We’ve all heard a lot about the lack of basic skills in America’s workforce. But, have we all read about it? Approximately 30 million Americans can’t. They can’t even read this sentence. Estimates range that up to 75 million Americans cannot read at a level that would allow them to function fully in the workplace. The numbers are staggering. And reading is not the only skill workers are lacking. Millions cannot perform...
The majority of “reading tests” today primarily measure vocabulary recognition. But, does vocabulary recognition mean very much? Of course not! The ability to form opinions from what individuals read is the only real test of reading ability — and, that depends upon reading comprehension. What are the facts today? Only 24 percent of this nation’s fourth graders are able to form opinions from what they read, and only 34 percent of our...
There’s a long standing definition of an academic lecture that goes like this, “That which passes from the notes of the professor to the notes of the student without engaging the minds of either one.” If one looks at opinion radio or watches the opinion cable networks one might restate that definition this way: “That which passes from the mouth of one person to the ears of another without engaging the minds...
We are somewhat closer today to realizing the dreams that will be made possible by online learning. However, the need for digital technology to catch up with the new learning designs required is greater today than it’s ever been. But just what are those goals and challenges facing us — and by extension, our companies, our co-workers, and our society — as we move through uncertain times to the new millennia? Certainly,...
“THE WALL STREET JOURNAL” published a brilliant article by Peter Berkowitz this month. In “Why Liberal Education Matters” Berkowitz argues most convincingly that, “Today it is the connection of the humanities to a free mind and citizenship in a free society that requires defense.” Liberal education supposes that while individual rights are shared equally by all, the responsible exercise of those rights is an achievement that depends on cultivating the mind. ....
With the potential for growth clear, how should producers of On-Line Learning programs proceed? First we must acknowledge that effective educational programming has always been a designer’s medium. It has never been an evolving electronic gadgetry world. Instead, it has been developed and used as yet another communication tool for efficiently transferring skills and knowledge, just as the written word, printed text, and video have all been in the hands of talented...
Back from the “ASTD 2010 Conference and Exposition” held earlier this week in Chicago. A very successful event in one of the most beautiful cities in our country. Except for the Winter months, it’s really hard to match Chicago’s beauty, cleanliness and cultural/sporting/entertainment choices. “My kind of town . . .!” While I do not know the exact numbers, this year’s exposition seemed much larger than normal with more visitors, including a...
Continuing with our “Buying Process” discussion, the next step is the “Instructional Design Review.” Today, e-Learning is not part of the video world. E-Learning is, also, not a part of the videotape, laser interactive videodisc, or CD-ROM continuum. At this moment, e-Learning is closer to the radio world. Sure, the necessary compressed video capability is readily available — BUT, the infrastructure for most would-be corporate users is not. Today, unfortunately, most e-Learning...
One of the problems in BLOG-writing is that some of the most important ideas are written about once and then never seen again. Such is the case with our “buying process” discussion, which first appeared in 2009. So, because it is such an important subject and because ASTD gets underway next week, here are the salient steps you should undertake in “The Buying Process” — once again. More “live to regret it”...
A week ago, we discussed the training alternative to e-Learning — at least until e-Learning gets its act together. Of course, that alternative is networked digitized CD-ROM instruction — an Intranet solution. We also discussed its most obvious limitation. Digitized CD-ROM training is not an Internet training medium. It must be administered within range of a dedicated LAN. But, for training payback values, it currently has no peer. So, if you choose...
A very interesting Op-Ed piece by Charles Murray appeared in “The New York Times” this week. The piece focused on comparisons between schools as measured by those same standardized tests we’ve come to abhor. This latest evaluation has been performed in Milwaukee, matching 3000-plus students from the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program with a like number attending public schools in the city. Predictably, the achievement growth rates for both groups were similar. Which,...
I have had multiple careers in business and in education. I have watched many things change within the culture of our country. But, the change that bothers me most is the over-emphasis parents place on grades today — an emphasis they mistakenly pair with success. Unfortunately, what those parents mean by success is almost always equatable with money. “Make straight ‘A’s’ in school so that you will be admitted to a prestigious...
With the advent of CD-ROM instruction a couple of decades ago, we had a training-delivery system that had efficiency limitations. One either had to buy a zillion copies in order to distribute them to all involved or commit to a Learning Center concept. Since labor costs are always the single biggest training expenditure, we had a relatively inefficient system — plus one that did not have the learning-value compensations of “one-on-one” instruction....
In a delicious headline appearing in the “The New York Times” this week we read, “WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY AND HE IS POWERPOINT!” This particular article by Elisabeth Bumiller was focused on the opinions of many of our military leaders. Let’s look at some of their direct quotes: General James N. Mattis of the Marine Corps, the Joint Forces commander, said this month . . . “PowerPoint makes us stupid,” General...