183 - Special Report from Prague, Czech Republic

1. Five Learner Comments on e-Learning: Here are five comments that I often
hear from LEARNERS who are approaching the new world of e-Learning. These
are not complaints and have come from folks that are actually using
e-Learning on a regular basis:

* If I Need it Bad, It Can Be Just OK: "If the learning content is
critical, don't worry about making it perfect or entertaining. When my need
for the content is high, I will learn, no matter what the format. As my
needs are less critical, you better do more to capture and hold my
attention."

* Let Me Leave and Call it a Success: "Often, I am "done" after a few
modules. I have gotten the knowledge and depart with a smile on my face.
However, many e-Learning programs will send me reminders and notes to come
back and finish. A good e-Learning program is like a good reference book on
the shelf. Don't define my departure after just a little while as a
failure....that is really one of the high values of e-Learning!"

* Don't Over-Test Me: "While I can understand the need for testing in
general, don't make e-Learning a programmed learning experience for every
topic. I get really bored with the READ, TEST, READ, TEST cycle of some
learning designs. Can't we just learn and apply without all that
reinforcement along the way."

* Mix Concepts and Procedures: "Sometimes, I need to learn
conceptually...other times, JUST GIVE ME THE FACTS! Label both types of
learning content and let the learner choose. In some situations, I need to
understand the concept before I see an example. In other situations, it is
exactly the opposite. And, in some settings, I just want to know how to do
something! Not interesting in Learning to Fish!"

* When Will Video Arrive: "I know that it will be very expensive and
require great bandwidth, but I can't wait until we can do e-Learning with a
load of video. I am not keen on always reading for learning... my ears and
eyes are yearning for more e-Learning content that moves and speaks. Not
complaining..just awaiting the future!"

2. Associations and e-Learning Focus at TechLearn 2000: We are pleased to
announce that Associations and e-Learning will be the focus of a panel
discussion at the upcoming TechLearn 2000 + The World e-Learning CONGRESS.
Susan Sarfati, Director of The Greater Washington Society of Association
Executives will lead a panel looking at the critical roles that associations
will play in learning in the Digital Age. TechLearn information and
registration is available at http://www.techlearn.com There are almost
1,700 colleagues registered for this annual event.

3. IP Voice Gaining Use for Mobile Workers: There is a growing usage of the
internet for telephony applications in the corporate sector. In fact, while
in Prague, I am a perfect example. Rather than make hundreds of dollars of
overseas calls, I am using the IP Voice function that is included with
Microsoft Messenger. I just connect to a local ISP in Prague and the
telephone calls are free, using the internet connection and my laptop. I
have made 150 minutes of calls so far, and while there is the occasional
lag, the quality is great! We are seeing more and more mobile users take
advantage of IP Voice, to allow themselves to be hooked up to the net for
data access and also conduct real time voice communications. Watch for the
rise of IP Voice over the next 24 months.

4. MASIE Center Announces 2001 Events: We are proud to announce the dates
of several of The MASIE Center 2001 events and seminars:

- e-Learning Europe 2001: July 9-10, Dublin, Ireland
- The Business of e-Learning: February 27-28, Las Vegas, Nevada
- e-Learning Briefing: January 22 and 23, Seattle, Washington
- TechLearn 2001: October 28 to 31, Orlando, Florida
- Digital Collaboration: SPRING 2001
- e-Learning Pacific Rim: SPRING 2001

Details of these events will be posted in the weeks ahead. Additional
e-Learning Briefings will be scheduled around the world in 2001.

182 - Tom Peters' View of the New World of Work

1. Tom Peters' View of the New World of Work: Here is a thought provoking
article by Tom Peters on the changing world of work. Tom will weave these
trends through his presentation on Reinventing Learning and Training at
TechLearn 2000 in November. The article can be read at this URL:
http://www.tompeters.com/tom_observations_47.htm

2. Join Elliott Masie for a Drink in Prague on September 12th: I would love
to buy a drink for TechLearn TRENDS readers located in or near Prague, Czech
Republic on the afternoon of September 12th. We will be traveling to Prague
with Cathy's 89 year old grandfather and also doing a bit of work. Meet us
at 5 PM in the lobby of the Renaissance Prague Hotel. If you are planning
to join us, please send an email to prague@masie.com Directions to the
hotel at: http://www.renaissancehotels.com/PRGRN/areainfo/default.asp

3. Does Your Mental Work Year Start After Labor Day?: Do any of you (other than folks in
higher education) still feel like the year "starts" after Labor Day? I still feel like I should get my
school supplies ready during the last week of August, buy 3 hole paper, and set my mind into a
different mode when the calendar is about to flip to September. Comments? Send a note to
emasie@masie.com

Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
TechLearn 2000 + The World e-Learning CONGRESS - Nov. 12 and 15th - Orlando, Florida - www.techlearn.com

Last Call for Applications for MASIE e-Learning CONSORTIUM. Acceptances to be emailed in the next 3 days. Details at http://www.masie.com/consortium/

181 - 2 Way Satellite Internet Access to Launch in 60 Days; Organizational Issues Impact e-Learning Success; e-Learning Launched from Calendar?

1. 2 Way Satellite Internet Access to Launch in 60 Days: Starting in
October, Microsoft and AOL will be each offering a new solution for
broadband satellite internet access. Reports indicate that both Microsoft
and AOL, with key partners, will offer the ability to access the net using
the same format satellite dish as DirectTV. This 18" dish will provide two
way internet access, rather than the one way access currently available by
satellite, which requires the user to use a telephone line for URL requests
and then receive the file from the sky. Bandwidth would be equal or faster
than DSL and priced in the $99 to $50 per month basis and would be bundled
with TV and music services on the same dish. This will add another element
bringing broadband to the home...adding increased opportunities for digital
collaboration and e-Learning.

2. ISPI to Co-Host TechLearn 2000 + World e-Learning CONGRESS: We are
pleased to announce that the International Society for Performance
Improvement (ISPI) will Co-Host our TechLearn 2000 Conference and play a
key role in the World e-Learning CONGRESS at the event. ISPI will provide
resources focusing on the role of performance improvement in the e-Learning
world and will add to the research agenda that our field needs in the coming
decade. ISPI joins a distinguished group of Co-Hosting Associations
including CEdMA, ISA, ITTA, ASTD, ADL and The National Association of
Manufacturers. If you are an ISPI member, you can receive a discount on
TechLearn Registration. Act quickly, as we are already at 1,407 paid
registrations and the brochure hasn't even been mailed. TechLearn will be
held in Orlando, Florida from November 12 to 15 and complete information is
on-line at http://www.techlearn.com

3. Organizational Issues Impact e-Learning Success: In the past few months,
the organizational issues involved with implementing e-Learning have been
surfaced by major organizations. Here are a few of the key issues that
have been raised by senior training managers in dialogues with The MASIECenter:

* Do we have the same level of organizational positive reinforcement for a
worker that attends an e-Learning course, compared to classroom training?

* If learners have the ability to browse courses and take segments of
courses, how do we evaluate the effectiveness of a training program...is it
a success because they left early or a failure?

* How do organizations charge back of e-Learning assets, if all other
intranet resources are bundled into an organizational chargeback by headcount?

* How do we attract great classroom trainers to join our organizations if
the entire training conversation is moving to e-Learning?

* Where should e-Learning be positioned in organization? Should it be in
the traditional training department or in a special unit?

We will be writing a number of articles on these issues, as well as tackling
them in our Case Studies at TechLearn. I would love to hear from TRENDS
readers that have comments or opinions about any of these topics. Just send
them to issues@masie.com and you will see them summarized in the next few
TRENDS. Thanks!

4. e-Learning Launched from Calendar? One of the things that I fear is that
learners will not return to their e-Learning sites. Why can't we integrate
e-Learning into Outlook or other Organizational Calendar? Learners would
contract for their learning and it would show up as an appointment, task or
special element of the application that I look at all day long. Let's have
e-Learning come to the learner rather than the other way around!
MASIE Center Services and Events:

* TechLearn 2000 + World e-Learning CONGRESS: Nov 12 to 15, Orlando, FL
www.techlearn.com

* Learning Decisions Interactive Newsletter: Only $195 for 12 issues www.learningdecisions.com

180 - Experiment in Mobile e-Learning; Monitor the e-HR Trends for e-Learning Support; Self-Administered Testing for Job Applicants

1. Experiment in Mobile e-Learning: Over the past few days, I have been
building a personal prototype of a handheld, multi-media rich e-Learning
model. Having just received a new handheld, a color Cassiopeia, with a
color screen, audio record and playback and video player, it seemed like an
ideal time to experiment with what e-Learning might evolve towards in the
months and years ahead. After loading up some HTML learning content, adding
small video segments and providing a capability for the learner to record
and send audio comments, my handheld e-Learning device was ready to roll.

The form factor of a small high powered media rich learning tool has great
potential. Assuming that the field will develop content synchronization
capacity, mobile performance support tools and wireless connectivity, this
model would be high on my choice list. I could use it when I had time,
carry it with me and use it at my leisure. I added a small ear based
microphone and earphone for privacy and concentration. This will be an
exciting arena for development in the e-Learning arena. Watch for handheld
simulations, coaching and learning programs to hit the market in 2001.

2. Monitor the e-HR Trends for e-Learning Support: If you think the
e-Learning arena is hot, look over the cube wall and see how rapidly the
Human Resources field is adding the letter "e" to the their function. e-HR
is being driven by these forces:

* Self-service HR support for workers: This includes the ability to conduct
on-line the bulk of HR transactions from changes to 401K plans to vacation
requests. e-HR recognizes the desire of many families to be involved in HR
decisions and connect to HR from home during off hours. Web based HR
services are exploding.

* On-line recruitment and hiring: Hiring times and cycles are changing dramatically.

* Team deployment: The use of virtual teams and multi-location teams
Unfortunately, in most companies the e-HR effort is not being strategically
mapped to the e-Learning efforts. This is an ideal time to build the
bridges between these two efforts. Information on HR issues can be found
at http://www.shrm.org

3. Self-Administered Testing for Job Applicants: Talking about e-HR, I had
a chance to experience what applicant testing might look like in e-world.
Alan Epstein, CEO of TeckChek, gave me a walk-through of their new
self-administered tests for IT applicants. As an potential employer of an
IT applicant, I could go on-line trigger a quick or intensive assessment
test that the applicant can complete from their location. While the test
is not "proctored", it does give a very rapid assessment of an applicant on
a range of IT skill sets. The results are instantly posted back to the
employer. With the rise of e-Hiring and e-Interviewing, it is good to see
the rise of e-Testing. Check it out at http://www.teckchek.com

4. TechLearn 2000 "Orientation" Led by Beth Thomas from The Limited: We
are pleased to announce that Beth Thomas, a senior training manager with The
Limited and the winner of the TechLearn '99 Pioneer Award, has agreed to
host the TechLearn 2000 Orientation. She will be leading a short welcome
session for every attendee at TechLearn on Sunday, November 12th. Beth will
start your TechLearn experience by focusing on the key issues that we face
in implementing new models of learning. Beth will bring her unique flavor
of leadership (as featured in Fast Company) to this key role at TechLearn.
And, you will see Beth throughout the event, as we re-formatting orientation
from a one time event to an on-going process that will even extend after
your departure. Thanks Beth! Go to http://www.techlearn.com to register
for this exciting event.

MASIE Center's Learning Decisions Interactive Newsletter: Only $195 for 1
Year Subscription --- http://www.learningdecisions.com

3 Minute Survey - Take-Aways from e-Learning OR When Does My On-Line Content Disappear?

Please take 3 minutes to complete our latest TechLearn Trends Survey:

Take-Aways from e-Learning OR When Does My On-Line Content Disappear?

A learner takes a class on-line! It is now complete!. What resources or materials do
they have access to after the end of the class?

This survey is aimed at looking at learner preferences and requirements for
continuing access to e-Learning materials.

Just go to http://www.masie.com/survey/ and fill out our 3 minute survey.

Executive summary of results will be posted in TechLearn TRENDS in a few weeks.

Yours in learning,
Elliott Masie

179 - New Views of Tomorrow's IT Workers; Results of Survey on Pricing of e-Learning

1. New Views of Tomorrow's IT Workers: Notes from San Juan: I had the honor
of addressing the Summit on Information Technology sponsored by the
Government of Puerto Rico. The conversation focused on the changing nature
of the IT Worker of the future. Here were a few of the key concepts that
were presented:

* The IT Worker will need excellent business skills as well as technical skills
* The IT Worker will require cross-platform and multi-vendor skills sets,
combining vendor certifications with portfolios of experience
* The IT Worker will need a high "learning capability" - their ability to rapidly and
continuously learn new skills and technologies
* The IT Worker will more likely work in a business unit rather than an IT Group.
* The IT Worker will definitely NOT be called an IT Worker
* The IT Worker will more likely work with media objects (e.g.. audio and video)
rather than just database text and numbers
* The IT Worker will get the majority of their IT Skills from a source other than a
university or college.

We will have a MEGA Session at TechLearn 2000 (www.techlearn.com) focusing
on the IT Worker of the future. If you have any thoughts on this issue, send me an email
to emasie@masie.com

2. Results of Survey on Pricing of e-Learning: Learning Decisions July survey addressed
expectations and perceptions surrounding the price of e-learning offerings. Nearly 1200
learning and training professionals provided benchmarking data from July 20-25, 2000.
We asked respondents to assume that there is an excellent, trainer-led course called Project
Management. It lasts 3 days and the tuition is $925 per student. It is delivered in a classroom
environment. Here are some highlights:

1. If the classroom version of the course is $925, I would expect the e-learning version to cost:

* Less than the classroom version: Less than $925........ 79.0%
* The same as the classroom version: $925................ 16.5%
* More than the classroom version: Greater than $925...... 4.5%

Average Price Indicated........ $785
Median Price indicated......... $595

2. How do the following components impact the price that you are willing to pay?

An instructor that gives live (synchronous) seminars delivered on-line
Significant..... 57.7% Moderate........ 32.9% None............. 9.4%

Simulation
Significant..... 52.6% Moderate........ 39.0% None............. 8.4%

Immediate access to an instructor via email for questions and clarifications (less than 2 hour turn around)
Significant..... 49.1% Moderate........ 41.9% None............ 9.0%

Technical support
Significant..... 45.3% Moderate........ 34.5% None............ 20.2%

An instructor to monitor progress and prompt students along
Significant..... 42.9% Moderate........ 41.6% None............ 15.5%

Telephone access to an instructor
Significant..... 41.8% Moderate........ 43.5% None............ 14.7%

Testing and assessment capabilities
Significant..... 39.7% Moderate........ 42.4% None............ 17.9%

Streamed audio or video segments
Significant..... 39.0% Moderate........ 39.4% None............ 21.6%

Access to an instructor for questions and clarifications (1 day turnaround)
Significant..... 28.3% Moderate........ 52.8% None............ 18.9%

Threaded discussions and chat
Significant..... 20.6% Moderate........ 48.2% None............ 31.2%

Printed text book
Significant..... 20.4% Moderate........ 43.5% None............ 36.1%

Complete analysis of these results are available to Learning Decisions Subscribers
(subscribe at www.learningdecisions.com)

3. Air Rage is Often Consumer Rights! A Personal Rant: I was a perfect example of what
the media has labeled "air rage" on our flight from Puerto Rico to New York yesterday.
First, the plane's departure was a hour late, due to a crew timing issue. Not a word of apology,
not a word of how it might impact our ability to get back to New York and not a bit of
information disseminated at the gate. When we landed in Philadelphia, there
was only 15 minutes until our departure. We ran the blocks to the gate and when we arrived,
were told that the plane was "closed". No checking of the computer to see that 2 passengers
were running from a plane that has just arrived. No apology. Hmm...and I had paid $1,800 for a
round trip ticket.
So, I threw my ticket on the counter and demanded... "But, has it left?"
The counter person said no, it's at the gate, but it is closed. So, I ran to the door... bellowing..
"Stop the plane!". Well, perhaps due to my emotional state or perhaps when he saw my mileage
level, he came down and let me on the plane. Hey, we all know the air system is overloaded and
that air traffic and weather delays will happen. But, let's use the I in IT, the INFORMATION
component to honor the passenger side of the contract.
Place kiosks throughout the airport and allow us to see the real situation with our flights
and our options on other airlines. Let us use IT as a tool to even the game in the airline industry.
Imagine an e-BAY at an airport where an airline company can't fly 50 people to a destination
....allow a local charter company the ability to bid on that and use the value of their tickets.
Imagine the ability to go on-line from our hotel rooms or even our cell-phones and see what our choices are for routing. As long as airlines constrict information, reduce choice and never apologize, consumers will
seethe. Sorry about the rant ... but I do spend 150 days a year on airplanes and yesterday, I just decided
to not take it! Thanks for listening!

4. New TechLearn Site Up and Running! Our webmaster, Jeremy Little designed
a new website for TechLearn 2000, check it out at www.techlearn.com There
are now 1,256 folks registered for the event to be held in Orlando from November 12 to 15th.

178 - Do Generation X'ers Learn Differently Than Baby Boomers?; Will Lieberman Choice Highlight Days of Rest?; Learning Napster Responses; Teachers Union Take Stand on e-Learning Degrees

1. Do Generation X'ers Learn Differently Than Baby Boomers? At three
meetings in the last month the issue of generational learning styles have
been discussed. The question/curiosity centers around the differences (if
any) in how Generation X (or younger and much younger) workers learn and
will want to learn. And, how it is different from the learning styles of
the Baby Boomers?

On first glance the X'ers are perceived as internet ready --- able and
desiring of learning informally from the on-line resources. How they
develop...from gaining leadership skills to mastering new technology skills
is perceived as different than the approaches used by folks from the Baby
Boomer generation.

I went out to search for some research or informal studies on this issue and
came up blank. So, we will use TRENDS and TechLearn 2000 to drill down on
these generational learning profiles. We would welcome your comments or
even "articles" on this topic, to be submitted to me at emasie@masie.com.
We will also sponsor a Mega-Session at TechLearn 2000 (Nov 12 to 15, 2000)
to include a focus group with people from multiple "generations" in the
workforce. (Go to www.techlearn.com to register for TechLearn.)

2. Will Lieberman Choice Highlight Days of Rest? Digital Balance? Without
regard to who will or should win the U.S. Presidential race in November, it
was interesting to reflect on one aspect of Gore selecting Senator Lieberman
as his Vice Presidential candidate. As a practicing Orthodox Jew, Lieberman
overtly takes the Sabbath as a day of rest. I have already have a dozen
conversations about what that might mean to raise the issue of Digital
Balance in our lives.

The Skills Gap may only be over passed by the Time Gap. As our technology
and organizations ramp up for continuous 24 x 7 communications and work,
what does it mean for our health and "balance". I am looking forward to the
dialogue about our views of the need and value of a "day of rest" in our
lives, whether driven by religious values or personal preference.

3. Learning Napster Responses: We have been bombarded with responses to the
query that I raised about the impact of a Learning Napster on the training
marketplace and field. The responses have come in by the hundreds and are
the strongest set of reactions to any topic we have raised in Trends over
the past few years. They range from a reaction that it would illegal and
immoral to those that told me they are within a few months of releasing such
a product in the marketplace (4 of those). We will take another week to
summarize and edit the responses and you will see them in a future Trends.

4. Teachers Union Take Stand on e-Learning Degrees: The American Federation
of Teachers passed a resolution that opposes undergraduate degrees that are
earned entirely online. The union also called for faculty members to
maintain control of Web-based courses. The resolution, passed during the
group's biennial convention, lists 14 standards for a quality
distance-education program.

Passed without objection, the resolution states that an undergraduate degree
earned entirely from a distance is not of the same quality as a degree that
was earned in a classroom. The resolution states that online undergraduate
degrees should have at least some face-to-face elements in them, "with
exceptions permitted on a case-by-case basis for students truly unable to
participate in classroom education."

"At a certain point you have to say: No, it's not a real undergraduate
degree if it doesn't include people getting together," said Lawrence N.
Gold, higher-education director for the federation. For a complete copy of
their press release on this issue go to: http://www.aft.org/convention/onlinepr.html

5. TechLearn 2000 Rooms Filling at Disney: Make your reservations at
Disney's Coronado Springs Hotel soon! We have over 1,250 colleagues
registered for TechLearn 2000 + The World e-Learning Congress (Orlando -
November 12 to 15th). The hotel tells us that they have been taking loads
of TechLearn reservations....and the spaces will fill at the Conference
property. If you are planning on attending TechLearn, go to www.techlearn.com
and register for the conference (and make a call to Disney
to reserve a room). We really look forward to hosting you in Orlando in November.

177 - Learning NAPSTER & What Do I Own After The e-Learning Experience?

On a wonderful summer day in Saratoga Springs here are 2 "thinking"
questions and a request for help:

1. Learning NAPSTER: Next? What If? OK, imagine the day when you hear
that NAPSTER had created a division called Learning NAPSTER. Anyone could
share Learning Content and Courses that were on their PC's or CD's with
anyone else in the world. No charges. No royalty payments to the
developers. What would happen? Would it be seen as a great way to
increase the exposure of larger populations to Learning Options? Would it
be seen as the death of the current learning business models. I would
love to hear your comments on the idea/excitement/fear of a Learning
NAPSTER. Just send me a note to elliott@masie.com. Before you make your
call to the Appeals Court, there is not a Learning NAPSTER on the market or
coming to market...at least as far as I know.

2. What Do I Own After The e-Learning Experience? One question that came
up in a conversation last night with several area University Presidents was
the ownership of learning content. As e-Learning content grows and as the
model of paying for access rather than ownership develops, what happens to
the learner when the license expires. I tend to learn differently when I
know that the resources will "always be there", as opposed to evaporating
after a few months. Will learners demand that they have a perpetual
license to some set of the content. What happens to the college textbooks
that I still use from time to time...if they become digital, do I still
have access 20 years later? Once again, send your comments to me on this
topic at elliott@masie.com I will post a summary of these two questions
in a few weeks.

3. HELP! Excellent Examples of e-Learning Needed for White House Committee
As you may know, I am serving on President Clinton's White House Advisory
Task Force on Expanding Training Opportunities. My fellow appointees are
interested in taking a self-guided tour of a wide range of e-Learning
samples...from higher education to business to core skills. If you are a
provider or developer of e-Learning content and would be willing to provide
16 copies or 16 passwords to actual e-Learning activities (not demo's) for
the use of the committee, please send an email to Jennifer Roberts,
at jennifer@masie.com

Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
TechLearn 2000 + e-Learning CONGRESS - November 12 to 15, 2000
Over 1,100 Registered Already....TechLearn Looks at the Reality vs. Hype of e-Learning!
Tom Peters, Kevin Kelly, Elliott Masie, Lisa Napoli, Benjamin Zander and CEO Panel on Learning
Information and Registration at http://www.techlearn.com

Announcing: Elliott Masie's e-Learning CONSORTIUM

I am pleased to announce the formation of a new collaboration, the e-Learning CONSORTIUM.

This is a collaboration of 100 key companies, government agencies and
e-Learning suppliers banding together for on-going benchmarking, networking
and research. The MASIE Center will provide active and dynamic support for this CONSORTIUM.

Members include: Chase Manhattan Bank, Goldman Sachs, US Dept. of Defense,
The Limited, McDonalds, Unilever, Ernst & Young, J.P. Morgan, Microsoft,
IBM, click2learn, Dominos Pizza, Price Waterhouse Coopers, SABA, Dow
Corning, Hillebrand and many other leading groups desiring to do active networking
on e-Learning.

The e-Learning CONSORTIUM kicks off on October 1, 2000.
Details and application process is described at:
http://www.masie.com/consortium/

Thanks,
Elliott Masie

Upcoming Events from The MASIE Center:
* TechLearn 2000 and The World e-Learning CONGRESS
November 12 to 15 --- Orlando, Florida, USA
Over 1,100 colleagues already registered.
Complete Details at http://www.techlearn.com

176 - Results of Key Issues in e-Learning Survey; Report on e-Learning Intellectual Property Issues; New e-Learning Industry Report from Morgan Keenan

1. Results of Key Issues in e-Learning Survey: Our June 2000 research
entitled, "What Do We Know About e-Learning?" looked at the current
knowledge levels and information needs of organizations on the road to
e-learning. There were 2,066 responses from learning and training professionals.

When we asked people to indicate their organization's GREATEST and MOST
PRESSING e-learning knowledge gaps, they indicated the following:

TOP 5 KNOWLEDGE GAPS
--------------------------------------------------------
RANK#

1 Measuring the effectiveness of e-learning-instructional and ROI
2 Improving organizational acceptance of e-learning through marketing, promotion, and communication
3 Effective organization-wide e-learning strategies
4 Designing the e-learning experience (the instructional aspects)
5 Integrating on-line and classroom-based programs

The survey also asked people to rank their organization's level of knowledge
in 14 different e-learning areas. They indicated having the most knowledge about:

INDICATED A HIGH LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE % of Respondents

-----------------------------------------------------------------

How to deliver training on-line (the technical aspects). . 25.1%

What are the necessary skills the training department needs to implement e-learning?. . 22.4%

How to design the e-learning experience (the instructional aspects)?. .22.5%

What are the costs associated with e-learning?. .. 19.5%

These results will form the basis of targeting a slice of sessions at
TechLearn 2000 (www.techlearn.com) The complete results, analysis and
commentary by The MASIE Center, was distributed to all Learning Decisions
Interactive Newsletter subscribers. If you would like to subscribe, just go
to www.learningdecisions.com.

2. Report on e-Learning Intellectual Property Issues: Judy Brown, a member
of our e-Learning CONSORTIUM, shared this recent report with us. Pew
Symposia on Learning and Technology, Who Owns On-Line Courses and Course
Materials: Intellectual Property Policies for a New Learning Environment
Check it out at: http://www.center.rpi.edu/PewSym/mono2.html

3. New e-Learning Industry Report from Morgan Keenan: If you are looking
at tracking the e-Learning Industry from the new product and investment
side, there is a recent report called "e-Learning: The Engine of the
Knowledge Economy" written by Morgan Keenan. (You will need Adobe Acrobat
Reader to access this pdf file) Go to: www.masie.com/report9/

4. TechLearn 2000 + World e-Learning CONGRESS to Present RFP Forums: One of
the innovative features at TechLearn 2000 will be a series of RFP Forums.
We will ask real buyers to provide The MASIE Center with actual RFP's for
major e-Learning Projects. An example might be: Buying a Learning
Management System or Building an e-Learning New Hire Orientation. We will
send these to vendors and suppliers around the world. The results (without
prices) will be posted for all TechLearn attendees and we will host an open
dialogue between the RFP author and some of the RFP responders at TechLearn.
This will allow you to "look over the shoulder" of major organizations are
they consider how to approach e-Learning implementation. We are looking for
a few additional RFPs.

NOTE: If you are interested in having your RFP responded
to in the October-November timeframe, please send me a quick note to
emasie@masie.com. We will post these on our site in mid-September for all
vendors to consider. If you have not signed up for TechLearn 2000 + The
World e-Learning CONGRESS (Nov 12 to 15, 2000 in Orlando, Florida), go to
http://www.techlearn.com Join over 1,104 colleagues already registered for
this unique event that I host each year.

3 Minute Survey - Pricing of e-Learning?

Please take 3 minutes to complete our latest TechLearn Trends Survey: Pricing of e-Learning?

This survey is aimed at comparing the price of a classroom training event
with an e-Learning equivalent.

Just go to http://www.masie.com/survey/ and fill out our 3 minute survey.

Executive summary of results will be posted in TechLearn TRENDS in a few weeks.

Yours in learning,
Elliott Masie

TechLearn 2000 Content Focus List

From: Elliott Masie, The MASIE Center
TechLearn 2000 + e-Learning Congress Update

Here is the latest content focus list for TechLearn 2000 + The World
e-Learning CONGRESS event to be held in Orlando, Florida from November 12 to 15th:

* e-Learning: The Dynamics of Dramatic Change in the World of Learning and Training
* e-Learning: The Reality and Hype of the e-Learning Craze
* e-Learning: Developing a Corporate Strategy
* e-Learning: Blending e-Learning and Classroom Training
* Learning Management Systems: Do You Need One?
* Digital Collaboration: Developing Synchronous Learning Capabilities
* Staffing the Learning Function in the Digital Age
* Extending e-Learning to Supply Chain Learning and Customer Learning
* Learner Acceptance: If We Build It....Will They Come?
* Research Agenda for Learning
* Marketing e-Learning
* Budgeting for Learning: New Models
* ROI: Evaluation and Returns on Investments
* Is Instructional Design Relevant in e-Learning
* Standards for e-Learning: Reusable and Sharable Content
* On-Line Assessment and Evaluation Strategies
* The Busine$$ of e-Learning: Investments and Wall Street in e-Learning "Bets"
* Sim-Learn: Simulation's Role in Training
* Computer & IT Training: New Approaches to Teaching Technical Skills
* Your Career as a Training Professional in the Digital Age
* Getting Senior Management Support for e-Learning

There will be over 300 case studies, solution showcases and active dialogues
on these key topics. Over 1,104 of your colleagues are already registered
for Elliott Masie's unique learning and training event. Keynoters include:

Tom Peters, Kevin Kelly (WIRED Magazine), Lisa Napoli (NBC Technology
Reporter), Benjamin Zander, Loretta LaRoche and Michael Parmentier and
Elliott Masie

On-Line information and registration at http://www.techlearn.com

Register soon.. space is limited at TechLearn 2000

Elliott Masie

Note: Learning companies and vendors should go to http://www.techlearn.com/sponsor
to review TechLearn Sponsorship program and contact Jennifer Roberts at
800-98-MASIE or 518-587-3522.

175 - Special Report from Dublin, Ireland - e-Learning 2000 Europe

1. Irish Prime Minister to Receive e-Learning Pioneer Award: We have 348
international participants from more than a 21 countries at The MASIE
Center's e-Learning 2000 Europe event that starts today in Dublin. We are
awarding The Republic of Ireland a special e-Learning Pioneer Award for
their support and encouragement of the learning and technology field. They
have birthed companies such as SmartForce and WBT and house major
development efforts for other groups, including NETg. Ireland has provided
both tax incentives as well as rich tradition of creativity, language and
storytelling.

I am honored that the Taoiseach (Prime Minister of Ireland), Bertie Ahern,
will accept the award in his office on Tuesday, on behalf of Ireland. I
will be presenting the award to the Taoiseach on behalf of the e-Learning
field. We will video tape his comments and the presentation will stream
them with a link from the next Trends.

2. What is e-Learning Called - A Global Scan: A few weeks ago, we asked
international readers of Trends to let us know what e-Learning was being
called in their languages. Over 98 readers responded with an overwhelming
message:

In the majority of countries, e-Learning is called e-Learning. In some it
is reluctantly. Some were also using a second phrase, which was translated
to their native language. In a few cases, they had either created a brand
new phrase or used the best translation available. Here are a few
examples:

* From Japan: "We too use the term e-learning. In Japanese, however, we
keep the "e" in organization and transliterate the "learning" portion.

* From Netherlands: "We use e-Learning all the time when speaking Dutch.
There is a Dutch translation for distance-learning though, called afstands-onderwijs."

* From Scandinavia: "The translated equivalent .. e-l�ring (pronounced eh-larring) is
commonly and naturally used in oral situations."

* From Canada: "e-learning ---> apprentissage en ligne"

* From Columbia: "the term e-learning is not widely used. The most common
term to e-learning is educaci=n virtual. Some training companies have begin
now with the term e-estudio."

* From Germany: "I can attest to the fact that, although Germany is quite
liberal about the use of English terminology in technical contexts and
"E-Learning" is generally used, the following terms were also used:
elektronisch gestntzes Lernen; Mediengestntztes Lernen; Tele-Lernen"

We will post a complete international scan of the terms after the
conference in the next 2 days.

3. Forum Corporation Acquired by FT Knowledge: One of the leading training
suppliers was acquired on Friday by FT Knowledge, a growing player in the
learning, training and e-learning field. Complete details at www.forum.com
or www.ftknowledge.com. This is one in a series of major buys and
investments by FT Knowledge, a component of Pearson.

4. Artifacts Please! Don't forget artifacts when you build e-learning
approaches. Learners love shirts, jackets, certificates and other tangible
take-away's from training events. Don't leave those out of e-Learning.
Very powerful elements ... those artifacts!

Upcoming MASIE Center Events and Services:
* TechLearn 2000 + The World e-Learning CONGRESS: Nov 12 to 15 in Orlando,
Florida www.masie.com
* Get Free Extra Month of LEARNING DECISIONS NEWSLETTER: Pay by credit
card and get an extra month for the only monthly research based learning
newsletter. Vendor neutral. No hype. Go to www.learningdecisions.com and view
sample edition and get extra month free for signing up today.

Invitation to The World e-Learning CONGRESS!

TO: Learning and Training Colleagues
FROM: Elliott Masie, The MASIE Center

We would like to extend an invitation for you to attend a new convocation:

The World e-Learning CONGRESS
@ TechLearn 2000
November 12 to 15, 2000

This will be a unique opportunity for the emerging field of e-Learning to
meet and plan our future. There will be a wide range of working papers,
CONGRESS sessions and opportunities for every attendee at TechLearn 2000 to
be a Delegate or Standing Delegate to the e-Learning CONGRESS.

I have prepared a short audio and visual briefing on the world e-Learning
CONGRESS. To view this, using Microsoft Media Player, just to:
http://www.techlearn.com/congress/

Details are also available at www.techlearn.com

Let us work together to have critical dialogues on Standards, Innovation,
Public Policy and the future of e-Learning.

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
President, The MASIE Center
Convener, The World e-Learning CONGRESS

174 - Quickie View of PC Expo; Compaq Creates One Button Access to WebEx for Digital Collaboration; Learning at Home Legal Liabilities and Compensation?; New Employee e-Orientation Using e-Learning

1. Quickie View of PC Expo: Handhelds & Wireless: The MASIE Center packed
up its staff and headed down to New York City on Wednesday to visit PC Expo.
Amongst the hundreds of booths and tens of thousands of visitors we scanned
these quick perspectives:

* Handhelds Were Hot! The traditional attendees to PC Expo have been
corporate buyers of technology. This year, instead of being pitched with
new desktops or laptops, the buzz was all about Handhelds. There were
acre's of displays focused on using Palm, Handspring, SONY and Microsoft's
Pocket PC format. What was most interesting was the connectivity and
synchronization focus of these devices. The industry analysts that I spoke
with were all hot on the use of this new form factor for accessing corporate
databases, email and sales force automation. While there was only one
Handheld application targeted at learning, this will change dramatically in
the coming months. We were impressed with the use of video and audio as
part of this form factor and that will allow for much more portable access
to learning and collaboration via Handhelds.

* Wireless Was Everywhere: In the same vein, wireless dominated the
networking products. The shift to wireless was strong in both the Business
to Business and Business to Consumer segments. We saw internal wireless
products to allow easy mobility of a worker and their laptop. But, the
integration of web access from cellular phones and Handhelds was top of mind
throughout the Expo.

2. Compaq Creates One Button Access to WebEx for Digital Collaboration:
Compaq made a significant announcement last week when they partnered with
WebEx, a digital collaboration company, to include a "Compaq Online Meeting
Center" button on its new keyboards. This will launch a Compaq branded
version of WebEx to allow users to launch web-enabled meetings with a single
click of a keyboard button. Capabilities will include the ability of share
data, voice, video and telephony through a standard browser without
pre-installed hardware. Watch for other deals between major digital
collaboration/virtual classroom providers with hardware companies to create
a branded one button access option.

3. Learning at Home Legal Liabilities and Compensation? Several TechLearn
readers have asked us to do a scan to see how organizations are handling the
issue of legal liability and/or compensation for home access of e-Learning
resources. What is your organization's policy about paying people when they
do home based e-Learning for work? And, what is the coverage for workman's
compensation? If you have a policy or experience, please send me a note to
emasie@masie.com and we will publish a summary in a few weeks.

4. Present a Case Study at TechLearn 2000! We have opened to doors for
folks that would like to present a Case Study at TechLearn 2000. This is a
one hour session, presented by a corporate attendee (not a vendor/supplier)
around a problem that you solved or an innovation that you implemented in
the learning and technology field. Last year, we had dozens of case studies
from around the world. If you are planning to attend TechLearn 2000
(www.techlearn.com) in Orlando in June and would like to volunteer to
present a Case Study, please send an email to case@masie.com. Include a
short note about the case study that you would enjoy sharing with 3,000 colleagues.

5. New Employee e-Orientation Using e-Learning: One of the major growth
areas in e-Learning seems to be in the area of New Employee Orientation.
Organizations are shifting the first phase of employee orientation to an
e-Learning format. Some folks are even providing access to the orientation
resources to pre-interview timing, to allow the prospect to better
understand the culture and character of the workplace. It is also a great
project to engage business units across the enterprise in visioning and
creating a first e-Learning project.

MASIE Center Resources ---- www.masie.com
1) Last Call for e-Learning Europe Attendees: July 10 and 11 - Dublin, Ireland
2) Learning Decisions Interactive Newsletter: Only $195 for One Year Subscription -- Access to Monthly Research
3) TechLearn 2000 + e-Learning CONGRESS: November 12 to 15 - Orlando, Florida