The Learned Man | eLearning Blog

Performance Analysis & Training Interventions

Via a post on Harold's blog I came across a reference to what seems like an interesting book, titled, 'Analyzing Performance Problems' by Mager & Pipe. The book provides a step by step approach to getting under the skin of workplace performance issues and dealing with those issues. While I go place an order for the book, check out this graphic developed by Harold using this book.

Click here to view the image 

Presentation Zen

Check out this great blog by former Apple employee, Garr Reynolds, who discusses issues related to professional presentation design.

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Blogs, Podcasts And Vidcasts For e-Learning: A Note From The Frontlines

Sharing an email I received today, from Josh Cavalier, President of Lodestone Digital:

Hello-

I stumbled across your site from Alexia - good find.

I was recently a presenter at an internal "Performance Conference" at a Fortune 1000 Pharmaceutical. There were about 120 individuals from across the enterprise, and by talk was on "Blogs, Podcasts and Vidcasts for E-Learning".

I was presented with the same problem of trying to describe to the audience how this RSS based technology would change the way e-learning is created. How could I get these people to understand? ("Better To Sell Peanuts On The Roadside")

Solution: Create a Podcast of the Event

My talk was scheduled at 1:00 PM so I had some time to work with...
I recorded the openeing remarks and general session on a Marantz recorder direct to MP3. Once the general session was done I skirted to an empty room and went to work. I brought with me an Apple 15" laptop and Logictec USB headset. I opened up Garageband 3, laid down my vocals, imported some clips of the morning session, and added background music. My demo was done in 30 minutes. I then rejoined the conference - nobody missed me.

I gave my presentation, talked about Elearning 2.0, blogs, podcasts, etc. At the end of my presentation - when I played back my piece from the morning session - they we're all floored! Very positive feedback, and many new business opportunities to train the trainers on how to Podcast.

Anyways, I had to share this with someone who understands what is going on...

Cheers!

Josh Cavalier
President
Lodestone Digital
www.lodestone.com

10 x 10

Check out 10 x 10, a new service which every hour "...collects the 100 words and pictures that matter most on a global scale, and presents them as a single image, taken to encapsulate that moment in time. Over the course of days, months, and years, 10x10 leaves a trail of these hourly statements which, stitched together side by side, form a continuous patchwork tapestry of human life.

Each hour is presented as a picture postcard window, composed of 100 different frames, each of which holds the image of a single moment in time. Clicking on a single frame allows us to peer a bit deeper into the story that lies behind the image. In this way, we can dart in and out of the news, understanding both the individual stories and the ways in which they relate to each other."

This is super-cool stuff but I have one observation to make here. Scrolling down the list of 100 top words for the hour, most of the words seemed to be pretty depressing..like "killing, bombing, violence, roof, soldiers, attack, emergency...and so on". Reading this you get a sense that, atleast right now, the world does not seem like a very happy place! I would love to get world-leaders into a room and get them to scroll through this!

Rapid eLearning Anyone?

via eLearningScotland:

"The eLearning Guild completed its survey on The Future of e-Learning in 2006 just last week.
A total of 656 people responded to the survey and a quick analysis of the data shows that Rapid e-Learning is the single hottest topic out there. In fact, a full 77% of the respondents report that their organizations interest in Rapid e-Learning is increasing moderately (44%) or significantly (33%). Another 17% say their organizations interest is remaining the same as it was for 2005. Most revealing was that a mere 6% say interest is decreasing.

Then there is the fact that the same survey shows that 70% report that their interest in the use of complex media including simulations, collaborative tools, databases, algorithmic interactions, Flash interactions, and streaming media in the development and delivery of e-Learning content is increasing moderately (43%) or significantly (28%).

The bottom-line is that Rapid e-Learning is going to be increasingly important and increasingly difficult for your organization."

Granada Learning On The Block

Veronis Suhler Stevenson, the US private equity firm, is in exclusive talks to acquire ITV's Granada Learning business.

Granada Learning assets include Letts revision guides, the educational publisher Leckie & Leckie, and BlackCat software. An announcement confirming the deal is expected soon as ITV clears up its corporate structure following the merger of Granada and Carlton in February 2004.

Click here for the complete story.

'Better To Sell Peanuts On The Roadside'

Now this is something I can relate to very well...from elearningpost:

"Yesterday I had to give a presentation - a pitch actually - to the director of training of a very large organization for developing an e-learning course. Here's what happened:

PLAN: this guy, being a director, would be strategic in thinking. He would want to know about the benefits of the course and the design and how to make it all work. Right?

THE PITCH: collaboration and decision-making are key. E-learning needs to be made meaningful, and by that we mean social and interesting. Learners want to see different perspectives from the ground-level not subject-matter level... and so on. Basically trying to paint the e-learning 2.0 picture without using any of the jargon.

OUTCOME: After half an hour, he says, "Can you show me animations with smooth transitions? The last vendor showed some nifty ones."

It's situations like these that make me want to pull my hair out. Screw all this e-learning bit; better to sell peanuts on the roadside. At least I'll retain the dignity of having decent conversations. "

Click here to read the complete post.

Gaming For Education

Check out this comprehensive collection of links gaming related journals, websites, organizations and more.

Quick Polls

Hi, Pls try to participate in the quick polls, using the link on the right hand sidebar. The poll questions will be changed every now and then and your participation could just help deliver some interesting results and insights.