The super small "Mactini"

Here is a fun video for a Friday afternoon. In fact, it's so funny, its a little scary in terms of what it says about technology.




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Upgrading to a New LMS: Have some Fun with It

Here are a couple of parody videos designed to introduce a campus to a new version of the Blackboard LMS. They borrow from the Old Spice meme which has taken the web and TV by storm.

To me, the clever idea of making an updgrade to a new version of a software an exciting venture worthy of some humor is a good thing. Most software upgrades are painful and nightmarish for all involved so I thought this was a clever approach. Check out the two short videos.





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More Top 5 Funny and Semi-Learning Related Videos

Its the summer, we all want to be outside sitting the shade and relaxing. But alas we are in front of our computers doing things like...blogging. So here are some lighthearted, funny videos that can add a smile to your face. Also, if you choose to think deeper about the content and how it applies to designing instruction and delivering instruction in our modern, fast-paced world...some are actually quite profound...enjoy.

Number 5: This is from my original post The Darker Side of Social Media and Parents: Parody. (pics are a little racy and NSFW)

This is in the semi-learning related list because if you replace the term "parent" with "organization" you can see some pretty scary implications for social media within organizations.

Facebook, Twitter Revolutionizing How Parents Stalk Their College-Aged Kids

Number 4: This was originally posted at Sometimes Its Too Real.

When creating simulations, one mistake novice designers and developers make is trying to have the simulation be too realistic. Trying to capture every element of the environment, trying to be 100% focused on the simulation aspects and not the learning aspects, engagement or motivational aspects. Here is what happens when you take a real life simulation a bit too far.

Ultra-Realistic Modern Warfare Game Features Awaiting Orders, Repairing Trucks

Number 3: This originally appeared at the end of my post Answering the Question: How Do We Keep Up

This video does have some bleeped swear words. But the discussion about confusing new with good is relevant in terms of learning and development.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Twitter Frenzy
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

Number 2: This originally appeared in the post iPad is Awesome but...will it blend?

iPads are a great technology and hold a lot of promise for mobile learning but one question managers and employees fail to ask about most new technologies is "will it blend?" Ok, ok, I confess...this is not really semi-learning related...its just silly and funny.




Number 1:First written about in the engaging post titled Funny Friday Video about Tech Bubbles (spent a long time on that original title)

This video earns the number one spot for semi-learning related videos because the training industry tend to jump from technology to technology and sometimes we forget fundamental principles. We have our own learning technology bubbles. Plus this video is so darn true, the blue shirts, the mad scramble for domain names. It is just funny even if you don't live in the "valley" or West Coast which I don't.



Bonus
What if the vendor/client relationship between elearning companies and clients needed elearning was extended to other customer/vendor relationships? Originally appeared in Amusing Monday Video (I need better post titles)


Hope you got a laugh or chuckle out of the videos and that they made you think a little about learning events...let's not take ourselves too seriously and let's always have fun.

And here is the original posting of the 5 Top 5 Funny and Semi-Learning Related Videos

If you know of other funny semi-learning related videos, please post a link in the comments...share the laughs.

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Friday Funny Video about Tech Bubbles

Wondering if you missed the "next best thing" in Internet Business. I think this funny video tells the story of the hype around technology in a fun way. Enjoy on this Friday.



One of the lines reminded me of the newest venture into space by Virgin.
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Happy Halloween: Great Public Service Announcement

Here is an educational public service announcement about a topic that is rarely discussed but the knowledge contained in this short video could save your life.



Also, here are some interesting monster tweets...Thanks Heather!
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The Darkerside of Social Media and Parents? Parody

It's Friday, you've been scratching your head all week to think of how to get the boss to adopt social media. He or she isn't using it at home and doesn't see the value at work either.

Well, perhaps you are not positioning the use of social media correctly, try using the argument presented in the video below...if they have kids. This argument may convince them to join social media sites in a jiffy...and then soon they'll not only be virtually stalking their kids but their employees as well.


Facebook, Twitter Revolutionizing How Parents Stalk Their College-Aged Kids

And speaking of virtual stalking with Web 2.0 technology...you may have noticed I've added a TWEET THIS button to the bottom of my posts (Per requested comment from Rani). So, give it a try and Tweet this post.

Have a great weekend....
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Amusing Monday Video

It's Monday, its the summer, we'd all rather be outside. So as a bit of cheer, here is a great video about relationships between clients and vendors. Imagine if the behavior of e-learning clients in terms of purchasing services from e-learning vendors seeped into everyday occurrences. If that happened, the resulting would occur...


*Special thanks for Carl, Jenn and Donna for alerting me to this great video.

One possible remedy is to write awesome e-learning RFPs. Might I suggest a resource?


Also see, Top 5 Funny and Semi-Learning Related Videos. If you want even more laughs on this Monday.

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Putting Technology Into Perspective

Just in time for Monday Morning.

Here is a link to a funny video that puts some of our modern gadgets and gizmos into perspective and, as someone who travels a bit, I think the airplane story is very funny.

The video is by Louis CK on the Conan O' Brien.
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Top 5 Funny and Semi-Learning Related Videos

Holidays can stress people out, so here are some lighthearted, funny videos that can add a smile to your face. Also, if you choose to think deeper about the content and how it applies to designing instruction and delivering instruction in our modern, fast-paced world...some are actually quite profound...enjoy.

Number 5: Wii Fit Parody

,
Here is my original blog post on Wii Fit Parody. Why in the Semi-Training Related series? Because it reminds me of the hype of "oh-so-many" training programs dreamed up by management.

Number 4: Second Life in Real Life


Why is it in the Semi-Training Related series? Because there is a lot of hype around 3D worlds like Second Life but many of the activities in those worlds are a little goofy...even if I do think 3D worlds actually are the future for teaching certain topics online.

Number 3: YouTube Contest Challenges Users To Make A 'Good' Video

YouTube Contest Challenges Users To Make A 'Good' Video
Here is my original post on this social media improvement effort. Why is it in the Semi-Training Related series? Because it makes you think that perhaps you need a few parameters for helping people within your organization understand the best way to post Social Media-type entries into your corporate YouTube, Wiki or Blogs. We want to encourage users to create their own "learning events" but we as ISD folks need to create some parameters around that process.

Number 2: Death Star Help Desk Interview


Here is my original post on the Death Star Help Desk post. Why is it in the Semi-Training Related series? Because training and "help desks" are so intertwined and helpdesk issues, if tracked properly, become part of training...but some things just can't be "trained." And because I've made the "ID Ten T" error millions of times.

Number 1: Building a "Stop Sign"


This video is in the semi-training collection because it is so scary...its funny.
I love this line, "We are primarily targeting women but also targeting men secondarily"...It seems client always wants online learning to teach as much information to as many people as possible but still...they always have some sort of "target audience" in mind (and then they wonder why the online learning isn't as effective as it could be??)

So, anyone who has worked with an instructional design or training client has encountered this scenario. I love the women who announces that "Fire Engine" Red is owned by the fire company...a stakeholder arises out of nowhere and changes the scope...oh I've so been there. That is why this is the number one Top 5 Funny and Semi-Learning Related Video.

Here is my original post on Building a Stop Sign.

Hope you got a laugh out of the videos and that they made you think a little about learning events...let's not take ourselves too seriously and let's always have fun.

If you know of other funny semi-learning related videos, please post a link in the comments...share the laughs.
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