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Posts from March 2010

LET’S REVIEW

For months now, I have been BLOGing about the movement into multi-sensory media and, specifically, the evolving e-Learning technologies available for education and training. Let’s take a few moments today to review some of the important benefits we have discussed: • Tailors training to your own needs • 25 – 60% less time than traditional classroom instruction • 50 – 60% greater retention than traditional classroom instruction • Allows more employees to...

BACK TO THE BASICS

In a speech delivered at ASTD’s 1999 Interactive Multimedia Conference, I described some of the negative fallout that has accompanied the emerging digital networking technologies. I cautioned that, “Today’s learner, all too often, is being left out in the cold. Talking about technology from the learner’s point of view, rather than the digital, seems to be an antiquated discussion packaged away with a box of yesterday’s videodiscs.” What I was discussing was...

FTRC: A SUCCESS STORY

Bringing technology training to families who cannot afford home computers and/or high-speed connections should be a goal for all communities. The success-example that I am most familiar with is the program pioneered by the DeKalb County (Georgia) School System in 1996. I had the good fortune to have worked with them during the early years of their Family Technology Resource Centers (FTRC’s). The success of their FTRC’s is unparalleled and has even...

A VARIETY OF PASSIONS

In a CNN.com posting last week, written by John D. Sutter, “Sir Ken Robinson says that our education system works like a factory. It is based on models of mass production and conformity that actually prevent kids from finding their passions and succeeding. . . . Instead of trying to mass-produce children who are good at taking tests and memorizing things, schools should emphasize personal development. Not all kids are good at...

” THE NEXT DECADE “

In a recent issue of “Training Industry Quarterly” in an article entitled, “2010’s Top Training Technology Trends” by David Mallon, the next decade of the e-Learning evolution is succinctly presented. “The lengthy page-turner is out. In its place is a next generation of e-learning, including: short video vignettes or audio podcasts followed by interactive assessments; pre-recorded virtual classroom sessions; scenario-based learning, 3-D simulations and serious games; e-books, articles and abstracts; and content...

ACQUIRING THE SKILLS

To be successful, an organization needs managers and planners who can see the potential of the changes taking place throughout the organization — and, utilize that potential toward meeting company goals. And, a successful company needs skilled employees at many levels in order to implement changes, incorporate new technologies, and keep systems operating. How does an organization acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to meet the challenge of change? Through training! And,...

MULTI-SENSORY MEDIA

Rich multi-sensory media, designed for learning, has been with us for nearly three decades. Laser Interactive Videodisc, CD-ROM, DVD, and the yet-to-be-realized potential of e-Learning have all revolutionized education and training. Why then, should we continue to sit up and listen to the evolving promise of multi-sensory media instruction? Because this country has too few master mentors and too few master teachers! Because the time available to keep this country competitive is...

IN THE CLASSROOM

Education is beginning to incorporate more and more multi-sensory media into their classrooms. And, that is a good thing! There are fewer educators, today, who regard student control over the sequencing of material to be inappropriate. And, that is a good thing! The demise of the traditional lecture and text lesson plan is being replaced with richer lateral thinking. Although one-on-one learner-controlled multi-sensory media programs are not, yet, the norm in education,...

JUST CUZ SHE SAID !

Following up on Wednesday’s Blog, we’re now ready to address the second “killer” mistake. In many ways, the arguments are similar to the one’s we made two days ago — only, this time, the fatal mistake comes from a trusted employee or customer. An educator or a trainer listens to a respected colleague, who expresses some idea that seems to make sense. Or, in the case of a vendor, an important customer...

JUST CUZ U CAN !

Today and Friday we are going to look at the two fatal mistakes corporate training departments and training vendors make. And, “fatal” is not an exaggeration when discussing the many otherwise technology-smart people who come up with exciting ideas but drown in their own ocean of misguided premises. I cannot begin to enumerate the number of great concepts and brilliant adaptations of technology that I have seen fail. For example, someone discovers...

THE CANYON BETWEEN

This weekend’s “Oscars” presentation had a nominee that everyone with training responsibilities should see. A nominee in the “Short Documentary” category was HBO’s, “The Last Truck” which, while not necessarily meaning to, clearly illustrates the biggest problem facing American business today. Echoes of Marshall McLuhan’s “enclaves” observations appear, too often, in decision-making nowadays. The separation between the levels of corporate hierarchy grow and the gulf between the learning cultures of executive management...

RE-MAKING AMERICAN COMPETITIVENESS

75% of the high school students that our education system graduates each year are not likely to earn a college baccalaureate degree. These students eventually comprise the majority of America’s front-line workforce, and the prosperity of this country depends on them. Yet, the skills they leave school with are not the skills American businesses need to return this nation to global competitiveness. Consequently, businesses are increasingly turning to e-Learning and multimedia courseware...

DESIGN FOR E-LEARNING

Today’s e-Learning world must be viewed carefully. The opportunities provided by the Internet and company intranets are somewhat off-set by the video limitations resulting from limited corporate infrastructures. However, Instructional Design should continue to be the focal point of all programs (in any medium) that are designed for learning. Because the salient characteristics of effective e-Learning design are so complex, we’ll resort to an outline method in order to achieve a somewhat...