Elliott Masie's Learning TRENDS

Monday

Nov162009

599 - Learnings from Learning; Colleagues Gathering in Hawaii

November 16, 2009

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - November 16, 2009.
#599 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,839 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.

1. Learnings from Learning 2009.
2. Gathering of Hawaii Learning Colleagues.

1. Learnings from Learning 2009: We just returned from Learning 2009 and wanted to send out a quick blast to our TRENDS readers. It was an exciting and intense time with 1,300 global learning colleagues from around the world. I will be sending a more complete “report” on the event, but here are a few top line impressions and observations:

* Video: There is a strong interest in and deployment of video in the world of learning. Our experiment with CNN yielded fascinating results - watching colleagues get MUCH better in just 3 days at using video to tell a story. I was impressed with the idea of shooting almost “stills” with video - to focus the story.
* Capt. Sully: Our time with Capt. “Sully” Sullenberger was fascinating. I am still thinking about his comments about the need to balance Teamwork, Trust, Shared Work Process Expectations and Learned Procedures. He is a humble man, very focused on the role of training, experience and practice as the keys to performance.
* Social Media, Twitter and Back Channel Learning: Interesting to have a Twitter Scan going on in back of some of our keynote speakers. I had to develop a new skill of speaking and monitoring twitter for questions. The conversation is continuing on #L2009 if you search on Twitter for comments and contributions.
* Virtual Leadership Skills: Lots of focus on how to add Virtual Leadership to the skillsets of new and existing leaders. How to build Digital Rhythm and more.
* Deconstructing Content: A number of speakers talked about reducing the investment in formal content and harvesting more of the content from Open Source or existing corporate content. I experimented with this myself, using 2 YouTube segments to introduce Sully and a tribute to Veterans. A number of organizations shared plans to reduce the amount of formal content they are developing and design around discoverable content elements.

We will post a series of segments from Learning 2009 on our websites starting on Wednesday. I will send out a Learning TRENDS with linkage information. Thanks to all of our readers for your support of this event and we look forward to sharing content and conversations with the wider learning community in the weeks ahead.

2. Gathering of Hawaii Learning Colleagues: My wife and I will be heading to Hawaii for 10 days this Friday, for a combination of vacation and connection with some colleagues. If you live in Hawaii, we will be hosting an informal gathering on Monday, November 23rd in the late afternoon in Honolulu. If you are in the area and would like to join us for a conversation about learning (and a few drinks), please send a note to me at emasie@masie.com

Elliott Masie
Contact: emasie@masie.com

Upcoming MASIE Center Services & Events:
*Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM (Over 240 Fortune 1000 Organizations)
*Information and Registration at http://www.masie.com
*Follow Our Twitter Feeds: http://www.twitter.com/emasie

Elliott Masie - The MASIE Center | Comments Off |

Learning TRENDS

Tuesday

Nov032009

598 - Taking the Train to Learning - A Rolling Design Retreat

November 3, 2009

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - November 3, 2009.
#598 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,839 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host - Learning 2009 - Nov 8-11 - Orlando, Florida

Taking the Train to Learning - A Rolling Design Retreat

Hello from the Amtrak train - heading from Albany, New York to Orlando, Florida. I’m taking a leisurely 24 hour train ride to Disney, where I will be hosting Learning 2009, starting on Sunday afternoon.

Why take the train when there are direct flights to Orlando that would get me there in a just a few hours?

The answer is Design and Retreat. Hosting 1,300 learning colleagues requires both an organizational and personal design process. Over the past six months, my team at The MASIE Center has assembled almost 200 workshops and six keynote sessions. We have focused on key issues, sought out new presenters and played with evolving formats for sessions.

As I prep to take the stage and play the role of host and facilitator, I need to take some time away from the buzz of my office and visualize and create a personal vibe for the event. Slowing down, literally, and looking out the window as the train slides from north to south is a perfect setting for that personal retreat and reflection.

Sure, I will be pretty connected with my iPhone and other devices. And, I’ll be sending a few emails and making a few phone calls along the rails. But, the change of scene and the soothing sounds of the rails provides me with the setting for doing the next to last stage of design. (The final one will be the real time tweaks and adaptions that trainers do in the midst of any “class”.)

So, if you live along the Amtrak route, I’ll be the guy in the small bedroom on train 91, heading to Kissimee, Florida.

Oh, I also downloaded a few movies and have my favorite “training” song on my phone, “The City of New Orleans”.

All aboard….

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Contact: emasie@masie.com

Upcoming MASIE Center Services & Events:
* Learning 2009: Nov 8 to 11 - Orlando, FL
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM (Over 240 Fortune 1000 Organizations)
Information and Registration at http://www.masie.com
Follow Our Twitter Feeds: http://www.twitter.com/emasie

Elliott Masie - The MASIE Center | Comments Off |

Learning TRENDS

Monday

Nov022009

597 - 208 Seconds from Birds to Landing - Capt. Sully

November 2, 2009

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - November 2, 2009.
#597 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,837 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host - Learning 2009 - Nov 8-11 - Orlando, Florida

“208 Seconds from Birds to Landing” - Capt. Sully

I just finished two great back-to-back phone conversations with Captain “Sully” Sullenberger and Malcolm Gladwell.

They are both keynoters for our Learning 2009 event, which starts on Sunday. I was chatting with them to plan their conversations/interviews at the event.

Capt. Sully talked with me about the impact of time pressure on performance. “Elliott, it was 208 seconds from Birds to Landing”. That phrase will stick in my head for a very long time. Imagine how fast 208 seconds is and how one prepares for the intense decision to land on water. Capt. Sully also said that he had been making “deposits” in the bank with training, practice and experience for more than two decades and that afternoon, he took a massive withdrawal. I am very excited to explore with him the role that training and learning played in performance and drill down on his views about classroom practices and paths to “readiness”.

Malcolm will be talking about “Outliers” and also the incredible power that culture plays in organizations that have clear and explicit cultural norms and rules. He has been researching the intersection of expertise and culture - and how organizations can guard against overly trusting expertise. We had a great conversation about the pattern of alcoholism across cultures as an interesting factoid to explore.

Sully and Malcolm are just two of our keynoters. We are almost out of hotel rooms but we urge you to register for Learning 2009 if you can. Join the over 1,300 global learning colleagues at our event in Orlando, Florida. Go to http://www.learning2009.com for complete details. Twitter hash mark for the event will be #L2009

208 Seconds … just counted that down on my stopwatch!

Yours in Learning,
Elliott Masie
Contact: emasie@masie.com

Elliott Masie - The MASIE Center | Comments Off |

Learning TRENDS

Friday

Oct302009

596 - Virtual Leadership, Lobbying as Learning, 1,302 Colleagues at Learning 2009

October 30, 2009

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - October 30, 2009.
#596 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,837 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host - Learning 2009 - Nov 8-11 - Orlando, Florida

Happy Halloween!

1. Virtual Leadership of Distributed Teams.
2. Influencing & Lobbying as a Learning Activity.
3. Learning 2009 - 10 Days Away - 1,302 Colleagues.

1. Virtual Leadership of Distributed Teams: I have been working with GE Energy on a fascinating effort to help leaders/managers of distributed teams to hone their skills as “Virtual” Leaders. I’ve been waking up early and teaching late in the day in order to reach managers around the world - in their own time zones. Some of the factors that we have been discussing include:

* Creating a Rhythm of Virtual Presence.
* Models for Publishing as a Distributed Leader.
* Building Trust Across Cultures and Distance.
* Blending Face-to-Face with Virtual Office Hours.

It is exciting to work with the team at GE Energy and their role model managers around the world on this project.

2. Influencing & Lobbying as a Learning Activity: Last Saturday, I had the privilege of leading a discussion of 50 business/government relations directors of Fortune 500 companies about the learning aspects of lobbying and influencing. We applied a learning perspective to the relationship processes as organizations present their perspectives to Congress and Government Agencies. The conversation touched on:

* Adding stories and local context to position papers.
* Building simulations to visualize future impacts.
* Touchable and re-analyzable data formats.
* Shifting from telling to teaching to learning.

Imagine dropping for a high energy e-Learning module along with the dense policy data deck. The group was highly engaged in this dialogue - recognizing that influencing and lobbying must shift in a social and “fingertip knowledge” era.

3. Learning 2009 - 10 Days Away - 1,302 Colleagues: Wow! We have over 1,300 colleagues registered for our Learning 2009 event, which starts in just 10 days in Orlando, Florida. In these difficult times, we are honored to have this community of learning colleagues gathering to learn, benchmark, design and even relax with each other at a unique event. We have added a number of innovative features, including:

* Interview with Capt. “Sully” on the training and learning lessons from landing his plane on the Hudson.
* CNN Video Action Lab - Tips for video production for learning.
* Dancing with the CLOs - Yes, professional coaching for a few colleagues and a competition on their new dancing skills.
* Message from the US Department of Education on the role of Learning Departments and ReSkilling.
* Next Chapter: What are the next chapters in our learning careers?
* Social Learning, Mobile Learning and Performer Support Sessions on Changing Learning!
* What keeps you up at night as a Learning Professional?

There are still a few spaces and hotel rooms available at reasonable rates. Go to http://www.learning2009.com

I hope you will join us. We will place some of the content online after the event for Learning TRENDS readers.

Yours in Learning,
Elliott Masie
Contact: emasie@masie.com

Elliott Masie - The MASIE Center | Comments Off |

Learning TRENDS

Tuesday

Oct202009

595 - Program Guide Released, The Geek Atlas, Wider Unemployment Measures

October 20, 2009

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - October 20, 2009.
#595 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,825 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host - Learning 2009 - Nov 8-11 - Orlando, Florida

1. Learning 2009 Program Guide Online - 190 Sessions
2. The Geek Atlas - Places of Science to Visit
3. U6 Figure - Wider Measure of Unemployment

1. Learning 2009 Program Guide Online - 190 Sessions: Please download the complete 96-page Program Guide for Learning 2009. It includes descriptions of all 190 seminars and workshops, plus a wide range of alternative activities at the event. Learning 2009 has over 1,100 participants from around the world and we’d love to have you join us in Orlando from Nov 8th to 11th. Early registration discounts and affordable hotel rooms are still available. Download the Program Guide at http://www.learning2009.com/program

2. The Geek Atlas - Places of Science to Visit: Here is a cool guide to science and technology places to visit around the world. Kevin Kelly has highlighted “The Geek Atlas” on his website: http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/003980.php

3. U6 Figure - Wider Measure of Unemployment: As we look at ReSkilling the workforce, it is key to get wider and more accurate reads on the size of the unemployment figure. The Dept. of Labor releases a figure called the U6 level. U-6 equals the total unemployed, plus all marginally attached workers, plus total employed part time workers for economic reasons, as a percent of the labor force plus all marginally attached workers. The U6 figure in the United States in September was 17.0%. Here is a page to track these wider measures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t12.htm

Yours in Learning,
Elliott Masie
Contact: emasie@masie.com

Elliott Masie - The MASIE Center | Comments Off |

Learning TRENDS

Tuesday

Oct132009

594 - The Lost Generation, End of Email Era, Sessions Listing Posted

October 13, 2009

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - October 13, 2009.
#594 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,819 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host - Learning 2009 - Nov 8-11 - Orlando, Florida

1. The Lost Generation - Unemployment for the Just Graduated?
2. The End of the Email Era!
3. Learning 2009 - Session List Completed

1. The Lost Generation - Unemployment for the Just Graduated? We have been working on a project here at The MASIE Center for the past month focusing on a growing unemployment challenge for recent college graduates. Just this week, BusinessWeek had a cover story about “The Lost Generation”. It is well worth a read:

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_42/b4151032038302.htm

I am deeply concerned about the collective impact of college graduates who are unable to find employment. We have asked Erin Anderson, a recent Skidmore College graduate, to lead a session at Learning 2009, discussing the challenges and possible solutions for this cohort.

2. The End of the Email Era! Here is another article that is worth reading. The Wall Street Journal focused on the decreased use and importance of email as a communication tool - overshadowed by more collaborative and social media formats: http://www.tinyurl.com/emailend

3. Learning 2009 - Session List Completed: We have just completed building the session agenda for Learning 2009, to be held in Orlando, Florida from Nov 8th to 11th. There are almost 180 sessions from learning colleagues all around the world. We have over 1,050 participants registered and Early Discount Rates still apply. You can download the PDF file of sessions at http://www.learning2009.com/preview

Yours in Learning,
Elliott Masie
Contact: emasie@masie.com

Elliott Masie - The MASIE Center | Comments Off |

Learning TRENDS

Tuesday

Oct062009

593 - Learning Leader in Tsunami, 21st Century Skills Book, The Role of the Story

October 6, 2009

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - October 6, 2009.
#593 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,814 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host - Learning 2009 - Nov 8-11 - Orlando, Florida

1. Learning Leader Survives Tsunami in Samoa
2. New Book: “21st Century Skills”
3. “The Story” - Key Focus for Learning 2009

1. Learning Leader Survives Tsunami in Samoa: Many of you have met my good colleague and friend Wayne Hodgins. Wayne is one of the visionaries in the Learning field - helping to create much of the base for e-Learning, evolving the concept of learning objects, standards like SCORM and the need for continuous learning innovation. For the past year, Wayne has been sailing around the world - often by himself with his dog Ruby - sending awesome messages back about Learning and his global adventure.

Last week, when the Tsunami hit in American Samoa, Wayne’s boat Learnativity was in the harbor. Wayne and Ruby survived a harrowing experience as the harbor emptied out of water and then rushed back in. Many Samoans died, as well as one of the other folks on a nearby boat. Wayne’s story is fascinating and inspiring to read:

http://learnativity.typepad.com/

He is now sailing away from Samoa and will be flying to Learning 2009, where he is one of our keynoters. Wayne, we are so glad that you are safe!

2. New Book: “21st Century Skills”.

There is a new book that you should add to your reading list:

“21 Century Skills - Learning for life In Our Times”
By: Charles Fadel and Bernie Trilling

This book focuses on learning and education from an innovation and reskilling approach. Check it out at http://tinyurl.com/21skils

3. “The Story” - Key Focus for Learning 2009: We are about to take our 1,000th registration for Learning 2009! During the event, to be held in Orlando from Nov 8 to 11, we will place special focus on the role of “The Story” in learning. Stories are key elements in organizational learning and development. Leaders need to add “storytelling” and “storylistening” to their skills. Organizations are experimenting with ways of harvesting stories in both video and other media formats. Distributed teams benefit from sharing stories across time and distance. We will be taking a 360 degree look at the role of “The Story” in learning. Early Registration Discounts are available at http://www.learning2009.com

Yours in Learning,
Elliott Masie
Contact: emasie@masie.com

Elliott Masie - The MASIE Center | Comments Off |

Learning TRENDS

Monday

Sep282009

592 - Fab Faux - Beatles Tribute Band - at Learning 2009

September 28, 2009

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 28, 2009.
#592 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,802 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host - Learning 2009 - Nov 8-11 - Orlando, Florida

Special: Fab Faux - Beatles Tribute Band @ Learning 2009!

Dear Learning & Training Colleagues:

I am honored to announce that The Fab Faux, an incredible global Beatles Tribute Band, will perform a special Concert at the Learning 2009 Party & Celebration.

This is the 40th Anniversary of the Beatles finale album, Abbey Road. As I was listening to the songs of the Beatles, I started to think about our Learning 2009 Party. In previous years we have had Melinda Doolittle, a finalist from American Idol, and Arrival, a very cool ABBA tribute band.

Every expert that I talked to said, “If you can, book the Fab Faux”. They don’t try to look like the Beatles, but their music and singing is an incredible tribute to the four guys from Liverpool.

The group features Will Lee, bassist for “Late Show with David Letterman,” and Jimmy Vivino, guitarist for “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” Other members include Rich Pagano, Frank Agnello, and Jack Petruzzelli. The band is committed to performing live what they feel would be an accurate reproduction of The Beatles’ repertoire.

The group was featured in a full-length profile on CNN that was broadcast worldwide. They also participated in a CD of original material by Beatles tribute bands, recorded in London at Abbey Road Studios. The group has performed multiple times in Liverpool, England, where they played three shows each year from 1999 to 2005 for that city’s annual Beatle Week festivities, including outdoor concerts for over 35,000 people on the Apple-sponsored Yellow Submarine and Let It Be stages.

As a participant at Learning 2009, you can bring your friends and family to The Fab Faux concert. And, we will have a real time interactive poll to select some of your favorite Beatles songs. The concert on Tuesday night, November 10th, will be one of the best parties you have ever attended.

To add another learning element to this entertainment, my friend and colleague Dr. Gordon Thompson, author of “Please, Please Me”, a history of British Rock Music, will lead some workshops on the music of the Beatles on Tuesday afternoon.

Complete details at http://www.learning2009.com/fabfaux

Go to our site and watch the video of The Fab Faux from their appearance on the David Letterman Show.

Yours in Learning,
Elliott Masie
Contact: emasie@masie.com

Elliott Masie - The MASIE Center | Comments Off |

Learning TRENDS

Wednesday

Sep162009

591 - US CIO Pushes Cloud Apps, Vado Video Camera, 7 More Learning Stories

September 16, 2009

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 16, 2009.
#591 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,799 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host - Learning 2009 - Nov 8-11 - Orlando, Florida

1. US CIO Shifts to Cloud Computing and Apps.
2. Avon, Cisco and Churchill Downs Present Learning Stories.
3. My Vado Video Camera - High Def and CNN Action Lab.

1. US CIO Shifts to Cloud Computing and Apps: Take a few minutes and look at a brand new government site: http://apps.gov

This was released this week by the US CIO, Vivek Kundra, as a way of pushing the Federal Government to start innovating with Cloud Computing, Thin Applications and Open Source Solutions. The page has a range of “cloud” based applications that Federal employees can start to leverage for free or a very low cost - for productivity, collaboration or knowledge sharing. It is interesting to see the CIO take an advocacy vs. “command and control” approach to building awareness and use of these types of apps. Check out the page http://apps.gov and pay attention to the range of Web 2.0 Social Media and Collaboration applications. There has already been quite a bit of rapid experimentation by agencies ranging from the Marine Corps to the U.S. Dept of Energy.

2. Avon, Cisco and Churchill Downs Present Learning Stories. We continue to add Learning Stories as sessions for Learning 2009, to be held in Orlando, Florida from Nov 8 to 11th. Here are a few of the latest additions:

* Avon: Targeting Learners: Training Marketing Employees Through Visual, Hands-On Training
* FM Global: Zeroing in on Client Learning: No Charge, Low Tech Custom Solutions That Make Business Sense
* US Distance Learning Association: Video Conferencing Power in Today’s World of Learning
* Churchill Downs: Inexpensive Innovation to Engage Learners
* Cisco: The Neuroscience of Learning
* ReachLocal: Rabid Instructional Design: Going Extreme When Rapid is not Enough
* Wharton/UPenn: Learning Myths (By Doug Lynch)

These are just a few of the over 150 Learning Sessions at Learning 2009. Complete info and early registration discount at http://www.learning2009.com

3. My Vado Video Camera - High Def and CNN Action Lab: I just received a very cool and practical video camera that has huge implications for the Learning field. The Vado HD camera from Creative Labs is a pocket video camcorder with 8 GB Video Storage and 2x Digital Zoom. Like the FlipCam, it has a USB linkup and takes high quality video with decent audio. I have given the Vado to several friends and colleagues, who rapidly were able to create small videos and upload them for use on YouTube or other sites. Imagine giving one of these to each manager in a Leadership Program and asking them to do a series of interviews with peers and subject matter experts. I believe this type of handheld video has great potential for Learning. On sale, this model is about $129. At Learning 2009, we will bring a dozen of these cameras to use with our CNN Video for Learning Action Lab.

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Labs-Camcorder-Storage-Digital/dp/B001LK8P14/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1253125882&sr=8-1

Yours in Learning,
Elliott Masie
Contact: emasie@masie.com

Upcoming MASIE Center Services & Events:
* Learning 2009: Nov 8 to 11 - Orlando, FL
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM (Over 240 Fortune 1000 Organizations)
* Information and Registration at http://www.masie.com
* Follow Our Twitter Feeds: http://www.twitter.com/emasie

Elliott Masie - The MASIE Center | Comments Off |

Learning TRENDS

Thursday

Sep032009

590 - B-Learning? Bus Based Learning and Support

September 3, 2009

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 3, 2009.
#590 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,792 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host - Learning 2009 - Nov 8-11 - Orlando, Florida

B-Learning? Bus Based Learning and Support in Disasters!

We know about e-Learning. But, what is B-Learning?

Bus Based Learning and Support. Thanks to Farmers Insurance for briefing me on how they have built buses to go into disaster areas, in the midst of a flood, fire or other massive catastrophe. The bus drives right into the midst of the chaos and is equipped with technology and people to provide services, learning and other resources to policyholders and communities.

In a disaster, there may not be electricity or access to the internet. So, learning and support has to come to the point of pain and crisis. And, the Bus is totally self sufficient, from weather satellite access to cooking facilities, to the ability to respond to almost any support need.

I was so impressed with this program that I asked if Farmers Insurance would drive this “knowledge” bus to Learning 2009 so that we could take an up-close look and under-the-hood look.

You can watch a video on this unique approach at: http://www.learning2009.com/bus

Elliott Masie
Contact: emasie@masie.com

Elliott Masie - The MASIE Center | Comments Off |

Learning TRENDS

Friday

Aug282009

589 - Back to School Feelings - New Lunch Pail & Pens

August 28, 2009

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - August 28, 2009.
#589 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,787 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host - Learning 2009 - Nov 8-11 - Orlando, Florida

1. Back to School Vibes - New Supplies & Excitement!
2. NEW: Learning 2009 Brochure Now Online

1. Back to School Vibes - New Supplies & Excitement! Every late August, a “Back to School” feeling starts. I still think of the year as starting in early September. In fact, I have felt that way since I was 6 years old:

- I head to the store and get new school supplies. Every year, I buy a new notebook or stapler or cool pens. It makes me feel “ready” for the new year of learning.
- I fondly remember putting Loose Leaf Reinforcements on a ream of paper. These small plastic rings would keep the paper from easily tearing out of my book. When I was six, we had to lick them. When I was in Junior High School, they were just peel and stick.
- I’d start to sing “School Days” in mid summer, revealing to my parents that I was ready to get back into learning.
- There would be excitement and a bit of anxiety about meeting the new teacher. Would they be boring or challenging? And, would I fit into my seat? (I was a tall kid.)
- My learning muscles would kick into full gear by the time Labor Day rolled around.
- And, my parents would buy me one piece of new clothing or an updated lunch box to celebrate the back to school moment.

I still feel that way! I’m ordering new books to read and later today, you can find me at the Staples store in Saratoga, checking out new notebooks, pens and maybe even a colorful stapler or compass. Yeehaa!

2. NEW - Learning 2009 Brochure Now Online: You can download the new Learning 2009 Brochure. Just go to http://www.learning2009.com/brochure Save $$ with Advanced Registration!

Elliott Masie
Contact: emasie@masie.com

Elliott Masie - The MASIE Center | Comments Off |

Learning TRENDS

Tuesday

Aug252009

588 - Powerful Rant About PowerPoint - Dumb Dumb Bullets

August 25, 2009

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - August 25, 2009.
#588 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,781 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host - Learning 2009 - Nov 8-11 - Orlando, Florida

1. A Powerful Rant about PowerPoint - “Dumb-Dumb Bullets”
2. Emergency Preparation and Roles for Learning Departments

1. A Powerful Rant about PowerPoint! I just read a very powerful rant in the Armed Forces Journal about the destructive use of PowerPoint - in terms of thinking and decision making. Here is a short excerpt and a link to the full article called “Dumb-Dumb Bullets” by T.X. Hammes (Retired Marine Corps).

“Every year, the services spend millions of dollars teaching our people how to think. We invest in everything from war colleges to noncommissioned officer schools. Our senior schools in particular expose our leaders to broad issues and historical insights in an attempt to expose the complex and interactive nature of many of the decisions they will make.”

“Unfortunately, as soon as they graduate, our people return to a world driven by a tool that is the antithesis of thinking: PowerPoint. Make no mistake, PowerPoint is not a neutral tool — it is actively hostile to thoughtful decision-making. It has fundamentally changed our culture by altering the expectations of who makes decisions, what decisions they make and how they make them. While this may seem to be a sweeping generalization, I think a brief examination of the impact of PowerPoint will support this statement.”

“The last point, how we make decisions, is the most obvious. Before PowerPoint, staffs prepared succinct two- or three-page summaries of key issues. The decision-maker would read a paper, have time to think it over and then convene a meeting with either the full staff or just the experts involved to discuss the key points of the paper. Of course, the staff involved in the discussion would also have read the paper and had time to prepare to discuss the issues. In contrast, today, a decision-maker sits through a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation followed by five minutes of discussion and then is expected to make a decision. Compounding the problem, often his staff will have received only a five-minute briefing from the action officer on the way to the presentation and thus will not be well-prepared to discuss the issues. This entire process clearly has a toxic effect on staff work and decision-making.”

For the complete article, go to http://www.afji.com/2009/07/4061641

I’d love to hear your thoughts at emasie@masie.com

2. Emergency Preparation and Roles for Learning Departments: In recent weeks, I have been in conversation with quite a few Chief Learning Officers about how they are building more robust Emergency Prep plans for their Learning Departments. How well prepared is your Learning function to support the organization at the time of an extreme emergency - from bans on travel (in case of a Pandemic or Crisis) to the ability to drop intense learning and support resources into a region facing a disaster? This is a good time for learning professionals to reach out to their “continuity” teams and engage them for an expanded role in these situations. Our skills and technology platforms can be of great assistance. We will have a series of sessions at Learning 2009, focused on Emergency Prep and Roles for Learning Departments.

Elliott Masie
Contact: emasie@masie.com

Elliott Masie - The MASIE Center | Comments Off |

Thursday

Aug132009

587 - Learning in the Year 2019?, Working Learners, Textbooks on My iPhone

August 13, 2009

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - August 13, 2009.
#587 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,779 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host - Learning 2009 - Nov 8-11 - Orlando, Florida

1. Learning in the Year 2019? Your Brainstorms Please!
2. “Working Learners” - New Report on ReSkilling
3. 10 More Content Sessions for Learning 2009
4. iPhone and Textbooks

1. Learning in the Year 2019? Your Brainstorms Please! Here is a fascinating question to ask yourself and colleagues:

“What Will Learning Be Like in 2019?”

It is 10 years from now! What changes in process, models, technology and assumptions will occur for Learning by the year 2019? Please take a minute and do some free-form Brainstorming. Just go to http://www.learning2009.com/2019 and add your thoughts.

2. “Working Learners” - New Report on ReSkilling: Here is a thought-provoking report to read and distribute. “Working Learners: Educating Our Entire Workforce for Success in the 21st Century” by Louis Soares from the Center for American Progress. The executive summary and full report can be downloaded at http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/06/working_learners.html

3. 10 More Content Sessions for Learning 2009: We continue to add cool sessions to our Learning 2009 program. Here are 10 more workshops from over 100 sessions that you can choose from at Learning 2009 (Nov 8 to 11 - in Orlando):

* Georgia Pacific: Virtual New Hire Orientation: 1 Year Later
* Central Intelligence Agency: Training the CIA Trainer - Weaving Diversity into Curriculum
* Accenture: Industrializing User Generated Content: Rapid e-Learning for 180,000 People
* Wyndham Vacation Ownership: Hospitality Now - A Customer Service Performance Support Success Story
* Centocor R&D: Collaborating Globally - The Creation of a Cross Regional Portal at Johnson & Johnson
* AstraZeneca: Are We There Yet? Challenges and Considerations for LMS Implementation in a Global Organization
* Textron: Learning in the Field: Front Line Supervisor Program
* Kelly Services: Learning Without Borders - Developing a Global Curriculum
* General Mills: Teaching Virtual Classroom Skills: - One Size Does Not Fit All
* CPA Austrailia: So Much Social Media, So Many Demographics

More sessions are being added every day! For information and Early Registration Discounts: http://www.learning2009.com

4. iPhone and Textbooks: Just downloaded a new application to my iPhone called CourseSmart eTextbooks. This is one of several movements away from print based textbooks. In this application, a student would have access to all of the textbooks for their registered courses right on their mobile device. I’m starting with a Calculus Textbook to see how it goes.

Elliott Masie
Contact: emasie@masie.com

Elliott Masie - The MASIE Center | Comments Off |

Learning TRENDS

Tuesday

Aug042009

Content Preview from Learning 2009

August 4, 2009

TO: Learning & Training Colleagues
FROM: Elliott Masie
RE: Preview of Content from Learning 2009

Dear Colleague,

Every day, we add another session to the Learning 2009 Program. We are honored to have the Learning Leaders of major global corporations and government agencies designing sessions and workshops for you at Learning 2009 (November 8 to 11 - Orlando, Florida). Here is a small sample of the content:

* Google: gLearning - Foundations of Leadership and Teamwork
* Intel: Partnering with IT for Social Learning Success
* AstraZeneca: Bulking up Leadership Skills: Hitting the eGym
* Bank of America: Mobile Learning the Second Time Around: If We Only Knew Then What We Know Now
* Bristol-Myers Squibb: Learning 101 - Key Terms, People and Decisions You Might Need to Make
* YUM!Brands: Global Learning Implementation: Grease the Wheels With “Guidance Sessions”
* Joint Special Operations University: Learning Agility: From the Classroom to the Battlefield
* Comcast: Defeat Repeats: A Blended Learning Solution
* Symantec: Transforming a Sales Conference: From Vegas to Virtual
* Wendy’s international: Building a Collaborative e-Learning Methodology - Design, Develop & Manage Projects
* JetBlue Airways: Managing Strategic Business Content with Non-Traditional Too
* Cash America: Just Like YouTube! - User Content for Learning

We are designing a whole series of activities where you will be able to tackle challenges common to the evolving workplace:

- ReSkilling the Workforce and the Learning Profession
- Disruptive Technology on the Horizon
- Designing Performer Support
- Globalizing Learning
- New Models for Leadership Development
- Encore Careers
- Learning and Accountability for Distributed Teams
- Distracted Learners :)

And, our keynoters include Malcolm Gladwell, Capt. “Sully” Sullenberger, Betsy Myers and Laura Fitton - plus Chief Learning Officers sharing their “Learning Challenges” in these UnCertain Times! I will present the Learning 2009 Overview and Radar Screen at the opening session on Sunday Night.

We have colleagues registered from around the world, including 14 corporate teams. Please visit our website for information and early discounted registration: http://www.learning2009.com

Looking forward to learning with you at Learning 2009.

Elliott Masie
Contact: emasie@masie.com

Elliott Masie - The MASIE Center | Comments Off |

Learning TRENDS

Thursday

Jul302009

586 - CNN Action Video Lab at Learning 2009, Innovation Article, Smokers in the Classroom?

July 30, 2009

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - July 30, 2009.
#586 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,774 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host - Learning 2009 - Nov 8-11 - Orlando, Florida

1. CNN to Host Video Action Lab at Learning 2009!
2. “Platforms for Collaboration” - Innovation Article.
3. Old Memory: Smokers on the Right Side of the Room.

1. CNN to Host Video Action Lab at Learning 2009! We are honored to have CNN host a special “Video Action Lab” at Learning 2009. To demonstrate the ability of rapidly utilizing “User Video” for learning and support, we will provide cameras and coaching to a group of participants at Learning 2009. Over several days, led by Ben Coyte (CNN’s Newsgathering Training Supervisor), they will hone their skills as they shoot and edit targeted video clips that could be used in their organizations. Yes: video can be quick, simple, low-cost and effective!

In addition, we will deeply explore the changing expectations of learners for the use of video in their learning process. Updates for Learning 2009 can be found at: http://www.learning2009.com

2. “Platforms for Collaboration” - Innovation Article. Here is an article that focuses on three types of Collaboration Platforms: Exploration, Experimentation and Execution. As organizations leverage collaboration, how do their objectives shape the format and style of the process? Written by By Satish Nambisan from RPI for the Stanford Social Innovation Review, it’s worth a read. Download the article at http://www.ssireview.org/images/articles/2009SU_Feature_Nambisan.pdf

3. Old Memory - Smokers on the Right Side of the Room?: I was with a group of colleagues that I have known for over 25 years this past weekend. We were reminiscing about training challenges from decades ago. One that I brought up was how to handle smokers and non-smokers in a classroom. Yes, smoking was allowed in offices and classrooms at that time. So, the decision was do you create a Smokers’ Table in the classroom or have people integrated throughout? And, if you had a Smokers’ Table (or side of the room), were you fostering an In Group/Out Group in the program? It was actually quite a challenge and design decision in those days.

Elliott Masie
Contact: emasie@masie.com

Elliott Masie - The MASIE Center | Comments Off |

Learning TRENDS