASIE Productions group that is involved with producing Broadway shows. This Sunday, we will be at the Opening of “An American in Paris” at the Palace Theater in Times Square. It is an amazing show, combining awesome dancing, the music of Gershwin and direction by one of the leading choreographers in the world - Christopher Wheeldon. It is a magical show and if you get to New York City in the coming year, check it out at http://www.anamericaninparisbroadway.com/  And, keep your fingers crossed for us as the critics’ reviews are published on Sunday night!

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
- Learning Directions - Dallas, Seattle, Chicago and NYC in June.
- Gamification & Learning LAB - Led by Elliott Masie - June 2015 - Saratoga Springs, NY.
- Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4 - Orlando, Florida.

Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

868 - Facebook, LinkedIn Release Free LMS; Apple Watch to Monitor Saying No

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - April 1, 2015.
#868 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,839 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4 - Orlando, Florida, USA

1. Facebook, LinkedIn & Twitter Introduce Free LMS.
2. Apple Watch to Feature “NO” Coaching Monitor.

1. Facebook, LinkedIn & Twitter Introduce Free LMS: Today, 3 of the leading Social Media companies in the world announced a series of free alternatives to the traditional Learning Management Systems:

- Facebook Introduces “FaceLearn LMS”
- LinkedIn Introduces “LinkedLearn Career Learning Systems”
- Twitter Introduces “TweetLearn System”

The three companies are jointly recognizing the growth of learning - from assigned training programs to a lifelong learning process.

Facebook leaders feel that workers will more easily accept “FaceLearn” than a traditional LMS.  “FaceLearn” will allow you to learn a topic with your friends, to LIKE or UNLIKE an instructor and to integrate personal experiences into corporate learning. They hope that workers might touch their “FaceLearn” apps as often as 4 to 10 times an hour, radically increasing the presence of learning systems.

LinkedIn leaders are convinced that a learner’s resume will have a key role in expanding learning. As a worker enrolls for a class, “LinkedLearn” will relate the content to the learner’s previous positions and work experience. If one shifts their job from a bank to a restaurant, their onboarding eLearning on how to work at the order counter will use visuals and even videos from a banking example. “LinkedLearn” is aimed at truly adaptive learning design. It may also leverage feedback from the last 10 years of a worker’s performance reviews.

And, Twitter leaders are focused on using learners’ reactions throughout a workday to inform the learning processes of other folks. They hope that employee bonuses will be linked into the “Follow” level of a worker, multiplied by the performance of not just the employee but the performance of those that follow them. It will be a whole new model of collaborative compensation.

Needless to say, the traditional LMS companies are shocked by the joint announcement of these three new systems. And, the price of using these three LMSs on an enterprise level will be FREE to the company as the revenues will be generated by advertising and leveraging big data.

All 3 systems will integrate with each other and will use a common profile and biometric shared password. They will push a new SCORM/xAPI/TinCan alternative into SwipeLearn API.

The MASIE Center will be tracking the rise of these systems and anticipates future systems from Instagram and even a connective social learning program from Match.com. Welcome to the strange future.

2. Apple Watch to Feature “NO” Coaching Monitor: When the Apple Watch appears at the end of April, look for a new performance support tool that will monitor the verbal statements of the wearer and provide feedback when a phrase is used too often.

Marshall Goldsmith, the well-known management coach who encourages CEOs to reduce the times they say the word “NO”, has been working with Apple to have a “NO” monitor app. It will count and display the frequency of how often one says “NO” to categories of people, ranging from employees to customers to family and friends. Consequence choices include:

- CEO agrees to donate $20 to a designated charity for each time she/he says NO.
- The Apple Watch will glow with a specific color as the levels of NO change.
- A wearable ankle band can be linked to the Apple Watch to vibrate or even provide a low grade shock.
- A family member (such as your 8 year old) gets a daily graph of the CEO’s NO utterance rate.

This will open up a new field for Learning Professionals to create a Learner Feedback formula for feedback and personal behavioral change.

NOTE: April 1st is my favorite day for stretching the words in Learning TRENDS - as many countries celebrate April Fool’s Day - with satire, even stretching the view of learning futures. But, please don’t yell NO - the Watch might be listening.

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
- Learning Directions - Dallas, Seattle, Chicago and NYC in June.
- Gamification & Learning LAB - Led by Elliott Masie - May 4 to 6 - Saratoga Springs, NY.
- Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4 - Orlando, Florida.

Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

Learning Directions: Dallas, Seattle, Chicago and NYC

TO: Learning, Training & Performance Colleagues.
FROM: Elliott Masie, The MASIE Center.
DATE: March 31, 2015.

RE: Learning Directions - 1 Day Elliott Masie Briefing - Chicago, Seattle, New York City & Dallas!

We are pleased to announce our annual series of Learning Directions events, to be hosted by Elliott Masie in 4 key cities in the United States:

Learning Directions!
- Dallas, TX (@ Southwest Airlines) - Tuesday, June 2, 2015.
- Chicago, IL (@ The Gleacher Center) - Thursday, June 4, 2015.
- New York City, NY (@ AMA) - Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
- Seattle, WA (Downtown) - Thursday, June 11, 2015.
Details at: http://www.masie.com

We are very excited to offer a “mixed and blended” program for our learning colleagues, focused on the Reality, Hype, Promise and Challenges of evolving employee learning.

Every day I find myself in discussions with CLOs and learning professionals about changes in the workforce, workplace, technology and business settings. Our field is deeply interested in future Learning Directions. What is working, what is failing, what is growing and what is on the horizon?

We will take an in-depth, evidence-based and vendor-neutral look at how workplace learning is CHANGING or NOT CHANGING in 2015:     

- Learning Personalization!
- Video as a Learning Shift!
- Mobility & Small Tech (vs. Mobile Learning)!
- Big & My” Learning Data - Fresh Metrics Models!
- Social, Collaborative & Digital Trust!
- Leadership Development Shifts - From Courses to LABS!
- Rethinking Compliance Training!
- The Connected Classroom & Expertise!
- The Learner in 2015 - Myths & Changes!
- Oh My - Is The LMS Ready for Tomorrow’s Learning World?

You and your colleagues are invited to participate in Learning Directions in New York City, Chicago, Seattle & Dallas! We will combine a high intensity, drill-down day of conversations, demonstrations and case studies - with a set of digital follow-up segments.

Over the past three years, several hundred learning colleagues have participated in our Learning Directions events.

Complete information and online registration: http://www.masie.com

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services: http://www.masie.com
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
- Gamification & Learning LAB - With Elliott Masie - May & June - Saratoga Springs.
- Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4 - Orlando, Florida.

Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

Sal Khan to Keynote Learning 2015

TO: Learning, Training & Performance Colleagues
FROM: Elliott Masie, Host - Learning 2015
DATE: March 18, 2015

RE: Sal Khan to Keynote Learning 2015!

I am honored to announce Sal Khan as our first Keynoter for Learning 2015 from November 1 to 4 in Orlando, Florida!

Featured Keynoter: Sal Khan - Founder, Khan Academy
Details: http://www.learning2015.com

Sal Khan has been one of the most recognizable Learning Change Agents in the world.  The work and learning models of Khan Academy combine targeted design, responsive learning, Big Learning Data and highly focused content segments, which are right on focus for the Workplace Learning goals of Learning 2015 participants.

I will interview Sal in an interactive dialogue on these key learning issues:

- Learning Personalization
- Learning Duration
- Role of Video Segments
- Big Learning Data
- Repetitions in Learning
- Responsive Learning Systems
- Changing Learner Expectations

Sal Khan is the founder of the Khan Academy, a nonprofit with the mission of providing free, high-quality education to “anyone, anywhere” in the world. A former hedge fund analyst with degrees from MIT and Harvard, Khan is also the author of “The One World School House”, which explores the potential impact of the web as a teaching tool. It may be one of the most influential books about education in our time.

Khan’s first book, “The One World Schoolhouse: Education Reimagined”, was published to great acclaim in 2012. Innovators as varied as George Lucas and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammed Yunus have hailed it as “a must-read.” Khan Academy programs and models are being adapted and applied to a growing range of major corporations around the world - and his work is on the key edge of “flipping” content with more targeting and personalization.

There will be 6 Keynotes, over 150 Learning Sessions, MeetUps and many more elements that include an active Gamification component in our design. We are pleased to have the following learning suppliers among the Sponsors of Learning 2015:  Xerox, Skillsoft, Kaplan University, Intrepid Learning, Inc., CrossKnowledge, ANCILE, Richardson, Interactive Services, Maestro, Clarity Consultants, SkillDirector, Andromeda Simulations, EdAssist, Management Possible and Bluewater Learning.

Learning 2015 will be the 25th Annual MASIE Learning Conference. We have created a new website for Learning 2015 that will include a weekly Design Blog to share the engagement and design elements of the event. Check it out and take advantage of the Early Registration Discounts at http://www.learning2015.com

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services: http://www.masie.com
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
- Learning Strategies LAB - With Doug Lynch and Elliott Masie - March 25 to 27 Saratoga Springs.
- Gamification & Learning LAB - With Elliott Masie - May 4 to 6 - Saratoga Springs.
- MOOCS & Corporate Learning - Host Elliott Masie - June 23 and 24 - Saratoga Springs.
- Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4 - Orlando, Florida.

Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

MOOCs and Corporate Learning in 2015?

TO: Learning, Training & Performance Colleagues
FROM: Elliott Masie, The Learning CONSORTIUM
DATE: March 10, 2015

RE: MOOCs & Corporate Learning!

We are pleased to announce the second annual global event focusing on the changing world of MOOCs:

MOOCs & Corporate Learning!
Hosted by Elliott Masie.
June 23 and 24, 2015.
Saratoga Springs, NY USA.
Details: http://www.learningmoocs.com

Join a group of global learning colleagues as we explore the changing world of MOOCs - Massive, Open, Online, Content/Context/Courses - applied to the corporate workplace and employee learning.

Last year, we hosted 66 colleagues from 7 countries in an early exploration of Workplace MOOCs. In 2015, we are adding a number of key topics.

MOOCs & Corporate Learning will explore the reality, opportunity, hype, technology, partnering options and futures of MOOCs at the workplace. We will discuss, debate and brainstorm every aspect of adapting the MOOC model to worker and workplace learning:

- Current MOOC Use: What’s Working? What’s Hype? What’s Changing?
- How have MOOCs changed in the last 12 months? Growth? Evolution? Fading Interest? ReBranding?
- Buy a MOOC? Build a MOOC? Partner on a MOOC? Fund Learners Taking a MOOC?
- Designing MOOCs in a Corporate Setting.
- Why MOOCs?
- Playing with the MOOC Letters:
  * Massive: How wide can a corporate MOOC extend? To half a million workers? What support does a Massive MOOC require?
  * Open: How Open is a corporate MOOC? Is access Open? Is content from Open sources? Is MOOC content placed in an Open Format? Can we bill or charge for an Open program?
  * Online: MOOCs that are 100% asynchronous? MOOCs that include real-time, live collaboration?  MOOCs blended with Face to Face? MOOCs on a global basis in many languages?
  * Course/Credentials: What does the C stand for? Course? Content? Collaboration? Credit? Credential? Certificate? How accountable is the MOOC user?
- MOOCs and Certification?
- Gamification & MOOCs: What are the roles for Gamification, Competition & Recognition in the MOOC environment?
- Learning Systems (LMS/LCMS) & MOOCs: Friends, Foes or Cousins?
- Completion & Attrition Rates for MOOCs.
- MOOCs and Compliance/Regulation?
- MOOCs and Learning Preferences/Personalization?
- MOOCs: Fans and Opponents – Evidence For and Against MOOCs.
- Design Skills for MOOCs.
- The Future of MOOCs – Evidence-Based Predictions & Disruptions?

Complete information and online registration at http://www.learningmoocs.com   Please register early, as space is tightly limited.

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services: http://www.masie.com
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
- Learning Strategies LAB - With Doug Lynch and Elliott Masie - March 25 to 27 Saratoga Springs.
- Gamification & Learning LAB - With Elliott Masie - May 4 to 6 - Saratoga Springs.
- MOOCS & Corporate Learning - Host Elliott Masie - June 23 and 24 - Saratoga Springs.
- Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4 - Orlando, Florida.

Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

867 - Learning Marketing Engine, Thermal Camera in iPhone?

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - March 7, 2015.
#867 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,830 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Gamification & Learning LAB - May in Saratoga Springs!

1. LMS as a Learning Marketing Engine?
2. Small Tech: Thermal Camera Add-On.
3. Gamification & Learning LAB and Learning Strategies LAB!

1. LMS as a Learning Marketing Engine? How well does your Learning Management System market learning opportunities, requirements and alternatives to your colleagues?

That’s a key question in The MASIE Center’s efforts to craft out the next set of dimensions and capabilities of an LMS. Consider how retailers (from major chains to local stores) are using marketing engines to strategically touch and try to motivate customers. From targeted and personalized emails to creative uses of social media and social networks, retailers are building models of how, when and in what format to touch their customers. So, let’s imagine the LMS as a Learning Marketing Engine. Imagine if the LMS of the near future would:

* Build a Personalization Profile of each learner.
* Craft an optimized schedule for touching each learner with learning activity reminders, notifications and even compliance-driven warnings.
* Allow learners to adjust their Profiles to indicate their choices for method and style of LMS reach outs. For example, for a critical warning they may want a text message.
* Leverage the Social Networks within an organization to indicate what peer colleagues are choosing for a learning activity.
* Monitor and map learner responses to LMS offers. For example, I may want more video options and my colleague may want text-based eLearning modules.
* Try split group testing of diverse marketing messages against registration, attendance and even performance/transfer.
* Utilize short coming attractions or even 6 second intro videos to preview and promote learning activities.

Many of these capabilities are already embedded in Consumer Marketing Engines. We would love to see the rise of more sophisticated and agile Learning Marketing Engines in future LMSs. Our Learning CONSORTIUM is meeting in early April to brainstorm and define next generation Learning Management Systems. We will share the output of that dialogue with Learning TRENDS colleagues. In the meantime, I’d love to hear your thoughts about the role of a Learning Marketing Engine in a time of greater learning personalization. Send me a note to emasie@masie.com

2. Small Tech - Thermal Camera Add-On: I am using the term “Small Tech” to highlight technology that may be purchased by the employees themselves or even by a business unit - rather than an enterprise wide tech system. These will increasingly be “Add-On’s” to mobile devices like smart phones or tablets.  The next wave of innovations for the learning technology space will increasingly be represented in the Small Tech area.

This week, we are experimenting with a cool device called the “Seek Thermal Camera”. It fits into the bottom of my iPhone and turns it into a sophisticated Thermal Sensing Camera. I can point it at objects, people or areas and get instant color-based and temperature-indicated thermal pictures. These can be viewed as real-time views, stills or videos. 

It was fun to use the Seek device at the opening rehearsal of a MASIE Productions musical, American in Paris. We could see the varied temperatures of the parts of the Palace Theater. And, it was fascinating to take a thermal picture of our ballet dancers - with different temperature readings from legs or arms - after a dance number.

But, how might it be used in workplaces? It might be used in a grocery store to quickly see the temperature of displayed food. It could be used in a manufacturing setting to look at variable temperatures of materials.

Yet, the most fascinating element is the role of the Small Tech “Add-On”. For about $250, my smartphone is transformed into a very sophisticated device that could provide data and feedback for a specific performance arena. Watch for more of these as (excuse the pun) Digital Watches are rolled out from Apple and others in the next 8 weeks. Details on the Seek Thermal Camera are online at http://www.thermal.com

3. Gamification & Learning LAB and Learning Strategies LAB! There are spaces available in two new MASIE LABs for Learning Professionals in Saratoga Springs, NY:

- Learning Strategies LAB - March 25 to 27.
- Gamification & Learning LAB - May 4 to 6.

Details at http://www.masie.com

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
- Learning Strategies LAB - With Doug Lynch and Elliott Masie - March 25 to 27 - Saratoga Springs, NY.
- Gamification & Learning LAB - Led by Elliott Masie - May 4 to 6 - Saratoga Springs, NY.
- Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4 - Orlando, Florida.
Upcoming:
- MOOCs and Corporate Learning Summit.

Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

Gamification and Learning: A Trend To Explore

TO: Learning, Training & Performance Colleagues
FROM: Elliott Masie, The MASIE Center
DATE: March 3, 2015

RE: Gamification & Learning LAB

We are pleased to announce a new program for learning professionals:

Gamification & Learning LAB!
Hosted by Elliott Masie.
May 4th to 6th.
MASIE Learning LAB - Saratoga Springs, NY USA.
Details: http://www.masie.com

Gamification is one of the much talked about elements in the world of learning innovations. There are intriguing early implementations, emerging models for adding gamification to non-game activities (such as learning), much hype and overstatement, and a great deal of both curiosity and confusion in our field.

I have designed an intensive, vendor-neutral 2 1/2 day deep dive into Gamification & Learning for a small group of global learning colleagues in early May.

Here are the topics that we will address:

- Gamification: What Is It?
- Gamification & Learning Models.
- Gamification of Non-Games.
- Does Gamification Work?
- When Does Gamification Not Work?
- Learning Gamification vs. Marketing Gamification.
- Is Gamification Sustainable?
- Costs & Expenses for Gamification.
- ADDIE & Gamification.
- LMS & Gamification.
- Gamification Marketplace.
- Producing Gamification - The Skills.
- Gamification, Introverts, Styles & Emotional Intelligence!
- The Strategic Risks & Downsides of Gamification.
- Failure & Simulations: “Failing Our Way to Success”.
- Play as a Human Trait.
- Badging in the Workplace.
- Usability & Gamification.

Our LAB will include hands-on exploration of current and emerging Gamification & Learning models. We will interview (by live video) experts from implementing organizations, Gamification inventors and suppliers, and Academics studying the evidence of Gamification’s impact on Learning. In addition, we will conduct a real-time focus group with a range of employees to assess their readiness and reactions to Gamification leveraged for learning and performance.

Complete information and online registration at http://www.masie.com   Please register early as space is tightly limited in the Gamification & Learning LAB.

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
- Learning Strategies LAB - With Doug Lynch and Elliott Masie - March 25 to 27 Saratoga Springs.
- Gamification & Learning LAB - With Elliott Masie - May 4 to 6 - Saratoga Springs.
- Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4 - Orlando, Florida.
Upcoming:
- Gamification and Learning LAB.
- MOOCs and Corporate Learning Summit.

Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

866 - Selfies in Learning; TEDx Design/Curation Model

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - February 26, 2015.
#866 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,829 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning Strategies LAB - March in Saratoga Springs!

1. Selfies and Learning Branding?
2. TEDx Design and Curation Model.
3. Learning Strategies LAB - 9 Spaces Available.

1. Selfies and Learning Branding?  The photographic “selfie” has received a great deal of publicity for humor, touching images, and even banning of the selfie “stick” at museums. Whether or not you take and circulate selfies yourself, let’s explore how they are (and might become) a part of Learning Branding:

* From Class Photos to Selfie Tweets: Most of the corporate universities take a class photo of leadership groups towards the end of a residential class. The participants get a nice 8 x 10 photo to keep at home or the office. Now, we are seeing the Class Selfie blast replacing the formal photo. Each participant may send several snaps to colleagues around the organization or post a link with the photos on an internal social network. Significantly more folks see the images that validate both the course and the participant’s skill development.

* Selfies as Assignments: Learning designers can leverage the “selfie” as part of course design. If I were designing a learning program on safety or manufacturing standards, the learners or subject matter experts can be asked to take and circulate selfies that illustrate the content or context of the program.

* Selfies as Transfer and Assessment Process: If I were taking a course on Time Management or the use of a Learning Management System, one assignment might be to take selfies of work in process or even a screen shot as part of daily/weekly reminders for transfer to the workplace. These might be shared with my instructor or manager and used for anthropological data for assessment.

We are intrigued to explore the role of “Selfies” - formal or informal - in the learning process. Send me a note to emasie@masie.com

2. TEDx Design & Curation Model: I had the honor of being one of the speakers at TEDx Broadway on Monday in New York City. I was able to combine content from the worlds of learning, Big Data and Broadway Theater Production. Their design and curation process was quite impressive and I wanted to share a few of their design elements:

* TED Short Duration: My segment was a strict 13 minutes long. There is a countdown clock that starts the second you are on stage and is used to keep each segment short and on target.
* No Commercial Mentions Allowed: There are no commercial mentions allowed in any of the talks. This is adhered to on both a verbal and projection slide basis. The slides are reviewed prior to the event and feedback is provided for any violations.
* Three Rounds of Conversation for Design: TEDx organizer Jim McCarthy, who is not compensated for his leadership role, spent several hours with me in three rounds of conversation during the months prior to the event. He worked with each of the 17 presenters on their focus, process and honing in on a key topic with content that would resonate with the diverse audience.
* If You Break the Rules, Your Video Will Not Be Posted: One of the cool things about a TEDx event is that your message can be seen by way more than the several hundred people in the audience. TED videos are amongst the most watched and shared content in the world. Any violations of the above rules and your video will not be posted or shared.
* Quick Video Interview for Each Speaker: At the end of each presentation, the speaker is asked to do a 60 second video interview on one or two key points about the content. This is shared online in real time and extends the reach.

The audience really appreciates the TED model and the levels of reaction and engagement are high. It is way more preparation as a speaker than some of my hour-long keynotes around the world, and I was very impressed. Check out the site at http://www.tedxbroadway.com for content and videos posted in the weeks ahead.

As learning leaders, engage in the dozens of local TEDx events around the country and consider their curation model as an evolving example for our own learning production.

3. Learning Strategies LAB - 9 Spaces Available: There are only 9 spaces left in our new Learning Strategies LAB, led by Doug Lynch and myself from March 25 to 27 in Saratoga Springs, NY. We have senior learning leaders attending from around the world as we dig deep into the process of building and leveraging a new Learning Strategy for your organization. Details and online registration: http://www.masie.com  Space is limited - so please register soon!

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
- Learning Strategies LAB - With Doug Lynch and Elliott Masie - March 25 to 27 Saratoga Springs.
- Learning 2015 - Nov 1- 4 - Orlando, Florida.
Upcoming:
- Gamification and Learning LAB.
- MOOCs and Corporate Learning Summit.

Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

5 Minute Survey on Learning as a Habit

TO: Learning, Training & Performance Colleagues
FROM: Elliott Masie, The MASIE Center
DATE: February 13, 2015

RE: 5 Minute Survey on Learning as a Habit, Please!

We are pleased to be researching the exciting topic of Learning as a Habit!

Would you (and your colleagues) take a quick, 5 minute survey on Learning Habits? It is confidential and will provide a context for the research on Learning Habits being conducted by Jennifer Cheng, our Research Fellow.

Go to: http://www.masie.com/survey/habit1

A summary of the results will be published online in the coming month.

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
- Learning Strategies LAB - With Doug Lynch and Elliott Masie - March 25 - 27 Saratoga Springs.
- Learning Innovations LAB & Retreat - April 20 - 22 Saratoga Springs.
- Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4 - Orlando, Florida.
Upcoming:
- Gamification and Learning LAB.
- MOOCs and Corporate Learning Summit.

Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

865 - Do Stories Evolve Over Time?

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - February 9, 2015.
#865 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,821 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning Strategies LAB - March in Saratoga Springs!

1. Do Stories Evolve Over Time?
2. BYOD Access for Mobile Devices.
3. Learning Innovations LAB - April 20 - 22.

1. Do Stories Evolve Over Time? As we tell and retell our stories, especially if we are presenters, speakers or in the media, do we refine, hone and perhaps evolve or enhance our stories over time?

My question stems from the in-process news story about the storytelling of news anchor Brian Williams. TRENDS readers from the United States may have been following the crisis that flowed from flaws that are popping up in the stories that NBC Anchor Brian Williams told about his experiences in a battle that he was covering in Iraq many years ago. Apart from the truths or exaggerations in this specific incident - and we clearly want to have deep trust in the words of journalists - it does trigger a personal reflection on my part about what happens with stories that we tell over time.

I will admit that as I have shared stories in a keynote speech, they get better with each retelling. I figure out what to highlight, what to leave out and even the best sequence of the telling. This is a natural improvement. But, sometimes I may take elements from several stories and combine them into one better story. It is may be a speaker’s natural desire to be powerful or impactful - but am I bending the truth?

One example is a story that I have told about introducing my mother - who was a senior citizen - to the internet in the 1990’s in front of many of her fellow grandmothers in an apartment in Miami, Florida.

I love telling the story and referencing a woman on the end of the couch with red hair - who I “think” had the name of Ida - and telling it with gusto. I have told that story perhaps over 300 hundred times over several decades. And, it is true.

But, I am not sure if the name of the woman at the end of the coach was Ida - or Irene or Edith - and there may have been 4 or 6 other grandmothers. And, to be totally honest, I added a bigger, deeper Jewish accent to Ida’s comments to me. As I told the story, Ida became the best way of deeply telling the story to large groups. Stories sometimes naturally evolve with the retelling.

I have been thinking about the ways in which we deal with this “story evolution” reality as professional storytellers:

* Accuracy on Organizational Context: Let’s make sure that we are accurate on the name or type of organization that we are referring to in a story. If combining several, be direct to say, “Here is a story that reflects what several companies in the freight logistics area are undertaking.”
* Own Your Possible Memory Gaps: I really don’t know if her name was exactly “Ida”. But, I might say, “I believe that my mother’s friend name was called Ida.”
* Write it Down or Video It: As we tell stories, which will evolve, try to have a version of the original one - in video or text - to hold the details.
* Stories vs. Case Studies: Try to differentiate a Case Study, which is about a specific incident with a specific company at a specific moment in history, from a story that may be a more personal recounting of a set of memories. I use the word “Story” intentionally to differentiate it from a “Case Study”.
* Keep the Story on Them, Not You: One of the challenges of the celebrity nature of journalists and even public speakers is that we use too many “I” statements. Keep the stories about other people rather than always bringing it back to you.

There is much to learn about the evolving nature of Storytelling, particularly in the age of everywhere video. I would love to hear from Learning TRENDS readers about their views of how stories evolve over time. Send me a note to emasie@masie.com

2. BYOD Access for Mobile Devices: We have been tracking the enormous rise in the use of personal phones or tablets by employees as they do their work defined computing, searching and collaborating. More and more employees are in the BYOD - Bring Your Own Device - mode as they conduct business work throughout the day.

BYOD Access will be requested and in many ways required as all generations increase their desire to have technology access at their fingertips (and perhaps soon on their watches). BYOD Access will evolve to include Biometric Validation, GPS Location Validation or other extensions of selective access to the corporate firewall.

Learning and Development colleagues, along with other Human Resource professionals, will need to better communicate the nature of BYOD Access and include it in onboarding, orientation and other job readiness learning activities. Our IT colleagues will also need to mix the need for security and threat prevention while at the same time dealing with a more mobile and agile computing workforce.

3. Learning Innovations LAB - April 20 to 22. We are pleased to announce the next edition of my Learning Innovations LAB & Retreat, a 2 1/2 day deep dive into new technologies and learning designs.  We offered this for the first time in January and the LAB sold out. Therefore, I will be hosting a Learning Innovations LAB & Retreat from April 20 to 22 at The MASIE Center LAB in Saratoga Springs, NY. We will explore these technologies and topics:

- Learning Personalization.
- Mobile Learning Models – Mobility & Performance.
- Video: Fast, Targeted, User-Created, Open, Digital Studios.
- Wearables: From Glasses to Bands to Watches.
- Performance Support Technologies.
- ReDesigning Webinars.
- MOOCs: Massive and Open Content Models.
- Small Tech vs. Big Tech - Solutions in the BYOD Era.
- Collaborative & Social Learning Technology.
- Curation: Harvesting & Sorting Content.
and more..

Details on content and registration are available at http://www.masie.com

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
- Learning Strategies LAB - With Doug Lynch and Elliott Masie - March 25 to 27 Saratoga Springs.
- Learning Innovations LAB & Retreat - April 20 to 22 Saratoga Springs.
- Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4 - Orlando, Florida.
Upcoming:
- Gamification and Learning Summit.
- MOOCs and Corporate Learning LAB.

Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

864 - Blizzards and Learning Modes, Video Shifts

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - January 28, 2015.
#864 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,815 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning Strategies LAB - March in Saratoga Springs!

1. Learning for a Pending Snow Blizzard.
2. Video Shifts: 4K, User Blending, Shorter and Targeted.

1. Learning for a Pending Snow Blizzard. I was in New York City for the past week and lived through the process of awaiting a major snow blizzard. While Manhattan did not get the huge snow storm, it was fascinating to see how learning, content, performance support and digital collaboration played out for a potential disaster in 2015.  Here are a few of my observations:

* Connected Population: It was amazing to see how connected to the breaking news, weather updates, flight schedules and government declarations people were. I went to the small supermarket where we were all buying loads of emergency food - and almost every person on the long line was digitally on top of the breaking news. We had our mobile phones out and had a deep discussion amongst 10 of us (of all language and backgrounds) about the weather forecast map and times when subways would shut down.  It was the first time that I saw true widespread and agile content connection in a busy city.
* Consequence Awareness: New York City had been walloped and somewhat surprised with the Sandy Hurricane that happened a few years ago.  I noticed how many people used Sandy as a metaphor for why it was important to prepare.  The sense of “prep and consequence” was also quite different and new - and a shared experience.
* Video Content on Readiness: I counted 12 widespread videos that had been posted by people, media networks or government agencies to prepare and teach people what to do if something critical happened.  I watched one video about how to walk down from my 33rd Floor apartment should electricity go out and I needed to leave.  There were short (most under 6 minutes) videos on preparing for food, taking care of a sick relative or roommate, dressing tips and even more.
* Prep for Building Staff: I was impressed with how well trained and briefed various maintenance and custodial staff were in apartment buildings.  They had announcements for a situation like this, backup plans for coverage and more.
* TV Networks go Micro and Skype: While all traffic was banned during the storm, TV stations were given permission to travel and broadcast.  CNN and others used a small 2 sided camera - mounted in the front seat of a car - that would provide high def coverage for a reporter in the passenger seat and could be quickly swapped for a view out the window - even as a stand-up camera with the reporter in front of the car.  These were connected by 4G to the station.  Cool to see Small Tech in action.
* Skype, Google Hangout and Facetime Circles: Throughout the night, I and others were connected to friends and relatives via social networks and online video.  I felt quite supported even though I was alone in my apartment.
* Political Leaders Dressed for Social Broadcasting: It was funny to watch the Mayor, Governor and others dressed in warm jackets with their names and logos ready for Broadcasting.  They each went to multiple outdoor sites during and after the storm to show real-time presence live from the field. While some might complain that there was an over-reaction to the snow forecast, their field presence and manner was helpful in response.

There is much that the corporate learning space can learn from this moment. It was both a user-driven shift and also an awareness of the need for content, connection, performance support and presence. 

2. Video Shifts - 4K, User Blending, Shorter and Targeted: The world of video in workplace learning is continually shifting. There are new capacities for high-end, 4K, and Ultra High Def video as well as simple and just-in-time video from a user’s mobile phone. There are shifts in how we have to edit, tag and disseminate video.  And, learners and their managers want video that can be better targeted and shaped for user needs and personalization.  We will be addressing these issues using over $50,000 of new video equipment and technologies in our upcoming Video for Learning LAB in two weeks.  There are a few spaces still available and I would love to learn with you as we explore changing video design and deployment approaches.  Details about our Video for Learning LAB at http://www.masie.com

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
- Video & Learning LAB - Feb 10 - 12, Saratoga Springs.
- Learning Strategies LAB - With Doug Lynch and Elliott Masie - March 25 – 27, Saratoga Springs.
- Learning 2015 - Nov 1 – 4, Orlando, Florida.
Upcoming:
- Gamification and Learning Summit.
- MOOCs and Corporate Learning LAB.

Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie 

863 - Boo Hoo - Goodbye Radio Shack, Learning Habits, Expertise Notes

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - January 16, 2015.
#863 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,805 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Performance Support/Agile Learning LAB - Next Week!

1. Boo Hoo - Goodbye Radio Shack!
2. My Learning Habit - 2 TED Videos a Day.
3. Making Notes About Expertise - Where Does it Go?

1. Boo Hoo - Goodbye Radio Shack! OK, I am pretty depressed this morning. Many of the Radio Shack stores in my area are closing. It is part of a slow and painful wind down of Radio Shack, a key place and institution in my youth as a nerd who loved to “make” stuff.

I probably visited a Radio Shack once a week from my early teens through my 30’s. Here were some of the things I did (somewhat dated or alien to my younger TRENDS readers) when I visited the local “Shack”:

* Brought the “tubes” from inside a television set or radio to be tested at Radio Shack. They had a machine in the store (that later moved to the storeroom) that tested an electronic, glowing tube. Image here: http://tinyurl.com/tubetester  This let me help my neighbors when their TV or radio wasn’t working - before calling for a visit from the service company.
* Bought small resistors to build electronic devices. I would pick the right resistor, based on Ohms of electric resistance, and find it by reading the color codes on the wire. Each resistor was less than a $1 and it allowed me to make or fix things. Radio Shack had the best and widest selection. Image here: http://tinyurl.com/resistorspic
* Stop in and talk to the staff at the Radio Shack about a project or idea - and they would help me to invent or adapt it. I wanted to have my radio in my bedroom play the sound from our Black and White TV in the living room - to listen to shows after my bedtime curfew. They gave me a wiring chart and I bought some parts to listen to the 11 o’clock news quietly enough that my parents never found out.  Thanks, Radio Shack!

Radio Shack was a “makers” haven and heaven. It was the place where we could buy the bits and parts to fix, improve or even create something electrical or electronic. This was way before mail order and large stores. But, Radio Shack played a key role in my generation’s development.

I bought my first computer, The TRS 80 Model 1, from Radio Shack. It had almost no memory, all CAPS on the small monitor, and read and wrote programs from a cassette recorder. But, many of the breakthrough early programming was done on a Radio Shack computer. I even led one of the first “computer clubs” in my region, which met at the Radio Shack at the mall and then had pizza at the food court afterwards.

Sure, things change. And, there are so many ways in which we can buy what we need, instantly. But I wonder what would have happened if the owners of Radio Shack, starting with the Tandy Corporation, had dropped the name “Radio” and just made it “The Shack”. I wonder if the stores could have become places where people who wanted to be “makers” of tools, technologies or fixes - from wiring together the appliances in our homes to experimenting with 3D Printing or even a students’ area - could play with and buy robotics. I even suggested to the CEO of Best Buy, whom I met shortly after he was hired, that they buy Radio Shack and add a “Shack” to each of their stores.

Alas, goodbye to Radio Shack! I will always value the memories, the learnings and even the burn on my finger from the mistake I made with the new soldering gun that I bought at a Shack. I wish that you had “Lived Long and Prospered”. You were part of my growth. And, you were a part of the technology revolution that was triggered by the race to the Moon, science fairs, computers and the rise of the digital age. Thanks and farewell.

2. My Learning Habit - 2 TED Videos a Day: We are honored to host Jennifer Cheng, a learning professional from PwC Hong Kong, who is working on a research project for a few months at The MASIE Center focused on “Making Learning a Habit”. I am experimenting with this idea and have started a behavior that may become one of my habits:

Every workday, I watch 1 or even better 2 TED Videos. These may be from one of the global TED conferences or from a TEDx regional event. They range from 6 to 18 minutes in duration and it is interesting for me to have the act of watching these as a daily expectation of myself. After a week, I have watched about 9 segments and it feels wonderful, short and invigorating. As I tell folks about my emerging habit, I am getting emails and messages suggesting a cool TED video to view.

We are curious about the idea of making Learning a Habit. We would love to hear from some of our TRENDS readers about this idea. Send a note to emasie@masie.com

3. Making Notes About Expertise - Where Does it Go? A learning leader asked me a fascinating question yesterday:

“Where do workers keep notes about colleagues that have useful expertise?”

Do they keep a running list, add personal notes to their version of the employee directory, create a personal contact on their mobile phones or use other strategies?

Ultimately, we want to build our own knowledge and expertise maps of a subset of the large employee bases in our organizations. It is a great feature for LMS and Social Network suppliers to expand.

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
- On The Job Learning & Performance Support = Agile Learning - Jan 20 to 22, Saratoga Springs.
- Video & Learning LAB - Feb 10 to 12, Saratoga Springs.
- Learning Innovations LAB - With Doug Lynch and Elliott Masie - March 25 to 27 Saratoga Springs.
- Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4 - Orlando, Florida.
Upcoming:
- Gamification and Learning Summit.
- MOOCs and Corporate Learning LAB.

Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

Learning Strategies Invitation

TO: Learning, Training and Leadership Colleagues.
FROM: Elliott Masie, Host & Curator.
DATE: 13 January 2015

RE: Learning Strategies LAB Invitation

We would like to invite you and your colleagues to participate in a new program for Learning Leaders:

Learning Strategies LAB
Led By: Doug Lynch and Elliott Masie
March 25 to 27, 2015 - Saratoga Springs, NY USA

Learning Strategies are key to aligning business strategies with learning decisions and directions.

This event will be led, facilitated and curated by Elliott Masie and Doug Lynch, with over 45 years of combined experience in learning leadership on a global level. We are honored to have Doug Lynch as our faculty member for this program. Doug is a major leader in the business and academic world. Doug is the Chief Academic Officer for CorpU and a member of the faculty at the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education.

We will explore these key issues related to Learning Strategies:

* Learning Strategies - From Crisp to Hype.
* Linking the Learning Strategy to Business Strategies.
* Learning Innovations & Learning Strategies.
* Analyzing Learning Strategies.
* Learning Leadership with Learning Strategies.
* Budgeting, Assessment and The Learning Strategy.
* Context for Learning Strategies.
* One Enterprise Learning Strategy vs. One Strategy Per Business Unit.
* Who Cares About Your Learning Strategy?
* Competencies & Business Strategies.
* The Learning or The Talent Strategy.
* 5 Case Studies of Learning Strategies.
* Partnering & Sourcing: Strategy Implications.
* Hackathon Model for Learning Innovation.
* Engagement & Learners.
* Learning Strategies & Leadership Styles.

This event is a small, hands-on and vendor-neutral deep dive into Learning Strategies in 2015. Space is limited and complete information is available at http://www.masie.com

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
- On The Job Learning & Performance Support = Agile Learning - Jan 20 to 22, Saratoga Springs.
- Video & Learning LAB - Feb 10 to 12, Saratoga Springs.
- Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4 - Orlando, Florida.
- Learning Strategies LAB - March 25 to 27 - Saratoga Springs, NY.
Upcoming:
- Gamification and Learning Summit.
- MOOCs and Corporate Learning LAB.

Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

862 - Badges for Learners, On The Job Learning LAB, CES Wrap Up

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - January 12, 2015.
#862 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,799 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Video and Learning LAB - Feb. 10 to 12th - Saratoga Springs.

1. Badges for Learners and Learning?
2. Gadgets and Technology Scan from CES.
3. On-The-Job Learning & Performance Support LAB.

1. Badges for Learners and Learning? One of the topics that is brewing in the world of learning and talent is “Badges”. I have written about the experiments and collaborations with Badges over the past three years. In 2015, The MASIE Center will be taking an in-depth look at how Badges can be used for the benefit of both learners and organizations.  We will be exploring the following questions:

* Badges for Competencies vs. Certifications?
* Badges that Workers Can Take to Their Next Job?
* Badges vs. Digital Badges?
* What did we Learn from the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts about Badges?
* Badges to Reflect Learning Interest vs. Accomplished Goal?
* Who Validates a Badge?

If you are interested in thinking with us on the role of Badges and Learning, please send a note to brooke@masie.com   We will be reaching out to several colleagues to help in our explorations and partnerships with external Badging efforts.

2. Gadgets and Technology Scan from CES: Here are our key reports from colleagues and journalists who were at last week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Add these to your “Technology & Learning” radar screens:

* Cable TV Disruption! What’s the Impact on Corporate Learning? There were many announcements that focused on the shift from Cable TV to a variety of on-demand and on-device options for viewers at home. “Cut the Cord” was one of the disruptive themes throughout CES. As employees have ever more choices at home - including the timing, format and packaging of content - it may result in a great demand for “personalization” and time-shifting of scheduled learning activities at the workplace. Watch the impact of Sling TV and others in this space.
* eLearning Recast as At-Home Activities: It has been a few years since eLearning was talked about at CES as a revenue center. But, with the rise of user demand for targeted, short video content, it was revitalized at CES this year. One product that was featured was curious.com, an eLearning site with about 10,000 user created videos. The buzz on the floor was to watch the rising marketplace for user purchased (or watched with ad revenue) that some predicted would be as high as $50 billion in 2016.  There was also buzz about the role that TED, YouTube and structured platforms like Corsera would have in this marketplace.
* 4K and Ultra HD Video: The good news was an announcement about industry standards for 4K and Ultra HD Video formats. The technology for higher def curved screens and lower cost high end cameras was displayed throughout CES.  Watch this video about a very slim and very high def screen: http://www.cnet.com/products/sony-xbr-65x900c/   We will be using more and more 4K and Ultra HD Video in corporate learning.
* Wearables and Connections: So, how will the wearables, such as digital watches, work with other technologies and processes? There were demonstrations about the connections between wearables and other environmentals, including health, proximity monitoring and ways in which a wearable could be an integral part of a Performance Support System.

3. On-The-Job Learning & Performance Support LAB: There are several spaces still open in our popular “On-The-Job Learning & Performance Support LAB & Seminar”, to be led by Bob Mosher and Conrad Gottfredson at The MASIE Center from January 20 to 22. This is a drill-deep program that looks at how we make learning more Agile while leveraging the powerful tools of both OJL and Performance Support Systems. Details and online registration at http://www.masie.com

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
- On-The-Job Learning & Performance Support = Agile Learning - Jan 20 to 22, Saratoga Springs.
- Video & Learning LAB - Feb 10 to 12, Saratoga Springs.
- Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4 - Orlando, Florida.
Upcoming:
- Gamification and Learning Summit.
- MOOCs and Corporate Learning LAB.
- Learning Strategies LAB with Doug Lynch.

Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie