658 - Classroom Temperatures, Random Leader Selection & More

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - April 1, 2011.
#658 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,244 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.

1. Depreciation Deductible for Knowledge Loss?
2. Classroom Temperature Research - The Big Chill.
3. Random Selection of Leaders - Wheel of Management.
4. Fertility Rates of Online Learners Drop?

1. Depreciation Deductible for Knowledge Loss? There are several cases making their way through tax court at the moment related to Knowledge Management and the tax implications of outdated skills and information. With the speed of business increasing, organizations are realizing that their investments in training and learning programs may actually have a shorter “half-life”. So, three Fortune 500 companies have taken the bold move of attempting to declare an accelerated depreciation deduction for loss of knowledge in their workforce. For example, one technology company has calculated that their system changes almost 34% each year. Therefore, their balance sheet of Workforce Knowledge should reflect a 34% depreciation or loss each year. Another company is attempting to claim that their older workers are showing signs of less long term corporate memory, which should also be reflected in a tax deduction. If this trend continues and is validated by higher courts, we may see the extreme of a company showing the bulk of their profits resulting from high speed knowledge loss by their workers. LMS companies take note: you might want to start building a “ROI of Memory Loss” module to sell to the accountants of your current learning clients.

2. Classroom Temperature Research - The Big Chill: I spend a lot of my time leading seminars in a classroom. One of the most vexing problems is to get the room temperature just right. You would think we could just set the thermostat to a comfortable temp and that would be it. But, NO! People have diverse needs and desires for temperature settings. We have developed a guideline for predicting temperature settings for a class, based on content, difficulty, time of day and controversy of the topic. Here are a few of The MASIE Center recommendations:

* Start of Class: 70 Degrees F.
* Presenting a New Pricing List (with 10% increases): Increase Temperature by 10%.
* People With Myers Briggs of ENTP: Place them right below the ceiling fan or blower.
* Teaching a New ERP or HR System: 64 Degrees F. If an Oracle System - 1 Degree Lower.
* When Teaching a Video Online Seminar from Hawaii: Instructor should wear a sweater or long sleeves.

I recently purchased an app for my iPhone, which allows me to upload the agenda for the class and easily shift temperatures as we move through modules. The classroom of the future may contain personalized thermostats for each learner, allowing them to select the right learning air temperature in the 3 feet surrounding them. 

3. Random Selection of Leaders - Wheel of Management: We are always on the lookout for new models of Leadership Development. I was amused and fascinated by a technique used by a company in Finland - “Random Selection”. With a younger workforce, they were experiencing some team issues following the selection of one person to be promoted to leadership. Plus, they reported that their younger workers were less interested in careers that involved managing people. So, they adopted a Game Show model. Every six months, new leaders for each team are selected at random using a large “Wheel of Fortune”. The name of each employee is placed on the wheel and the newest employee gets to spin the wheel. When the wheel stops, that person is placed in a 3 week blended learning experience on management competencies and then they are declared “Leaders”.  If the wheel lands right between two names, both are made “co-leaders” and the unit experiments with collaborative leadership.

First reports are that there are “no significant differences” between this random model and their more traditional selection criteria. One upside is how excited everyone is on the day of the wheel spin. People bring in covered dishes, music and it keeps high interest in leadership. They are preparing to experiment with using this technique for their CEO starting next year. Stay tuned for more updates.

4. Fertility Rates of Online Learners Drop? Media has been reporting a dramatic decrease in the fertility rates of couples, where the male was getting an online degree while working. It seems that laptops on the lap raise the temperature of the lap by 2 degrees, resulting in some changes. When I mentioned this to the Association for Online Universities, they tried to pay me $30,000 not to mention it. But, TRENDS will always be on the side of full disclosure. So, please look into taping a pot holder on the bottom of your laptop while taking online MBA courses from home. Your future children will thank you!

April Fools is my favorite day for writing TRENDS. If you want to read a few of our previous April Fools editions check out #617, #572 #513 and #439.

And one favor: if I did “fool” you, send me a quick note to emasie@masie.com

Yours in learning,
Elliott Masie
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* LeadershipDev 2011 - June 14 & 15 - Las Vegas, NV.
* Learning 2011 - Nov 6 to 9, 2011 - Orlando, Florida.
* Learning Essentials LAB - May in Saratoga Springs.
* Video for Learning LAB - May in Saratoga Springs.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

657 - Second Screens - Unofficial Learning Devices?

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - March 25, 2011.
#657 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,239 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.

Special Note: The Second Screen and Learning!

I have a Second Screen in my life.  Well, actually I have several of them:

* My iPad is often on my lap as I watch TV at home. I’ll look up a reference in the news, locate an actor in a movie or read something different during the boring bits.
* My SmartPhone comes out during a webinar, serving as a back channel - either by text or IM - to someone across the world.  And, once or twice, I have used it when leading a webinar to get some background on the person asking a question in a session.
* My Tablet computer, with a 3G connection, gets me to places where a firewalled connection would not let me go, connecting on my own personal network rather than within the gated community of the host network.

The Second Screen is any mobile device (tablet, smartphone, iPad, Xoom, Slate and future devices) with wireless connectivity that can be used by the worker/learner WHILE and IN ADDITION to using the corporate computer, laptop or media device.

We are seeing the dramatic rise of the Second Screen in our personal and work lives. Most of the Second Screens are the personal possessions of workers and are being used in unofficial ways. Second Screens may have significant implications for Learning and IT/HR groups within our organizations:

Learning Implications:

* People are using their Second Screens to continually enhance, contextualize and expand the CONTEXT side of CONTENT that is being viewed.
* Workers are able to collaborate - internally or externally - with formal or personal clusters of people as part of or in competition with the learning activity.
* Learning Designers will start to leverage the Second Screen with Scan Codes or other links that allow us to drive the Second Screen in parallel to the Main Screen.  Watch for some Apps that will link the two screens, at least at the suggested content level.
* Learners will have access to more back-channel and secondary content, context and opinion as they engage in learning.
* Tracking Second Screen activity will be a major challenge, if not impossibility.
* Learners will demand greater connectivity and access to at least some corporate assets on their Second Screens.
* When do we allow or restrict the use of Second Screens at work, in a leadership program or in the field?

IT & HR Implications:

* The firewall as we know it will become much more porous, at least in blocking outbound traffic at work.  My Second Screen can go where the First Screen cannot.
* Selective, layered and location specific access to online assets from Second Screens will be requested from workers at the office, on the road and at home.
* Security issues - including Intellectual Property challenges - will arise as Second Screens are used, especially when the content is cached rather than just viewed.
* Second Screens will rapidly become HD-enabled Video Presence Units, competing with the quality of the $250,000 telepresence suite and placing intense loads on bandwidth.
* Equality and Discrimination issues will rise when employees buy their own Second Screens and are competing for performance with others who cannot afford the luxury.

This year at our LeadershipDev 2011 event and our annual Learning 2011 event, we will have major discussions about the role of the Second Screen and learning.  Organizations may start to build Second Screens that are very personally adapted to the learning requirements and performance challenges of workers: a sort of personalized GPS (Performance Support).  We can image Leadership Development Second Screen apps that would be enormously provocative.

The conversation about Mobile Learning will shift away from putting e-Learning modules on a cell phone (never a great idea in my opinion) to the more provocative role of the Second Screen as an extender and accelerator for learning, comprehension and performance.  We will be doing some in-depth research on how learning and cognitive processing changes with a Second Screen.

I’d love to see some of your comments and reactions to the Second Screen conversation.  Send me a note to emasie@masie.com

Yours in learning,
Elliott Masie
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* LeadershipDev 2011 - June 14 & 15 - Las Vegas, NV.
* Learning 2011 - Nov 6 to 9, 2011 - Orlando, Florida.
* Learning Essentials LAB - May in Saratoga Springs.
* Video for Learning LAB - May in Saratoga Springs.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

656 - Learning Stocks News, 21st Century Skills, 360 Pics for Context

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - March 18, 2011.
#656 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,231 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.

1. Learning Stocks and Investments Rising.
2. 21st Century Skills Conversations.
3. 360 Panoramic Photos for Context - Cool App!

1. Learning Stocks and Investments Rising: Two Learning investment news flashes yesterday and today. Thursday, Cornerstone OnDemand, an LMS and Talent Provider, went IPO, selling their stocks on NASDAQ. In the first day, the stock rose 47%, even though Cornerstone has not yet turned a profit. The new issue got attention for its role in the Talent field and the “software as service” mode. Check out Reuter’s article: http://tinyurl.com/6jju89h

And, today I received an email alert about LearningGuide Solutions receiving an $8 million investment from Edison Ventures, reflecting an increased interest in the Performance Support space - including what we are calling “GPS-like” functionality for workplace applications. Details at http://tinyurl.com/476b4nl

2. 21st Century Skills Conversations: I am writing this TRENDS while sitting around a table of 12 global learning colleagues, gathered at Harvard, to brainstorm on “21st Century Skills - A Potential Curriculum”. Leaders from the Education Ministry/Departments of Singapore, Finland, Canada, England and the US, along with representatives of Universities and our Learning CONSORTIUM, are pushing on the set of skills we need our next generation of students to have as they enter the workplace. It was fascinating to look at the articulation by the Singapore Ministry of Education. Here is a graphic of their Competency Maps: http://tinyurl.com/yduf98n

3. 360 Panoramic Photos for Context - Cool App! I just downloaded a very cool app for my iPhone, which allows me to slowly scan a group or room with the camera, turning it into a 360 panoramic photo, perfect for adding context to a gathering. Only $1.99, this uses smartphone processing in an amazing way. I can image dozens of workplace uses.  And, it is only $1.99. Check it out at: http://tinyurl.com/2b2qyr5

Note: 4 Spaces Open for Upcoming Video for Learning LAB & Seminar: Register Online at http://www.masie.com

Yours in learning,
Elliott Masie
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* LeadershipDev 2011 - June 14 & 15 - Las Vegas, NV.
* Learning 2011 - Nov 6 to 9, 2011 - Orlando, Florida.
* Learning Essentials LAB - May in Saratoga Springs.
* Video for Learning LAB - March in Saratoga Springs.
* Video for Learning LAB - May in Saratoga Springs.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

655 - LeadershipDev 2011 - Leadership Development Benchmarking; iPad 2 & iMeet

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - March 15, 2011.
#655 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,229 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.

1. Announcing: LeadershipDev 2011 - Refreshing Leadership Development & Training!
2. iPAD 2 & iMeet: Quick Looks.
3. Japanese Learning Professionals.

1. Announcing LeadershipDev 2011 - Refreshing Leadership Development & Training! I am honored to invite our Learning TRENDS readers to a new and unique conference that we are launching, focused on Leadership Development & Training models, assumptions and designs:

LeadershipDev 2011.
June 14 and 15 - Las Vegas, NV.
http://www.leadershipdev.com

Several CLOs suggested that we start this new conference, which is exclusively focused on benchmarking, innovating and refreshing organizational models and strategies for Leadership Development & Training. Areas of focus:

* Benchmark on Current Leadership Development Approaches.
* Explore Changing Models for Development & Delivery.
* Challenge Assumptions about Speed, Process & Intensity of Leadership Development.
* Consider & Design Alternative Models for Leadership Training.
* Align with Changing Technology & Evolving Workforce Demographics.
* Expand Leadership Development Efficacy Research.
* Globalize Leadership Development Approaches.
* Contrast Investment Models for Leadership Development.

This will be a highly focused and facilitated gathering of Leadership Development peers. There are no sales pitches and, ironically, we will spend little time talking about “leadership content”. Rather, we will interactively drill down into our Leadership Development Models, Assumptions and Approaches. We will collectively design a range of LeadershipDev Innovations – process changes that organizations can apply to existing programs to better prepare the next generation of leaders for changing times.

I am pleased to be co-hosting LeadershipDev with Betsy Myers. In addition, Marshall Goldsmith (“Mojo”) and Vice Dean Doug Lynch (UPenn/Wharton CLO PhD Program) will be facilitating key aspects of this new program. Space is limited and complete information and registration is online at http://www.leadershipdev.com

2. iPAD 2 & iMeet - Quick Looks. I spent the past three days testing and using two new technologies with implications for learning. Here is a quick take on each one:

iPAD 2: The two most important aspects that have implications for learning and collaboration groups are the Cameras and Apps for Video/Conferencing. You can use Apple’s FaceTime  - or, soon, other apps, including WebEx, Skype and other collaboration tools - to do personal and corporate video chat from the tablet.  Also, there are new Apps and capabilities to allow for easy video editing and publishing. There is about a 15% level of improvement and we will see increased corporate interest in the tablet/slate marketplace. Expect boosts also of Zoom, Dell and HP tablets as they hit the market in the months ahead. Watch for a wide range of Learner and Teacher Apps that can help personalize the process.

iMeet: This is in beta and a very interesting multi-person video conferencing application. You can share webcams, files, stored video and other assets, and manage a personal “Room” that has up to 15 participants. Audio can come via telephone or voice over IP. The first 30 days are free and worth checking out.  http://www.imeet.com  This might have interesting applications for small group sessions and just-in-time support.

3. Japanese Learning Professionals: Our thoughts and prayers go out to learning colleagues in Japan. This morning I received several messages from learning professionals who were “in-land” and out of the immediate impact zone. They were sharing the challenge of rapidly providing knowledge and guidance to a population about Radiation and Recovery efforts in the midst of this wide spread crisis. Where cell phones are still working, a great deal of content is being shared via mobile knowledge and other social networks. The MASIE Center has made a donation on behalf of TRENDS Readers to UNICEF’s Japan Relief Fund: http://www.unicefusa.org/

Yours in learning,
Elliott Masie
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* LeadershipDev 2011 - June 14 & 15 - Las Vegas, NV.
* Learning 2011 - Nov 6 to 9, 2011 - Orlando, Florida.
* Learning Essentials LAB - May in Saratoga Springs.
* Video for Learning LAB - March in Saratoga Springs.
* Video for Learning LAB - May in Saratoga Springs.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

The Classroom of the Future - 5 Minute Survey & Brainstorm

TO: Learning, Training & Performance Colleagues
FROM: Elliott Masie

RE: The Classroom of the Future - 5 Minute Survey & Brainstorm

Let’s take a look at how Classrooms in our companies and government agencies might evolve in the future. While the conversation in the learning field is heavily focused on eLearning, digital collaboration, and media formats – there are still hundreds of thousands of classrooms that are used for face-to-face learning events.

The MASIE Center invites you to take this 5 minute survey and brainstorm about the classroom of the future, including changing methods, designs, technologies, and uses for these learning spaces.

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

We will publish the results of this survey/brainstorm in the next eight weeks and invite you to join in the conversation about the changing nature of our classrooms.

Yours in learning,
Elliott Masie
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning Essentials LAB & Seminar
* Video for Learning LAB & Seminar
* Learning 2011
* LeadershipDev 2011 - To Be Announced Shortly
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

653 - Learning Essentials Lab; SmartPhone Searches; Unemployed Colleagues?

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Feb. 22, 2011.
#653 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,229 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: Video for Learning LAB & Seminar - March 2011

1. Learning Professionals Unemployed - Mentors Needed!
2. Learning Essentials: Fundamentals & Changes!
3. SmartPhone Searches Daily.

1. Learning Professionals Unemployed - Mentors Needed! Every week, I receive emails and phone calls from several colleagues in the learning field who are actively looking for new jobs. Some of this is the natural give and take of any field. And, most of the people calling land new opportunities in 3 to 5 months. But, recently we have seen a pattern of learning professionals still looking after 7 to 10 months - with very few leads, interviews or openings. While I refer them to the various job boards (ASTD and ISPI) and talk about headhunters in our industry, many of these good colleagues are still looking and honestly, hurting. I’d like to suggest an informal support system that we might build - with mentors/coaches who would be willing to think creatively with recently laid off learning colleagues. We are not looking for people who have leads to new jobs, but rather folks who would be willing to be creative support resources. The MASIE Center will serve as an intermediary and link a volunteer mentor/coach with a colleague who is looking for a new job. If you are interested in volunteering for this role, please send a short note to Meghan at The MASIE Center at meghan@masie.com  We will get back to you with more details. Thanks!

2. Learning Essentials: Fundamentals & Changes! I am pleased to announce a brand new course that I will be teaching this May:

Learning Essentials LAB & Seminar: Exploring Learning Fundamentals & Changes!
May 16 to 18, 2011 - The MASIE Center - Saratoga Springs, NY USA

We will be exploring the key essentials of Learning, as well as Learning Changes and Learning Futures. This program is designed for both experienced and new learning professionals, addressing topics that include:

* Learning Theory & Models.
* Learning Design.
* Learning Delivery – Classroom & e-Learning.
* Learning Resources – Collaborative & Social.
* Learning Alternatives – GPS (Performance Support).
* Learning Technologies & Systems.
* Learning Usability.
* Learning Assessment & Evaluation.
* Learning Roles & Careers.
* Learning Futures.

Complete details and online registration at http://www.masie.com/essentials

3. SmartPhone Searches Daily: Here is a piece of HOMEWORK for every Learning Trends reader. If you have a smartphone, look at the history of your browser and track how often you do handheld web searches.  Yesterday, I looked at mine and realized that I am now doing 4 to 8 searches a day. These range from looking up the name of an actor in a movie I am watching, to a random fact during a restaurant conversation, to the price or review of a product in a store. Fascinating to see how easy these searches start to become part of our out-of-work lives.  Now, the challenge is to provide the same functionality, despite all of the firewall issues, for employees working in our organizations as they desire access to corporate knowledge bases.

Yours in learning,
Elliott Masie
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2011 - Nov 6 to 9, 2011 - Orlando, Florida.
* Learning Essentials LAB - May in Saratoga Springs.
* Video for Learning LAB - March in Saratoga Springs.
* Video for Learning LAB - May in Saratoga Springs.
* Coming Soon:
 - LeadershipDev - Las Vegas in June.
 - Workplace GPS (& Performance Support) - Saratoga Springs in July.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

652 - Snow Happens, 30 Under 30 Blog & Video for Learning LAB

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Feb. 4, 2011.
#652 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,229 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: Video for Learning LAB & Seminar - March 2011

1. Snow Happens! Shift vs. Close.
2. Innovations Blog from 30 Under 30 Learning Leader!
3. Video for Learning LAB - 10 Spaces Left.

1. Snow Happens! Shift vs. Close: When the snowstorms hit Saratoga Springs this week, as they did for most of the country, we had to make a decision about closing The MASIE Center for the day. Interestingly, the decision had really shifted in recent times. Rather than close the Center, we just SHIFTED how people worked. The announcement on Tuesday afternoon was to “work from home” rather than come in. We have built up the capacity of each of our employees to be fully functional from home - with VPN access to our network, Skype video conferencing and other remote connectivity options. We have also experimented with working from home, which has added to comfort on process. For me, the decision also included how to be part of a critical meeting in Washington, DC that had been scheduled for months. Once again, we just shifted to video conferencing and the process went on. I wonder when we will see schools in snow areas shift from closing for a storm to asking students and teachers to carry on virtually.

2. Innovations Blog from 30 Under 30 Learning Leader! Sarah Carr, one of our 30 Under 30 Learning Leaders, has a new blog focused on Innovation. Her day job is at Google, but this is a personal blog with perspectives about the world of learning and innovation. I was honored to add a guest blog article on Changing Learning Rituals. Check out Sarah’s new blog at: http://innovativesarah.com

3. Video for Learning LAB - 10 Spaces Left: We have only a few spaces left in our Video for Learning LAB and Seminar, to be held at The MASIE Center in March. Details at http://www.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.
* Video for Learning LAB - March in Saratoga Springs.
* Learning Leadership Academy - February in Saratoga Springs.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

651 - Learnings from CES Gadget Show, New Section of Video Lab

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Jan. 12, 2011.
#651 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,222 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning Leadership Academy - Saratoga Springs, Feb 2011

1. Trends from CES/Gadget Show.
2. New Section of Video for Learning Offered.

1. Trends from CES/Gadget Show: Our scouts from CES, the annual Gadget Show in Las Vegas, have spotted a number of technology announcements that have potential to impact the learning field:

* Tablets, Tablets, Tablets: Expanding on the iPad phenomenon, there were over 18 announcements about new Tablet Form Factors, including ones running Android, Windows and other systems. With the addition of cameras, slide-out keyboards and varied sizes, the Tablet was the computer of interest at CES. There was almost radio silence on netbooks, notebooks and desktops. Enterprise capabilities were featured, to bring the Tablet safely into the corporate setting. Watch for Tablets to be used for both Performance Support as well as learning platforms.

* Apps for $10 vs. Programs for $100: The size and cost of featured software has shifted from boxed software to Apps. From free to a few dollars, or $10 to $30, the App is provocative in its size, agility and distribution mode. Using auto update, these represent a non-disruptive approach to continual improvement. Apps are being developed across the platforms to run on desktops, tablets and smartphones. As we assign new roles or projects to employees, imagine apps flowing with the assignment, providing targeted functionality and data access appropriate to the new situation. Apps are rarely going to require training and will increasingly be leveraged for just-in-time skill development.

* Video Screens Drop in Price and Grow in Size: The size of displays and televisions are growing rapidly as prices are shrinking. Increasingly, displays are including 3D capabilities and starting to include touch screen and embedded video cameras. We will be able to easily add these to our classrooms, offices and workplaces with directed display from handheld devices. Data manipulation through touch will also open a new door to work process design and collaboration.

* Cameras, Video Conferencing and Gesture Based: Our scouts tracked a range of new, low cost, high def, easy-to-use cameras that will be leveraged for User Created Content. Video Conferencing, Video Chat and Telepresence were widely featured and shifting towards integrated communications. And, the XBOX Kinect gesture based technology was on the minds of many technologists at CES. In fact, I am heading out to Microsoft in 2 weeks to meet with the product managers for Kinect to better understand the potential for this capability for the learning field.

2. New Section of Video for Learning LAB Offered: Today, I finished teaching our popular Video for Learning LAB & Seminar. We were sold out for this section and have added another section to be held in Saratoga Springs, NY from March 28 to 30. Details and online registration at http://www.masie.com  Space is limited so please register early.

Yours in learning,
Elliott Masie
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2011 - Nov 6 to 9, 2011 - Orlando, Florida.
* Video for Learning LAB - March in Saratoga Springs.
* Learning Leadership Academy - February in Saratoga Springs.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

650 - Another LMS Merger, 2011 is the Year of Video, The Business of the Business?

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Jan. 5, 2010.
#650 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,219 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.

1. 2011 - The Year of Video for Learning.
2. Another LMS Merger.
3. Learning the Business of the Business?

First of all, Happy New Year to Learning TRENDS Readers from The MASIE Center.  We hope that you and your families had a happy holiday and we are looking forward to learning together about learning in 2011.

1. 2011 - The Year of Video for Learning: We are seeing significant growth in organizations using Video for Learning. This can be found in two modes:

* Video on Demand (Stories) - Growing a collection of short and focused video stories and segments (ala YouTube) that can be accessed by learners, either as part of a design or on demand at the moment of need.
* Video Chat & Conferencing - Prepare for a massive growth in the use of desktop video (ala Skype or Gmail Video) at work to connect to colleagues, customers and expertise. In learning situations, live video (from chat to telepresence) will impact classroom and at-your-desk learning designs.

We have 4 more spaces available next week in our most popular course: Video for Learning LAB & Seminar. If you want to make a last minute decision to spend 3 intense days exploring this topic, go to http://www.masie.com

2. Another LMS Merger: 2011 will continue the trend of LMS company mergers and consolidation. Today, SumTotal purchased GeoLearning. We will continue to see mergers of LMS companies and their absorption into Talent Management companies. The full release on the SumTotal/GeoLearning purchase is at http://www.sumtotalsystems.com/

3. Learning the Business of the Business? Over the holidays, I watched an episode of Undercover CEO, focusing on the experience of the CEO of Johnny Rockets (burger chain) as he worked in one of his stores, making food and cleaning tables. He was struck by the gap in his own experience, having never actually worked in a restaurant. I’d like to ask TRENDS readers how their organizations are helping new employees, and especially new senior managers, learn the business of the business. Send along a note about how your organization deals with this issue,  -from mini-jobs to stretch assignments - 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.
* Video for Learning LAB - January in Saratoga Springs.
* Learning Leadership Academy - February in Saratoga Springs.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

649 - Small Changes, In/Out Groups, Talent Search Starts

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Dec. 17, 2010.
#649 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,214 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: Video for Learning LAB & Seminar - January 2011

1. Small Changes - Big Impacts.
2. Avoid the In and Out Group of Innovation.
3. Kiva Micro-Lending as a Bonus.
4. MASIE Center Talent Search.

1. Small Changes - Big Impacts: I was struck this morning, as I walked around The MASIE Center, with the small, yet very significant changes that have happened in the world of learning, collaboration and technology over the past year.  Here are a few things that I observed:

* Video Chat: 2 of my staff were in their offices, having Skype video chats with locations across the country and around the world. Each of our staff now has a webcam, Skype account and video chatting has become the norm.
* Apps Not Programs: Two apps were being downloaded to iPhones and Tablets this morning. One was free, the other was $1.99. Last year, we would be talking about ordering a box of software; this year it was a simple click and download for a new publication and for a photo editing app. I can’t wait for apps for the desktop, which are coming in few weeks. Lower cost of ownership, higher rate of experimentation and continuous updates vs. disruptive updates.
* Video Galore: Our producer was just finishing the 15th hour of 3 minute video clips from Learning 2010. From Apolo Ohno interviews to Marshall Goldsmith talking about Mojo to clips of The Midtown Men singing Four Seasons songs, we are adding video every day - in short clips - viewed by thousands around the world, for free. Video on the web has become our standard rather than the exception - http://www.learningtalks.com .
* To The Cloud: Our content, from websites to learning resources to video, has moved to the “Cloud”. There is an empty room downstairs that used to host 16 servers. Now, all of our content is in the “cloud” and frankly, we don’t really know or care about the physical location. We are moving all of our video to an even more efficient cloud, to position it in multiple sites around the world that will sense the viewer’s bandwidth and device, and make appropriate adjustments to the streaming intensity.

These are just a few of the changes that are impacting our organization. What is interesting is that we are not labeling it as MASIE 2.0 or giving it a large drum roll. Rather, there are continuous improvements and innovations that we are evaluating, trying and adapting to with greater agility. By lowering the hype, we are free to accept or reject new innovations based on a single criteria: does it help our staff work better with the learning field?

2. Avoid the In and Out Group of Innovation: On that note, let’s work harder to avoid an In and Out Group when it comes to learning and technology innovations. I have some colleagues that have branded themselves as “cutting edge”. They Tweet, Wiki, Blog and Facebook - all of which are interesting tools and environments - but they go a step farther by defining themselves as the new wave due to their engagement in new media. I got off a phone call a few minutes ago with a learning colleague who said how frustrated she was that people weren’t hanging out on the corporate social network. She said that there was a cool group of forward thinkers there but the “old timers” were not playing. I immediately had a vision of a table in the high school cafeteria with the “cool” kids who sneered at the others. The reality is that we, as a society and as a workforce, are experimenting with and adapting technology at an unheard of rate.  My 70-year-old relative uses her GPS to navigate, has an email list of 50 people to ask for knowledge assistance and is deeply agile with validating information on the web. We as learning professionals can build bridges between new technologies and current/past practices/wisdom by dropping the branding of “new” and focusing on helping people work, learn and collaborate more easily (regardless of cool tech).

3. Kiva Micro-Lending as a Bonus: Talking about changes, this year each of The MASIE Center staff received a $25 gift card to invest in a micro-loan in a developing country via Kiva. This is an interesting way to promote awareness of the challenges of the 3rd world and to also engage employees in a market/capitalism approach to solution seeking. Check it out at www.kiva.org

4. MASIE Center Talent Search: As we head in 2011, I am starting a Talent Search for one or two new learning professionals to join our team at The MASIE Center and Learning CONSORTIUM. We are looking for individuals who are either at the point of retirement from a senior learning position and would like to work 1/2 to 2/3 time from their current location or for those who are on the rise in their learning career and would like to add perspective and insight to our efforts in a full time role here in Saratoga Springs, NY. This is a slow and organic search process and we are usually drawn to colleagues that have a history of participation in our events in the past. If you are interested, please send a note about yourself and your aspirations to talent@masie.com and we will send you some additional information.

Yours in learning,
Elliott Masie
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2011 - Nov 6 to 9, 2011 - Orlando, Florida.
* Video for Learning LAB - January in Saratoga Springs.
* Learning Leadership Academy - February in Saratoga Springs.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com
 
 

End of the Year Planning - Upcoming Labs, Events & More

TO: Learning, Training & Performance Colleagues
FROM: Elliott Masie, The MASIE Center
DATE: December 16, 2010

RE: End of the Year Planning - Upcoming Labs, Events & More

As you are doing your planning at the end of 2010, including activities for 2011, I wanted to give you a quick heads up about the upcoming Labs, Events and collaborations we are planning at The MASIE Center:

* Video for Learning LAB & Seminar: This is our most popular LAB - and we have done a major retrofit and upgrade for 2011. Spend 3 days in Saratoga Springs at our 10,000 square foot Learning LAB and have a hands-on, deep dive exploration of the changing role of Video for Learning. We have just invested over $50,000 to upgrade our LAB to High Def and to build a range of cloud-based video collection sites. We will explore the role of Video Stories, Short Form Video, UserContent Videos, as well as the rapidly evolving Video Chat/Video Conference function in learning. There are 10 spaces available in our next Video for Learning LAB, which I teach with Lauren Broughton, our video producer, January 10 to 12th. Each participant will receive video equipment to use for projects back home. Register at http://www.masie.com

* Learning Leadership Academy: Twice a year, we offer a senior level Academy for current and rising Learning Leaders. Spend 3 days with Nigel Paine (former CLO of the BBC) and me as we explore the key elements of Learning Leadership. The focal points are:

- Leading the Learning Team!
- Enabling Learning in your Organization
- Aligning Changing Technology
- Driving Business Performance 

The next edition of the Learning Leadership Academy will be held in Saratoga Springs from Feb 8th to 10th. Register at http://www.masie.com

* Membership in the Learning CONSORTIUM: Your entire organization can be part of our unique Learning CONSORTIUM, a Learning R&D Collaborative, that has over 240 of the leading corporations in the world. This is our 12th year as a CONSORTIUM and we are working on projects ranging from new models of Onboarding, Gesture Based Computing, Boot Camps as a Training Model, Learning Strategies and more. This is a 100% vendor-neutral, non-sales collaborative that has a high-trust and no-hype culture. Your organization can join for only $5,000 and membership includes 2 seats to Learning 2011, plus one hour of coaching and monthly calls, projects and resources. Information at http://www.masie.com

* Learning 2011: Register now, save money and use 2010 dollars. Go to http://www.learning2011.com

In addition, in 2011 we will be announcing new programs including: LeadershipDev, Learning Studios and more.

Yours in learning,
Elliott Masie
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2011 - Nov 6 to 9, 2011 - Orlando, Florida.
* Video for Learning LAB - January in Saratoga Springs.
* Learning Leadership Academy - February in Saratoga Springs.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com 

648 - WikiLeaks: Chilling Corporate Collaboration?

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Nov 30, 2010.
#648 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,199 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.

Special Note: WikiLeaks Has Potentially Chilling Effect on Corporate Collaboration Support

Dear Learning TRENDS Reader,

The release of confidential US State Department memos, emails and reports by WikiLeaks is having a potentially chilling effect on corporate collaboration strategies. Organizations are asking if the shift towards widespread internal sharing - including collaboration sites with content, context, personal perspectives and harnessing the “wisdom of the crowds” - could backfire and end up in the public release of embarrassing information.

Over the past two days, I have received multiple calls from corporate learning and collaboration coordinators, as well as journalists, about the impact of the leaks on organizational trust, knowledge sharing and the security and liability issues for organizations deploying internal social media.

Apart from the national security and criminal aspects of the recent leaks, this incident is creating a huge “MOMENT” in the deployment of internal document and collaboration sharing. It can become a “teachable moment” or it can become a “contraction/restriction” moment, where concerns about information leakage, brand damage and even legal liability shut down the shift towards greater collaboration.

In the coming weeks, we encourage our Learning TRENDS readers to facilitate conversations in their organizations about:

* Trust in a Collaborative World: What do organizations need to do to keep trust levels high about the future use of content in collaborative systems?
* Access Monitoring or Limitations: Do we provide wide pread access to all employees to all content? And, do we monitor large access/downloads?
* Assumptions about Disclosure: What are the assumptions that employees should have about the eventual disclosure of internal documents with personal comments?
* Wiki Brand: Has this leak impacted the brand of “Wiki”? Should organizations migrate away from that name?
* What is Open vs. What is Secret: Should organizations collapse the distinction between “open” and “secret” with only a few exceptions?
* Legal Perspectives: How can we work with our legal departments in balancing security and risk, while still harnessing the “wisdom of the crowd” internally?

Scenario discussions can be helpful. For example, talk about the implications of a disgruntled employee showing unflattering comments in a sales system to a customer after they leave the company in order to “steal” the account. Or, could an employee download all the social networking content from an internal “Facebook” page for their cousin to use in a few months to pitch financial services or other products?

I would love to hear from TRENDS readers on this issue. Please send me a note, ASAP, about your thoughts, comments and even willingness to talk with a reporter about this issue. And, how do we make this a true “Teachable Moment”? Send 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.
* Video for Learning LAB - January in Saratoga Springs.
* Learning Leadership Academy - February in Saratoga Springs.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

647 - Gestures and Learning - Video Report from Masie Learning Lab

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Nov 17, 2010.
#647 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,195 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: Video for Learning LAB & Seminar - January

Special Video Report: Gestures & Learning - Kinect/XBOX Experiments

For the past few days, we have been exploring Gestures & Learning as we experiment with the new Kinect system that is part of Microsoft’s XBOX game console.

There are incredible implications for the use of Gestures: directly learned gestures, facial reactions and body movement feedback, as well as gesture screen control. We have been experimenting with these systems at The MASIE Center Learning LAB and with a group of college students at Skidmore College.

Watch a short video report on Gestures and Learning and read several reports on the “affordances” that Gesture technology may provide for learning designers.

http://gesture.masie.com

We are quite interested in your feedback and thoughts as Gesture technology evolves. How can we direct and encourage the creative use of this in future designs?

Yours in learning,
Elliott Masie
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2011 - Nov 6 to 9, 2011 - Orlando, Florida.
* Video for Learning LAB - January in Saratoga Springs.
* Learning Leadership Academy - February in Saratoga Springs.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

646 - Lessons from Learning, Canal Tug Boats Ring Bells

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Nov 3, 2010.
#646 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,181 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.

1. Learnings from Learning!
2. A Canal Tug Boat Bell Lesson.
3. Video for Learning LAB.

1. Learnings from Learning! I have just returned from Learning 2010 and a short vacation trip to Panama! There were many learnings at Learning 2010 (and in Panama - see the next item). Here were a few of my learnings as a I interviewed our keynoters and interacted with the 1,700 colleagues:

* Intensity Matters: I chatted with Apolo Ohno about the role that intensity played in training for his performance at both the Olympics and Dancing with the Stars. The answers were all about intensity and focus. He knew that to reach the “1%” level of performers, he had to engage in a long term intensity of training. This meant coaches, numeric feedback and framework shifts. I started and ended my interview with Apolo chatting about the role that his father played in his performance. And, his 2% level of body fat was a level of intensity that took the breath of the audience away :)

* From Social to Engagement: Several of our speakers drilled down on the role of social media and social networks for learning and development. The challenge for designers will be to use these technologies and methods for deeper employee engagement - and to develop models that are deep and meaningful rather than wide and superficial. A number of speakers commented about the hype and “ghost town” quality of many internal social networks that start with a big bang but don’t really impact the daily lives of employees or assist them with performance.

* Quiet on the e-Learning Brand: I realized that none of our main stage speakers and few of the breakout speakers used the word “e-Learning”.  The discussions were clearly about leveraging technology for learning - from JCPenney using cash registers to deliver video messages from the CEO to the Peace Corps using smart phones to display instructional videos in the field - but the “e-Learning” brand seems to be rapidly shrinking. Traditional branched CBT-like modules seem to be growing mainly in the compliance arena, where more learner-driven content formats are expanding in the performance arena. We have never seen more learning using technology for design, delivery or collaboration. But, the “e” is dropping away in the branding.

* 30 Under 30 Rocks: It was a delight to host our 30 Under 30 group of rising learning leaders. They spoke to the 1,700 participants with a diverse and intriguing voice, asking us to drop the generational stereotypes, explore newer models of learning design and development, and to broaden the diversity in learning leadership. They led sessions at our event, introduced a new mobile learning product from Google and made an incredible impact on the community.

* Flip Happens: One of my keynote themes was the rise of Flip Learning - reversing the steps in a process for higher impact. For example, next year we will have many of the sessions available on video BEFORE the event, so that the discussion can start at minute one of the breakout.  We played with other Flip models, including teaching content backwards from example to theory.

* Design Slowly: While there is much made of rapid design - one of the things that seemed to “work” at Learning 2010 is that we took our time in the design process. Keynote sessions were designed over 10 months and updated, changed and evolved right up to the moment that we started a session. Sometimes, learning design needs to take time, reflection and reconsideration. So, I am erasing the whiteboards in my office and the online mind map in my planning cloud, and starting on the design for Learning 2011, which will happen from Nov 6 to 9 in Orlando.

In the next 10 days, we will be publishing much of the video and content from Learning2010 at http://www.learningwiki.com  I will send a note to Learning TRENDS readers when it is online. Thanks to all for their support.

2. A Canal Tug Boat Lesson: I visited the Panama Canal this week for the first time in 20 years. One big learning lesson happened while taking a 1/2 day transit of this amazing engineering site linking the Pacific to the Atlantic.

As each of the huge boats moves through the locks, the clearances are tight. So, a special pilot boards the ship, taking over control from the captain. As they move into a lock, there are electric rail tugs on either side of the canal with steel cables to keep the boat in the middle of the canal. Some have only 6” clearance. The drivers of these tugs receive precise instructions to move forward or tighten the cable from the pilot.

They recently upgraded the tugs and added two-way radios between the tugs (4 to 8 per boat) and the pilot to increase communication. But, it actually led to more scrapes of the boats against the walls and a much slower transit time. It turned out that the tug boat drivers were second guessing the pilot and arguing about the “commands”. After much consideration, the two-way radios were replaced by one way radios and they returned to an old fashioned bell system. After each command is radioed from the ship to the tug drivers, they confirm that they have received and are executing the command by ringing a bell on the tug. 

While we all love collaboration, some situations call for trust in command and control.

3. Video for Learning LAB: We are pleased to announce the next session of our Video for Learning LAB & Seminar, to be held in Saratoga Springs from January 10th to 12th. Each participant will receive an HD camera and high def webcam to work on LAB projects as we explore the use of on-demand and real-time video for learning in our organizations.  Details and registration at http://www.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.
* Video for Learning LAB - January in Saratoga Springs.
* Learning Leadership Academy - February in Saratoga Springs.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

645 - Taking the Train to Learning; Just-in-Time Decisions

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Oct 19, 2010.
#645 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,177 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2010 - Oct 24 to 27, Orlando, FL, USA.

1. Taking the Train to Learning - Aboard the Silver Meteor.
2. Last Minute Registrations Coming In - Just in Time Lives.

1. Taking the Train to Learning - Aboard the Silver Meteor: I am about to board Amtrak’s Silver Meteor, taking the train from New York City to Orlando, Florida for Learning 2010. It has become a personal tradition to take the “train” to “learning.” For 22 hours, I get a chance to watch America’s landscape flow by the window of my cozy little bedroom, chat with diverse folks on the train and finalize my “Learning Changes and Challenges” keynote for Sunday night.

This year, I am loaded with connectivity and technology. My iPad has several movies stored and it help me track the tracks as I move southward. If you are along the route and would love to chat, send me your phone number to emasie@masie.com and I will try to call as I pass your region. See the route at http://goo.gl/qcuH

The speed of the train is also a metaphor for our need to play with speed and compression in our design of learning experiences. Many are getting shorter as we compress 3-day events into one-day seminars and “one-dayers” into 2-hour webinars. But, sometimes we may want to design in the opposite direction - taking more time or even stretched out time to immerse in a topic differently. I’d love to see a five or ten-year, slow and steady MBA or PhD program, allowing learners to take a continual slow drip approach. Or, apply that to a 1-year-long safety training program.

So, I’ll think of the thousands of Learning Trends readers along the train’s path in the next day. Send me a note if you have some thoughts about trains or would like to chat for a few minutes. (emasie@masie.com)

2. Last Minute Registrations Coming In - Just in Time Lives: We are all doing things at the last minute, and that includes signing up for events. It creates both opportunities and challenges. We have over 1,665 registrations and will get another 40 to 70 in the final few days before the start of Learning 2010 on Sunday. In fact, 3 came in as I am writing this note. Ordering food, program guides and sizing rooms has become an art - given that almost 40% of registrations happen in the last five weeks - and we are all focused on Sustainability (not wanting to waste paper, food or resources).

Yet, last minute registrations are a new fact of life. We have booked an extra room block and even added a “Last Minute” fee, discounted beyond the on-site registration cost to support organizations that have to wait until Thursday, Friday or even Saturday to approve someone’s attendance. If you are in that “Just in Time” place, don’t fret. We are ready for you. Go to http://www.learning2010.com

Yours in learning,
Elliott Masie
email: emasie@masie.com