Malinka My first ever yoga class happened six miles from my house. I was annoyed about the distance, but because Malinka had strong recommendations, I drove across town. Malinka, not her real name, was known as a laid-back teacher, which appealed to me. The last thing I need is a yoga instructor that encourages my competitive streak. As I drove to the session, I wondered about who would be in the class and whether I would be able to keep up. I looked around but couldn't tell anything about my classmates. In Malinka's dark living room, I could discern seven lumps lying quietly, each in a personal cave comprised of four fluffy blankets … [Read more...]
The best way to strengthen the learning organization is to ….
September 23, 2013 by
A friend took over a large, far-flung learning organization. His task was to strengthen it. Strengthen it. Two words, hundreds of possibilities. Perhaps my recommendations aren't what you would expect: Think less about the learning organization and more about the company or agency. Get really smart about the context. What is keeping the executives up at night? They want you to strengthen learning in order to do what? Change what? Add what? Fix what? Fight the inclination to tend to your edifice and head count. Instead focus on building learning, community and reference capacity in line with organizational priorities. Deliver less … [Read more...]
Performance support “hearts” training and vice versa
September 19, 2012 by
In September I attended the eLearning Guild’s new conference, Performance Support Symposium. Ontuitive’s Bob Mosher kicked it off with a mighty bang, offering the jaw-dropping suggestion that we cast off training in favor of performance support. Like Bob, I am hooked on performance support. In the 80s, I wrote a book about job aids. More recently, I wrote another, this one called Handbook for Job Aids and Performance Support. This thing I have with performance support (PS) is a long-term relationship. My bond with training and development is just as deep. It began with a few years as a high school English teacher, then several decades … [Read more...]
The Connected Educator: Building a Professional Learning Network
July 17, 2012 by
Torrey Trust is my guest blogger. Her topic-- personal learning networks, also known as PLNs. Here is a way for people to turn their interest in lifelong, independent learning AND social connections into a way of life. Here's what Torrey has to say about PLNs: In 1968, Licklider & Taylor predicted that computers would be used as communication devices where individuals would connect and converse with others around the world to discuss a shared topic of interest. It took 40 years, but with the invention of the Internet and social media tools, Licklider & Taylor’s predication has come true. Educators today are pursuing professional … [Read more...]
Instructional Design: Something Old, Something New
April 21, 2012 by
A few years ago, Jim Marshall and I surveyed workplace learning professionals about elearning. Although we set out to learn about the contours of the elearning terrain, our project revealed much about instructional design practice today. We pursued this question: when doing elearning, what are you doing? Were learning professionals relying on webinars, on podcasts, on mobile learning? What of scenario-based online programs, social networks and communities, discussion boards, or personalized programs? We expected to find reliance on podcasts and scenarios, with healthy use of online communities and discussion boards. But when given the … [Read more...]
Feature in Training and Development Magazine
January 10, 2012 by
The Long View: Feature from Training and Development Magazine. Full article: TD_Feb08_Rossett_LEGEND … [Read more...]
