My 2008 E-Learning Predictions...Not too bad.

Every year Lisa Neal Gualtieri of eLearn Magazine asks for e-learning predictions about the upcoming year. You can read the predictions in Predictions for 2009 and for the past few years Stephen Downes over at his Half an Hour blog grades the predictions. It really raises the stakes of the predictions but is a great exercise in reflection and revisiting ideas to determine validity and accuracy of scope. I enjoy his grading of the predictions...it keeps everyone on their toes.

You can see his entire list of grades at Last Year's Predictions For 2008, Reviewed.

Here is my prediction and grade from Stephen.

Predicted: Content within corporations and universities is going to become more and more disaggregated and learner created. Truly valuable content will be found as short videos on YouTube, entries on blogs, or a favorite page on a wiki, none will be housed in a Learning Management System. In fact, I predict a corporate version of YouTube will emerge just as the academic version, TeacherTube previously emerged. Formalized "instructional design" will begin to look more like "instructional assembly," in that what is traditionally thought of as a course will really be the efforts of an instructional designer to assemble disaggregated pieces of related content into a coherent flow for novice learners or learners who are not comfortable with assembling the content themselves for whatever reason.

Grade: B-

Content did become more disaggregated and learner created, continuing a trend that has been evident for several years. Penalty for non-falsifiability: if valuable content were housed on a learning management system, this would not be evident to the wider internet. No corporate version of YouTube emerged. 'Instructional assembly' did not emerge as a wide practice. Maybe in a few years.

So as any good student would do...I am going to take this chance to argue for a higher grade.

I do admit to the non-falsifiability of the disaggregation of content...although I see it happening in several organizations... also not as much instructional assembly is happening as I thought it would.

However, the point I want to hang a potentially higher grade on is the emergence of a corporate YouTube.

Recently, we have seen the emergence of sites providing video instruction focused on a corporate/professional audience. Here is a list of a few of the sites.

Wistia--This site allows you to share your videos inside and outside of company walls. This allows you to control who can view your content and to regulate the content. The videos can be used for training and sales and marketing. The videos even track who is watching them and what parts they've watched and what parts were not watched.

WordPress TV--This site contains many videos all some how related to WordPress but not just about the software. There is information about blogging and social media as well as other related topics. Sure it is focused in one area but it is professionally focused.

Adobe TV--This site is similar to WordPress but is all about Adobe products. Here the $100 laptop is discussed as well as every Adobe product from PhotoShop to Acrobat. There is an education channel, a How-To channel and many other topics. Again, corporate focused videos.

So, given the "evidence" (somewhat shaky but I think it makes the case) I'd like to know what you think. Is the grade appropriate or should it be raised a bit?

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Blogosphere Happenings for Kapp Notes

Recently received some exciting news related to the Kapp Notes blog. First, one of my entries appeared on the eLearning Learning Content Community Hot List for the Week of 1/2/2009 - 1/9/2009. The post was 2009 Predictions, Remembrance and Challenges. And then, I was selected as favourite blogger of the week for the week of January 11, 09 to January 18, 09 over at e-Learning Planet by E-Learning Tyro. Recognition is great but I blog for many other reasons which, thanks to Dave Ferguson, are listed below.

Shortly after I received the two notices about my blog, Dave Ferguson who blogs at Dave's Whiteboard asked me for examples of how professionals in the field of Learning and Development can gain value from blogs. His timing is perfect, so here are some of the reasons why I enjoy blogging so much and how I use my blog.

One: My blog acts as my own personnel knowledge management tool. If I see an article that is interesting. I write a quick blurb about the article and link it to my blog post. When I go to give a presentation, I look through my blog, find relevant entries and use the statistics or other information in my presentation. So it is a kind of "memory box" or knowledge management system that puts all articles of interest containing statistics and such in one place. For example, I found an interesting article on the FBI hiring people, I wrote about it and then referenced that article in a presentation a few weeks later.

Two: It acts as a note card sorter. This is similar to number one but I don't see it as exactly the same. I am writing a book "Learning in 3D" Some of my blog entries are like note cards that I sort and review as I create the outline for the book. The entries serve as content for chapters and sub-chapters of the book. They are already organized and often I can use them word-for-word in a chapter.

Three: Presentation Reference Materials. Many of my presentations now are almost all images and diagrams with little words. Great for presentations, lousy for reference materials. My blog entry "Creating a Vibrant Learning Community" is a reference piece that attendees of that presentation (and others) can review after attend see my presentation and have the written notes they need.

Four: Keep in touch with colleagues and alumni in the field. The blog enables me to get reactions to my ideas and feedback from other professionals in the field and to see if my ideas are on track or not and allows me to keep in touch with alumni who write on my blog and make comments.I have a little online community of practice surrounding my blog of alumni, presentation attendees, fellow bloggers and others.

Five: It forces me to write. Writing takes practice and having a blog requires me to have the discipline and skill to write every day so it is a personnel reminder that "I need to write."

Six: Extends my class. I have used the blog to extend discussions in the classroom to the broader blogsphere. This allows my students to interact directly with professionals in the field. Creating a learning community.

So what value do you receive from blogging?

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Blog or Wiki?

The other day, I received the following question in a comment on this blog.

I work of a medium size company (200 employees).I want to create either a Wiki or Blog to share training tips. For example, as a new system rolls-out, I want to set-up a place to share tips, questions, and discoveries, with search capabilities. Do you have any suggestions on the best method (Wiki or Blog) and what product?

To me, the scenario that you described would be best served with a wiki. The wiki allows for multiple people to share tips and to all contribute their discoveries and ideas in a single location.

I suggest you set up contribution "standards" so everyone understands the best method for contributing to the wiki. Include examples and start the wiki so people don't come to the wiki and see a blank page.

Also, when you do face-to-face training classes, go to the wiki and enter and look up information. Get trainees comfortable with going to the wiki to find information.

Your desire to use to share data within your training department and organization is similar to how it is being done at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through the use of a wiki. (here is some of the content taken from my book to describe what they are dong.)

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education, and patient service, is employing a wiki to share best practices. With 66 chapters spread across the United States and Canada, the Society has unique opportunities and issues in the dissemination and implementation of best practices.

In addition to the geographically dispersal of its operations, the Society also faces staff turnover, varying levels of computer expertise and the need to disseminate information in a manner compatible with existing computer systems.

The Society's eMarketing team, which consists of staff ranging in age and abilities from gamers to baby boomers, worked together to employ a wiki to share best practices among chapters. The wiki provides a central location for best practices and an easy-to-use interface that anyone with typing and some minimal search capabilities can master. It is paying off in terms of building a knowledge base and the ability to provide best practices and training on a dime, according to Marty Siederer, the Society's senior director of training and customer service, Siederer provides training for the organization's content management, mass email distribution and online fundraising systems.

“The wiki gives us a method to connect our staff to best practices and much needed resources. Staff can share feedback and techniques," said Siederer. “We can instantly post and share best practices or training information to all of our staff members simply and easily. With the implementation of the wiki, we are able to post our resources electronically and reallocate the funds that would have been used to print manuals and training materials towards the Society's ultimate goals: cures for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, and improving the quality of life for patients and their families.”

Also see, Adopting Social Media in Your Organization? A Few Considerations.

Also, check out Webinar Resources where I provide a number of videos and links to some of the wiki software I use.

I have used Wikispaces and PBWiki and WetPaint. My favorite for ease-of-use and layout is Wikispaces. My favorite for support materials and informaiton is PBwiki. All of these wiki software are similar in functionality and you can't go wrong with any of these choices.
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Second Life Workshop

Heather showing some 3D moves in the metaverse of Second Life.
On Friday, Heather and I conducted a "Basics of Second Life" workshop for some folks at Raritan Valley Community College.

Here are some resources to accompany the class.

Video presentation "Why 3D Matters."

Slideshare of "Why 3D Matters."

Links to lesson plans for 3D learning.

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Creating a Vibrant Learning Community

Today I am presenting at Immaculata University on the topic of Creating a Vibrant Learning Community as part of a faculty workshop.

Here are my slides (although SlideShare did something to some of the photographs on my slides...sorry about that.)

Communities Of Practice

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: academic community)

My presentation notes:

Faculty today are confronted with a very heterogeneous population of traditional and non-traditional students. All have been influenced by technology during their formative years in some way. Some remember nuclear drills and sitting under their desks, some have been influenced by automated manufacturing, others by the birth of the Internet, others by the mass audience message of television while others vividly remember watching the first astronaut land on the moon. They all bring a rich experience to class but the experiences are all different.

Regardless of the "age" in which these students have grown up and which technology was the greatest influence on those students, they all have similar traits that have spilled over into the classroom.

They are expecting "customized" education. "That day you have scheduled for a test isn't good for me." or "Can I study a different topic, I don't like that one."

They are under tremendous amounts of stress. At school, at home, everywhere.

They are all very busy. School is being fit into other activities. Work, social life, sports, caring for parents, kids, animals, etc.

They have a consumer expectation of education. "Hey, I am paying for this degree or my parents are and I should get an A." or "You should make accommodations because...I am paying your salary."

They are all feeling a bit isolated.

In addition to those traits and factors, students have grown up under different levels of technological influence as I indicated before. While others divide people into boomers, and such, one thing I have done that I have found helpful is to divide students and others into four different groups based on what types of video games they played while growing up. (it doesn't hurt that I like video games.)

See Gamer Rater: New and Improved for details on this portion of the presentation.

We aren't going back to the old classroom styles and formats where learning was in a community of different levels of students all in the same classroom. We have different levels of students but they are all spread out.

So if the goal is to take the current student population and create a vibrant community of learning, then the first thing we must do is to define it.

A Learning Community is a group whose members regularly engage in sharing and learning, based on common interests.

Learning Communities start in the classroom.

• Begin with a policy of including each student in discussions.
  
• Create small groups and allow frequent student-to-student interactions.
  
• Have events outside of the classroom like "brown bag lunch and learns".
  
• Create reverse mentoring by teaming up different students with each other for projects.
  
• Use a problem-based learning approach to pull students together.

Now we can also leverage technology to expand the community beyond the classroom. But first we have to get over misconceptions about Social Media. This image is taken directly from Facebook and is the image many faculty have when someone mentions Facebook.

But Facebook, LinkedIn, Ning and IntroNetworks are all great tools for having academically focused learning communities in an online setting.

Additionally, blogs are great for activities like:

• Clarification of Terms.
• Posting a Collection of Valuable Resources.
• Advice from alumni.
• Tips and techniques based on the materials covered in class.
• Extending discussions outside of class.

Even Twitter can be used.

• Real-time access to students/alumni.
• Sending yourself/students reminders.
• Answering quick questions.
• Mentoring.
• Answering one question will lead to more questions.
• Reach across silos of information.
• Broadcasting thoughts and ideas.

Wikis are being used everywhere and can be create foundations for a learning community. See Pedia Palooza for information covered in this portion of the presentation.

You should even encourage students to create "YouTube moments" to extend the classroom and build a community.

But learning communities don't build themselves. You must create a structure, a framework and serve as an example and lead the way to help the community grow. You cannot expect to create an empty space in a social network and expect to SHAZAM an active, vibrant community. Actions must be taken, the faculty must serve as leaders. Consider linking a Freshman class with a class or graduate students or even with alumni. Think of how to create a community beyond the 4 walks of your classroom.

For example number one, see Tear Down The Walls: Web 2.0 Extends Class

Also see, Web 2.0 Lessons Learned

For a post related to creating vibrant learning communities...see Adopting Social Media in Your Organization? A Few Considerations

For example number two, see CAC Re-Cap with its links to related information that explains the event and the learning community involved in the event.

Finally, the questions might be "Why Create Learning Communities?"

The answer is simple:

• They create a friendly and open atmosphere among students and faculty and facilitate learning.
• They expand learning and interactions beyond the classroom.
• They make for happier, better adjusted students which aid retention and helps with recruiting.
• Makes for happier and more engaged alumni who welcome the chance to be a part of the community even after they graduate.
• Creates fun, enthusiastic learners and is fun for the faculty member as well.

So, today I challenge you to create a vibrant learning community within your classroom and beyond.

For additional information on this subject and some of the topics covered see the web site for Gadgets, Games and Gizmos.
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Implementing a Virtual World

Image from a virtual world created by Forterra.
Considering the implementation of a virtual world?

Below are a few tips from a interesting whitepaper by Forterra Systems, a company that provides private, virtual world technology for the corporate, healthcare, government, education, and the entertainment industry. The main product of Forterra is OLIVE™ (On-Line Interactive Virtual Environment). OLIVE is an open, distributed client-server platform for building private, realistic virtual worlds. The architecture scales from single user applications up to thousands of concurrent users.

The paper is called Recipe for Success with Enterprise Virtual Worlds written by Chris Badger, the VP of Marketing.

Lessons Learned: What Worked (small sampling from whitepaper)

Well defined "Use Cases" The creation of written example of how the 3D environment would work and the expected implications and outcomes enabled a discussion with the 3D world vendor experts (in this case Forterra)who could comment on what dimensions of the use case would be easy or difficult to prototype quickly. The Use Case allow allows managers who might be uncomfortable with a 3D implementation to visualize how it would work and the integration of the virtual world into the workflow of the organization.

Private, secure, hosted environments This allowed for a quick implementation and overcame several potential IT department obstacles or road blocks. One concern with virtual worlds or any Internet application is security. Having the virtual world hosted in a secure, private environment can be a huge advantage.

Branded facilities. Applying corporate branding and even building style guides to 3D meeting environments provided multiple benefits. First, they help assure senior management that virtual worlds can represent their image and culture in an appropriate way, which helps gain trust and confidence in the pilot. Second,the facilities can be designed to be fun without the constraints of real-world zoning ordinances. A well-designed set of facilities increases the excitement and engagement for users to want to participate in virtual training or meeting events.

Personalized avatars The use of realistic personalized avatars was cited by users as a major contributor to the immersive nature of their pilot. By “immersive”, we mean the perception that “I am really in a meeting room, three feet from a colleague with whom I am talking and interacting, even though it’s just their avatar and that colleague is really 5000 miles away.” Another benefit of personalized avatars is that users tend to become emotionally attached to their avatars, which is valuable when valuable when used with executives or other major stakeholders being courted in the pilot.

(Read the other What Worked well items in the whitepaper.)

What I really liked about the whitepaper is they also listed "What Didn't Work So Well." A great and honest element rarely encountered in corporate whitepapers. Here are some of the list items.

Lessons Learned: What Didn't Work So Well

Testing the PC, headset, and Virtual World (OLIVE) audio properties before an event. The audio experience in OLIVE or any virtual world can be a significant positive contributor towards recreating the experience of a live face-to-face meeting. However, not taking the time to test and tune the PC setup can impair this experience. Users who show up right at the start of the in-world event typically have a hard time following the agenda if they don’t take the time beforehand to test their equipment. In this case, I recommend having a prior "less intensive" meeting that is established really just so everyone fine tunes their PC for the event.

Working through corporate firewalls. Few corporate firewalls have the requisite TCP and UDP ports open that are needed for virtual world users to access a server cluster outside their firewall, or vice versa, for external attendees trying to access a server behind the firewall. Many corporations report that requests to IT for opening the needed ports can take weeks to resolve. Forterra has some great techniques for working through these technical issues to minimize the possible IT problems.

Getting IT support. Large-scale deployments require IT support, so it’s important that virtual world advocates in lines of business get buy-in from their IT colleagues. Some companies’ policies require IT blessing for any employee to access outside servers, which makes pursuing pilots extremely difficult to start.

Again, these are a few of the "gems" from the whitepaper. If you have some time, take a read. You'll gain some really interesting insights into 3D World Implementations.


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Predications for 2009

It is that time of year again. Lisa Neal Gualtieri of eLearn Magazine has issued her annual list of predications from elearning folks in academia, business and not-for-profit organizations. Take a look and let me know what your predictions are for 2009.

eLearn Magazine's Predictions for 2009
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Apple Keynote...no...not that one

Yes, I am in San Francisco and yes I am at a conference where a representative from Apple is the Keynote speaker but no...it's not Macworld. I am at the Winter 2009 ICT Educator conference. The ICT organization is an expanding group of academic professionals and industry experts who share a common goal or ensuring a quality and industry-relevant education for all Information and Communication Technology (ICT)students.
Jon Burgess of Apple presenting to ICT Educators.
So the keynote was by Jon Burgess of Apple who did an excellent job outlining what educators should focus on for the future. He spoke a great deal about the disconnect between student technology expectations and the technology available in community college and university classrooms. He spoke about students feeling that walking into a classroom was like boarding an airplane where all the technology is turned off for the duration of the flight (or classroom). He indicated technology can be better integrated into the classroom. While it may seem a bit self-serving, I think it is wonderful that a major technology company is focusing on education.
Four types of people who are learners.
One of his first slides was right up my alley, it had 4 different types of people:

• Boomers
  
• Gen X
  
• Gen Y
  
• Tweens (10-12)

Jon indicated that Gen Y is more ethinically diverse than any generation before. Gen Y has 79 million individuals which is one million more than the number of Boomers. 94% of them use the Internet to do school work. They consume, on average, 20 hours of media a day--they do that in 7 hours--so, on average, they are looking at media from 3 different sources at a time. 45% of the jobs that they will obtain haven't been created yet. While Boomers see technology as a tool, Gen Y and Tweens see technology as an environment. Gen Y might not like to formally write but they do create 500 pages of email a year.
Technology expectations of students vs. academic technologies.
One thing that was particularly interesting is that Jon mentioned that it used to be that technology in universities and colleges used to be ahead of consumer technology but now, consumer technology has overtaken academic technology and students have far greater expections about technology than what is taking place in the classroom.

He also mentioned that traditionally, IT departments in schools and organizations had three purposes:

• Protect Information
  
• Perserve Investement
  
• Minimize Risk

That is changing (or should be changing.) Now IT infrastructure in schools and companies are surrounded by software that is open, easy to update and accessible by many. Workers and students not only want that type of environment, they demand it. In fact, in colleges, on average each student has 3 wireless devices, a phone (hopefully and iPhone...according to Jon), a gaming platform (like PS3 or Wii) and a laptop. Some even set up their own wireless routers because they don't like the school's network. They are trully customizing their technology environment to suite thier own needs. Students and workers now want to personalize tools to enhance the quality of their work and save time.

Finally, Jon indicated that community college faculty are in a unique situation to impact the education of Gen Y and to make a difference.

All in all a great keynote and I am sure the other guy from Apple did a good job as well.




*Disclaimer: All pictures in this blog post were taken with an iPhone (however, the computer used for making this entry is not Apple-based.
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You Want a Job?...I Give you the F...B...I

One area of the United States economy that is hiring is the FBI. In fact, due to retirments of the boomers and attrition...they need more than a few good men/women. They need a lot! This is just the first of many agencies in the Government that are going to need a lot more people because of retirements.

The FBI posted openings for 850 special agents and more than 2,100 professional support personnel. Officials say it's the largest FBI job posting since immediately after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks....The lengthy list of openings includes positions in finance and accounting, security, intelligence analysis, training and education, nursing and counseling, physical surveillance, electrical engineering, physical and social sciences, and auto mechanics...everyone one of the field offices needs at least a person...the current block of openings end January 16, 2008

Of course, with all those hirings, you need a lot of training. So if you are a trainer or instructional designer who would be interested in an exciting career...the FBI might just be your answer.

Check out the entire article at Wanted: 850 new FBI agents

Or

Check out the FBI's web site to apply.

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2009 Predictions, Remembrance and Challenges

ASTD's Big Question for January is, again, a series of questions.

• What are your biggest challenges for this upcoming year?
  
• What are your major plans for the year?
  
• What predictions do you have for the year?

First a little reflection. This year has been a busy year I've worked on:

• Analyzing Mobile Learning Opportunities within an Organizations
  
• Researched Virtual World and MMOLE Learning Opportunities within an Organization
  
• Researched Social Learning for Behind-the-Firewall Implementation within an Organization
  
• Worked to designing a Game to Teach Middle School Kids Science, Math, Engineering and Technical Skills as part of a National Science Foundation Grant
  
• Worked with US Intelligence Community
  
• Presented on the topic of "Gadgets, Games and Gizmos" Around the Country
  
• Conducted a Comparison of Two Training Methodologies for a PA State Agency
  
• Wrote Serveral Whitepapers
  
• Conducted Evaluations for National Science Foundation Grants
  

My three most popular 2008 Blog postings were (#1 being most popular).

#1: Bored?-Try Dissecting a Frog
#2: Top 5 Funny and Semi-Learning Related Videos
(My favorite)
#3: Help, I have an Instructional Design Master's Degree and I Can't Create E-Learning

What are your biggest challenges for this upcoming year?

Personnally

• Time management is becoming a bigger and bigger challenge. Very difficult to balance everything I am doing and still have time to breath.
  
• Spending as much time as possible with my two boys and wife. Tough to be busy and balance family life but it must be a priority.
  
• Plus, I'd love to get in better shape...yes I did say that last year and perhaps the year before...as with time management.

Professionally

• Finding new approaches to teaching my RFP class. I teach a wonderful class but I feel it has too much lecturing even though I have been working to eliminate the lectures, we have group exercises, group assignments, student presentations, good discussions but still...can I totally eliminate lectures...not sure I can. So this is a big challenge for me this year.
  
• I am writing a book this year called "Learning in 3D" about using virtual worlds for learning, that will be a challenge as all of my books have been. But they are so rewarding and I do enjoy it after it is over.
  
• Finding the time to write a peer reviewed article (I have said this the last 2 years, I need someone to hold me to this. I even have great research, just need to write it up.)

What are your major professional plans for the year?

• To write the book, "Learning in 3D."
• To publish a peer reviewed article.
  
• To continue blogging.
  
• To continue presenting.
  
• To enjoy being part of the field.
  
• I'm giving a workshop to the Centeral Iowa Chapter of ASTD. I am really looking forward to that engagement.

What predictions do you have for the year?

• E-Learning will grow at a rapid pace. With the economy in a shambles, one good way to reduce costs is to conduct e-learning.
  
• The rapid pace of e-learning growth will create a bunch of garbage e-learning.
  
• Organizations will struggle with too few staff and too much to do but will not want to hire more people.
  
• Social Media or Knowledge Media will become a great resource within organizations.
  
• I will continue to blog and enjoy the online community of bloggers, lurkers and others.
  

In conclusion HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!

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It's that time of Year Again, EduBlog Awards

For over six years, the great folks over at the Edublog awards have done a great job of collating the best of the edublogosphere and handing out awards to some of the outstanding folks writing and posting in this space.

If you are interested in participating, here are the categories and some awards that you can vote on in the near future. The nominations end on December 8th so hurry and get your nominations in...

Celebrating the achievements of edubloggers, twitterers, podcasters, video makers, online communities, wiki hosts and other web based users of educational technology.

Now into its 6th year!

And this year we’re going to run the nominations for each category just the same as we did last year :)

In order to nominate blogs for the 2009 Edublog Awards you have to link to them first!

Nominations: Close Tuesday 8 December!
Voting: Ends Wednesday 16 December!
Award Ceremony: Friday 18 December!
Nominations are now open… read on to find out how to nominate:

So, first, choose the sites that you want to nominate in the following categories (you can nominate for as many, or as few, categories as you like):

Best individual blog
Best individual tweeter
Best group blog
Best new blog
Best class blog
Best student blog
Best resource sharing blog
Most influential blog post
Most influential tweet / series of tweets / tweet based discussion
Best teacher blog
Best librarian / library blog
Best educational tech support blog
Best elearning / corporate education blog
Best educational use of audio
Best educational use of video / visual
Best educational wiki
Best educational use of a social networking service
Best educational use of a virtual world
Lifetime achievement

Step 1: Write a post on your blog linking to:

The Edublog Awards Homepage (that’s here :)
The blogs & sites that you want to nominate (must be linked to!)

Step 2: Email us the link to your nomination post

Use the form on The Edublogger Award page to contact us, please include a genuine email address (spam free, just in case we need to confirm identity) and the link to your nominations post.

For information on how to nominate a blog for The Edublog awards, go to the following link and be heard! The Edublog Awards 2009
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Karl, The Meme has You...Again, Again

Once again, the Meme has arrived. This time the request is to share seven facts about myself. Thanks to Rachel and Jane and Rupa who tagged me for this meme.

I've been a little slow in blog entries so I got tagged multiple times and thanks to Janet and Cammy for passing the meme around (as per Jane's email.) Not sure just where or when this meme started. It would be an interesting exercise to trace memes and study them.

Anyway, this meme has four simple rules.

The Four Simple Rules:

Link your original tagger(s) and list these rules in your post.
Share seven facts about yourself in the post.
Tag seven people at the end of your post by leaving their names and the links to their blogs.
Let them know they’ve been tagged

So, seven facts about myself that I haven't shared before. Well before I do that, here are some links to previous memes entries.

Wake up Karl, the Meme has you.

Wake Up Karl, the Meme has you...Again

Here are seven new things:

1) Movies I enjoy watching almost all include Leslie Nielsen. Of course starting with the Airplane series and progressing (if I can use that word in this context)to The Naked Gun films to the Scary Movie saga. Always funny and engaging. I laugh everytime, I hear "We have to get this man to a hospital"..."Hospital, what is it?"..."It's a big building with patients...but that's not important right now."

or

"Surely there must be something you can do?"..."I'm doing everthing I can...and stop calling me Shirley."

As a reminder of part of Nielsen's body of work, here is a group of clips from Naked Gun and Airplane, its not all appropriate for work or even politically correct but most of it is funny.
*Look for OJ cameo.



2) I once wrote a joke book called "If Dan Qualye Can Get a Job, Why Can't I." It was a parody of all the job search books I was reading at the time. I no longer have the electronic copy but I think I have a hard copy somewhere. I think I should scan and put on the web some day.

3) All of my son's friends think its so cool that their Dad plays video games. Unfortunately my son's beat me all the time. They are great players. Currently we are playing three games in our house.


4) Speaking of James Bond, I like to drink (on occasion) a Dirty Vodka Martini Straight Up. Other times a simple Rum and Coke will do (and it has to be a coke, Rum and Pepsi is just not as good.)

5) For Christmas I got my brother-in-laws custom bobbleheads. Great gift idea. I sent in a photo and got a great realistic image of my brother-in-laws as bobbleheads. Lots of fun. You can check it out at Headbobble.

6) Even though I lived in the North all my life, I am really getting tired of snow. Every year I pledge to move south when January, February and March come along. Some day I will...maybe.

7) I've sort of, kind of, started another book. This one is about Learning in 3D and discusses Massively Multi-Learner Online Learning Environments (MMOLEs) and Virtual Worlds. The contract is not totally inked but it looks like it is going to happen...then another blog book tour which I completely enjoyed with my last book.

Ok, so who to tag

Ryan's The Learning Journal
Mark's Virtical Education
Joe's Learning Altitude
Susan's Leadership and Traning Innovations
Robyn and Brandy's DishingDesign
Ben's Learning Design and Performance Improvement
Lisa Neal Gualtieri's blog (which I don't think has a name)

And Happy New Year to All!
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ASTD's Big Question for December 2008: New Learning

The ASTD Big question this month is What did you learn about learning in 2008?

I learn so much all the time from students, clients and colleagues, it is hard to narrow it down to just two or three things, but I'll try.

Here are a few of the lessons I have learned. Mostly about finding a good "model" for mobile learning course design, how others tend to view immersive learning environments and how Social Media is taking off in the least likely places.

First I learned that the best mobile learning device has to be the Nintendo DS. The powerful little computer literally has dozens and dozens of games that teach every thing from Spanish to French to Problem-Solving and even how to cook. These games, are all designed by many different organizations but all have elements that can be easily applied to mobile learning designs. Too many mobile learning initiatives want to place entire courses on a mobile device...not good.

I wrote a number of posts this year about mobile learning:

Five Holiday Semi-Learning Related Games
How Widespread is Mobile Learning?
Mobile Learning Via Audio

Lesson One: If you want to find out how to create effective mobile learning, purchase a Nintendo DS and some educational games. Then begin to design your mobile learning objects.

Next, I learned that virtual worlds are starting to gain the attention of publications like the Harvard Business Review and that the need to understand how to effectively use this technology to teach is acute because many learning and development professionals still think the use of Virtual Worlds for Learning is over hyped.

Of course, I wrote a number of posts this year about virtual worlds:
Some Facts about Immersive Learning Worlds
We Have 2D Virtual Classrooms? Why 3D
Teaching Higher Order Skills in a Virtual World
Complaint? Students Don't Hang Out in Virtual Worlds After Class
Virtual Jeans=Real Jeans

Lesson Two: While there is a lot of press and buzz around Virtual Worlds, there's still not a great deal of understanding of how to create effective and meaningful instruction within virtual learning worlds. More work needs to be done to help education people about the possibilities and proper use of these spaces.

The third big learning was that organizations who seemed the least open, most secretive and most regulated jumped into Social Media with both feet while other industries are still floundering. Examples include the United States Intelligence community and the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer

I wrote a number of posts this year about Social Media for Learning:
Adopting Social Media in Your Organization: A Few Considerations
A Pharmaceutical Leveraging Web 2.0 --In a Big Way
Social Networking Not Corporate Enough for Your Company?
Pedia Palooza

Lesson 3: If highly regulated and highly secretive organizations can leverge Social Media for learning, any organization can overcome obstacles and leverage Social Media for Learning.

Those are a few of the lessons I've learning and I am sure there are so many more as I learning through blogging, writing articles, speaking with others, reading and being part of the overall learning and development community. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to my knowledge this year!

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Three Vitrual World Learning Best Practices and A Holiday Greeting

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas, here is a little visual post card from Second Life wishing you and Your's a Great Holiday Season and a Happy New Year....plus some virtual world best practices thrown in as a gift>):

Three virtual world learning best practices to consider when implementing 3D worlds in 2009.

Introduce Virtual Learing Worlds in a face to face environment.Do not simply set the learners loose in the Virtual World environment the first time they are supposed to work or learn within that environment--they might panic. Instead provide a safe environment where a proctor or instructor is available to guide the learner the first time. After that, the implementation and use of the virtual world will be much easier.

Create realistic but not "to scale" areas and locations. In a virutal world, an avatar needs more room to walk down hallways and to move around objects than a real person in the physical world. For example, make the ceilings a little higher than normal because avatars will rez on top of each other and may get confused if their line of sight is the floor and because they may fly or may jump in the space. When designing a 3D learning space, consider the movement of the avatar and do not make the buildings 100% to scale.

Allow time for avatar customization. One of the advantages of a 3D learning worlds is that the dimension of personalization and looks can be added as opposed to 2D environments. However, that dimension cannot be explored if you do not allow time for avatar customization. Include that in any type of orientation you do for your learners in the 3D world. It may seem frivolous but contributes to the overall sense of identifying with the avatar.

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Adopting Social Media in Your Organization? A Few Considerations

Here are few things to consider if you want to help your organization adopt social media tools for learning.

• Cultural influences in terms of sharing and open information is more important than the technology. An atmosphere of sharing is required for Social Media to be adopted. If people feel they will be punished or “get in trouble” for postings, Social Media will not work within the organization.
  
  
• Social Media cannot replace all e-learning or stand up instruction, but it can reinforce, enhance, and enrich it.
  
  
• Give people a few simple but firm guidelines and rules and then enforce that small set of rules vigorously. Expect mis-steps and wrong information but use those events as learning processes for the organization and individual.
  
  
• While many of the Social Media tools seem intuitive, some learners will need to be oriented to Social Media in face-to-face sessions. Providing up-front assistance and training is essential for the majority of employees to adopt. A small group will adopt irregardless of training.
  
  
• Consider starting with a simple, low risk item like a glossary of acronyms to allow employees to get comfortable with the concept of editing materials and then work to more comprehensive collaborative sites.
  
  
• Prepare to scale quickly. One or two people using Social Media tools does not change an organization, even 200 makes little impact but 2000 people using Socail Media effects change.
  
  
• Start with “seeded” wikis which provide basic information onto which others can being to add links, images and other contributes.
  
  
• Create a rating/ranking system to identify widely popular or important Social Media elements and incorporate them into more formal learning process such as e-Learning modules.

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The 2008 Top 3 Semi-Learning Related Books

Here are some great reads to take you into 2009 and to get you to think about technology, learning and games from a new perspective. They'd make great stocking stuffers for the geeky person on your Christmas list as well.

Number 3: Mastering the Hype Cycle: How to Choose the Right Innovation at the Right Time (Gartner) by Jackie Fenn and Mark Raskino



This book describes how a technology enters the collective awareness of everyone (read learning professionals) and then gets overhyped and then crashes and no one likes it any more but the small group of people who continue to plod along find the technology aids productivity. The learning and development industry seems particularly vulnerable to Hype Cycles. I've written about the concept in The Metaverse Hype, Decline and Realism Cycle--We've Seen It Before


Number 2: Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies (Forrester Research) by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff

If you want to understand how Social Media or Web 2.0 or Informal Learning is impacting organizations and moving the power into the hands of individuals, this book is for you. It doesn't approach the topic from a learning perspective, instead it provides a much broader view and does a good job of explaining the impact these technologies are already having on organizations. My entry Pedia Palooza hits on some of the same issues by providing links to all types of social media articles.

Number 1: The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses by Jesse Schell

This book approaches the concept of game design by asking the reader to look at designing a game through a number of different lenes. In the book the author describes the activity of game design in a staight forward, enjoyable manner. What struck me about the book is how many of the concepts can be applied to almost any type of instructional design process. I also really like his list of 15 "Nitty-Gritty" brainstorming tips. Applicable for any brainstorming operation.

So there you have it, the 2008 Top 3 Semi-Learning Related books for you to read before 2009. :)


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Five Holiday Semi-Learning Related Games

If you are doing some last minute shopping, here are some games that are semi-learning related and a lot of fun.

Number 5: Spanish for Everyone (Nintendo DS)


Nintendo DS has a number of educational games to teach a variety of subjects. This fun game challenges the player/learner with various Spanish words and phrases. As a player you take a journey to Mexico where different people you meet help you learn Spanish. (There is also a French and Japanese game for the Nintendo DS.)

Number 4: Brain Age (Nintendo DS)


Brain Age is actually a series of games. These games are a lot of fun and are a real challenge. You take an initial quiz and from that point forward engage in small quick little games that work your mind in new and complex ways. In one game you pick out letters from a moving stream of letters to correctly id a word. In another, you have to do quick math and you actually write your answer on your Nintendo DS. If you want a glimps into how engaging and interactive mobile learning can be then this game and the Nintendo game system is a great start.

Number 3: History Channel Civil War: Secret Missions
(PlayStation 2, 3, XBox360, PC)

Time for a little history. This game casts you in the role of a solider in the American Civil War and then you must fight behind enemy lines in the well known battles of the war. Your goal is to disrupt enemy by any means necessary, including conducting train raids, stealing ironclad ships, stopping enemy supply lines, destroying enemy artillery and the events are drawn from the real life actions of famous partisans, scouts and rangers. What a great way to "accidently" pick up some history. If you want to see how facts and concepts can be embedded into a strategy-type game, this is a good example.


Number 2: Wii Trauma Center Games (Wii)

The Trauma Center series has a bunch of different games. My favorite is still Trauma Center: Second Opinion. But New Blood has some neat new surgery as well. Learn about how doctors work and some medical terminology as you play the game. And, you can even get surgical accessories for the Wiimote which are interesting. If you want a glimpse into the future of interactive training for motorskills, this game is worth a look.

Number 1: Crazy Machines 2 (Windows 2000 / XP / Vista)


In this tools and machines-based game, you build imaginative machines in an environment that is creative and difficult but fun. As a player you turn cranks, rotate gears, pull levers, and other tools and machine related efforts to build unique contraptions. You have access to Physics engines with air-pressure, electricity, gravity, and particle effects. You can also experiment with gears, robots, and even explosives. All the mad science stuff you want to do in your garage but because of legal, health and compliance issues...you aren't able to do. Great simulations of experiments, and physics concepts.

If you know of any other games, please feel free to post in the comments. I'm always looking for neat semi-learning games, gizmos and gadgets.
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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

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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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Let's Not Pretend

Ok, let's make a deal. I will not pretend to be a salesperson, a doctor, a banker...if...(and I said if) these people stop pretending to be instructional designers and/or trainers?



Why do organizations take people with no formal training in instructional design, adult education or anything close and make them a trainer/instructional designer. It is not fair to that person and it is not fair to the trainees within the organization.

Organizations do it because the people they choose are "Good at what they do?" or "Have been with the organization a long time." or "Are good at speaking in front of people" or "Know a lot about the subject."

None of which qualifies them to design, develop and/or deliver instruction...none.

Please why can't organizations hire people with the right degrees and right knowledge for the right job???

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Training: A Bottleneck

Recently I've been working with a couple of organizations that have related but not exactly the same problem. At one organization, the training of a new employee takes so long that managers and supervisors are becoming frustrated at the slowness of the rate of preparation. It is almost 6-8 weeks of nothing but training.

At another organization, employees get hired but the training is not "available" because of timing issues or not enough trainers so new employees finally get into the "orientation class" six months after they are hired. By that time bad habits are formed or they know so much they could be teaching the class. Not enough classrooms, instructors or, in some cases, students to run the classes.

In both cases, training has become a bottleneck. It is not longer assisting the organizations for which it is designed to serve. In one case, training takes so long that the cost and effort is almost not worth it because the needed employees take so long to get up to speed. In the second case, by the time the training is delivered its too late.

In both cases, the solution is to disaggregate the training. The problem is that organizations view training through the narrow lens of classroom training. In both of these organizations, the view is that classroom training must occur and it must dictate the entire learning process. This view is not scalable. It is not sustainable.

Instead, if the training was brought to the learner instead of taking the learner to the training, the individual employees could be more productive sooner or get the necessary training they need sooner. In fact, I don't think we should call it training at all...call it Learning Events.

Now, the first organization could provide a short 1/2 day orientation overview and then allow employees to go back to the job and work through a series of online modules. Some could be self-paced but some could be virtual classrooms that are instructor-based. This would allow a mixture of "formal" instruction, informal instruction by peers and self-directed instruction. The 6 week training class should be modularized and presented in small increments with exercises, assignments and mentoring interspersed. This would allow the learner to contribute to the organization in small pieces rather than trying to "train up" a person before they ever arrive on the job. Giving someone 6 weeks of "out of context instruction" doesn't work. They need to have real work assignments and tasks onto which they can ground their learning.

This would also help in the second case as well. The new employees could attend training to get an overview and then take individual learning events to supplement the on-the-job learning and they could become more productive more quickly.

The answer is to create a learning process in which some of the learning is in the classroom, some is on the job through e-learning and some is mentoring and some is escalation of assignments. We really need to get away from learning being anchored by a classroom event and expand learning throughout the enterprise to encompass many small learning events that lead to an employee who is knowledgable in his or her assignments.

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Great Machinima about Machinima

Check out this great video explaining machinima by a former student of mine...she has exceeded her professor as all good student do.


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Upcoming Webinar: Communicating with the Next Generation

Here is some information for a webinar I am doing this Friday. The webinar is titled "Communicating with the Next Generation." Here is the description of the event. Be sure to register

Communicating with Today's Generation
Date: Friday, December 12, 2008 10:00 a.m. MST
Length: 90 minutes

Description:
Are your classroom lectures designed to teach the new generation of students? One raised on a steady diet of video games, electronic gadgets and the Internet? Confused by the correct use of Wikis, Blogs, IM and Podcasts for the classroom? Ever wonder how to communicate with the ever-connected, but seemingly isolated, new generation of students? Then this webinar is for you. Based on the hot selling book, "Gadgets, Games and Gizmos for Learning," Dr. Karl M. Kapp will explain how and why the incoming "gamer generation" requires major changes in instructional delivery methods and techniques. He will also explain steps and tips for reaching today's generation through the use of their own "New Media".

Register Now!

NetWorks webinars are free online seminars presented by subject matter experts. The audio and visual portions are conducted through Elluminate, a free online web conferencing service. For more details about this and other upcoming webinars, visit the NetWorks Webinar Calendar.

Past Webinar Recordings:
Did you happen to miss a NetWorks webinar? Search NetWorks Digital Library for past webinars to listen, watch, and learn.

Hope to virtually see you there.
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Cost Consious Gift Idea

It is always so hard to determine what type of corporate or academic gift is appropriate for clients, co-workers collegue or your boss? What do you get them that is not too expensive but not too inexpensive, that is business or instructionally-focused but not boring. With these tough economic times, such decisions can be difficult.

However, I think the perfect answer is Gadgets, Games and Gizmos for Learning., it is fun but serious, informative but easy-to-read, insightful but not overly academic. Check it out as a gift for yourself, your entire team or your client.

Here is what ASTD's Magazine, T&D had to say about Gadgets, Games and Gizmos for Learning.

[This book, like others, talks about] the impending retirement of baby boomers and how companies are dealing with the critical knowledge transfer that needs to take place.

But what makes this book different is its unique approach to the knowledge-transfer issue...This book is a valuable resource for any business looking to find practical solutions to the boomer-gamer knowledge-transfer gap. It reveals new methods and tools that are being used successfully in a variety of settings, including Flash mobs and cheat codes, video iPods, instant messaging and blogging.

Several of people I know from the field have sent copies to clients and co-workers as gifts. So if you need a last minute gift...


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Pedia Palooza

Lately there has been a lot of buzz about using Social Networking software and techniques in organizations. I've written about a number of uses:

Social Networking Not Corporate Enough for Your Company?

A Pharmaceutical Leveraging Web 2.0 --In a Big Way

I have recently, given a presentation on the topic.
Wikis, Blogs and Social Networks Presentation Materials

And I have noticed a number of other Social Networking uses in corporate and government arenas focusing on a Wikipedia-style open exchange of information.

How about the intelligence community's use of Intellipedia.

Or the FBI's use of Bureaupedia

Or the US State Department's use of Diplopedia.

Of course we know software companies have been doing things like making the Microsoft's Developer wiki public for a while. It is called the MSDN wiki. But somehow a software company doing Social Media doesn't have the same Wow impact as say a bank...

Wachovia Bank now part of Citigroup has a wiki they are slowly rolling out. You can read about it in Wachovia Turns To Wikis, Blogs To Support Growth

To see a great list of all types of organizations using blogs, check out Fortune 500 Business Blogging Wiki which provides a large list of customer facing blogs created by large corporations.

Also, here is a thought provoking presentation titled Learning from Wikipedia: Open Collaboration within Corporations.

If you know of any examples of internal or external social media in corporations or even schools...please leave a link or a reference in the comments.
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Shout Out: Rachel Troychock

Speaking of alumni (see yesterday's post)

This month ASTD's magazine T&D featured one of Bloomsburg University's Instructional Technology alumni, Rachel in their article FUTURE LEADERS 2020. The article is about up and comming folks and what they are doing in the field of learning and e-learning.

Here is what the magazine said about Rachel:

Rachel Troychock is technology based learning manager at KPMG. Currently, she is leading an initiative to incorporate the use of Web 2.0 technologies such as blogs and wikis into learning. Previously, she was an instructional designer responsible for developing learning for large real estate agencies.

If you'd like to read the article yourself, you can click on December T&D Magazine here.

If you'd like to read more about what Rachel's doing check out her blog Rachel's eLearning Blog

I've blogged about Rachel's presentations before. Here she is with fellow alumni Pete Mitchell talking about using vodcasting for e-learning on this very blog.

So a big CONGRATULATIONS to RACHEL. It is awesome to see alumni making an impact in the field, blogging and getting involved with the industry. Keep up the good work, you make us proud.
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Blog Field Trip-"Virtical" Education

Today I thought a blog field trip would be fun. What is a blog field trip?

Well, if you regularly view this blog and leave a comment or just lurk (which is great as well). Today, I thought you could spend your time at "Virtical" Education and leave a comment there or lurk on that site. Like an actual field trip, visiting another blog will give you a new perspective and something to think about. New surroundings. This one is by one of our alumni and has already received a comment from another alumni. Blogs...a great way to keep in touch.

I left a comment on post on the entry "Hybrid lives at home, but not at school?" I encourage you to leave a post on that entry as well. See you over there!

Our last field trip was a visit to Cognitive Technologies.

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For Sale---Test Space

Well commercialization has finally impacted something as neutral and seemingly advertisement free as a student's math test. A calculus teacher in San Diego, California sells ads on his test papers: $10 for a quiz, $20 for a chapter test and $30 for a semester final.

Check out the USA Today article Ads on tests add up for teacher for more price quotes and information. But why stop at tests? Imagine for a moment, negotiating with a business minded educator such as myself...

If you are curious, yes, I will accept advertisement payment for tests, homework assignments, quizzes, even space on my PowerPoint slides. In fact, my forehead and even my stomach area are available for ad space as are the bottom of my shoes and the back of my knees. In fact, if you pay me enough I'll just pass out ads to students without any educational value. If you want a billboard in my classroom, give me a call. Also, the sides of my car are available

But seriously...ads on tests? Not Good.

In fact schools are a little too commercial as is...on the other hand if state, local and federal government keeps underfunding education, what are the alternatives?
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