It’s time for another edition of our new feature, the Learning and Development Roundup. The first edition of this was posted in mid-April, and included links to items from ASTD, Elliott Masie, Clark Quinn, and Jay Cross. This edition has even more, so without further adieu…
The Learning and Training Industry: Past, Present, and Future
Industry analyst Josh Bersin wrote an interesting posting at his blog, titled "Modernize Corporate Training: The Enterprise Learning Framework". In it, he provides a concise summary of how corporate training and learning has evolved. The second figure he provides is particularly helpful as a means to visualize just about all of the technologies, modalities, and other aspects of learning and development that are relevant today. Any two industry experts or analysts might summarize this same history and current state a bit differently, but I think the core of what he describes is accurate and it certainly makes for a concise introduction for anyone who is new to our industry, or finds themselves in a new role where having this broader understanding is important.
Another Perspective on the Future: Meta-Learning
Josh Bersin isn't the only voice talking about the future of learning. Jay Cross and Clark Quinn wrote an excellent article in the May issue of Chief Learning Officer, titled "Become a Chief Meta-Learning Officer". They argue that changing conditions for learning leaders during this economic downturn are not temporary, but rather will be long-term and significant. They argue that CLOs need to become "Chief Meta-Learning Officers," by which they mean someone who optimizes "learning throughout the organization, not just in the pockets that once belonged to HR. This takes a broader perspective than what you deal with day-to-day. You’ve got to rise above the noise to see the underlying patterns, and then optimize them."
Meta-learning means learning about learning—looking closely at the learning-related aspects of your organization and asking yourself tough questions. Fortunately, they give you the key meta-learning questions to ask, from the perspectives of general workplace behavior, network connections, collaboration, informal learning, and finally learning skills. They end with several difficult, provocative questions, including: "Have you taken charge of learning for your organization, or just training?"
Tony Karrer reflects on the article by Cross and Quinn in his blog posting "Metalearning". He considers the concept on a personal level, stating that meta-learning is really about "being aware and taking control of one's own learning." More great food for thought.
25 Learning Tool Categories and Top Tools in Each
As I noted in an earlier posting, Jane Hart provides a wealth of useful information through her many links and directory resources. The latest is an update of her popular “Top 25 Learning Tools” article from last year. Now she is providing 25 learning tools categories, and then the top one or two tools to consider trying in each category. This is a great way to learn the best of the best, as judged by the many learning professionals who provide Jane with their considered opinions (including me!). See her blog posting “25 Tools: A Toolbox for Learning Professionals”, and view the slideshow she provides there to get a wealth of new tools to try out.
Best Practices for E-Learning Content Design
One of the things I like about the site LifeHacker is its regular inclusion of top-X lists on things that can improve my personal productivity. I also like to see experts in our industry create concise lists of best practices and tips. At the end of April, Clive Shepherd did exactly this with his blog posting "Ten commandments of e-learning (content design)". Sound advice, and very similar to the set of principles we consciously follow at Element K. If you aren't an e-learning designer yourself, be sure to pass these "commandments" on to your colleagues who are!
The Value of Visuals
The April issue of T+D Magazine has an article by the always excellent Ruth Clark, "Give Your Training a Visual Boost". Here she explains several key guidelines to using visuals effectively in creating training materials: the negative impact of decorative visuals, the value of explanatory visuals, and the impact of using audio or written text in conjunction with visuals.
On Informal Learning
The May issue of T+D Magazine had two good articles on one of the hottest topics in our industry: Informal Learning. The first, "Knowledge Delivered in Any Other Form is… Perhaps Sweeter" by Aparna Nancherla, provides a good overview of the topic, discusses benefits and challenges, and references solid industry leaders, such as informal learning expert Jay Cross as well as top industry analysts. A second article, "Filling in the Blanks," is specifically about informal mentoring. Both of these articles are available as audio podcasts.
ASTD Surveys: LMS and Salaries
ASTD has released summarized results of two recent surveys they conducted. First, ASTD's Learning Circuits, along with E-Learning News, conducted a survey in March and April of this year regarding the use of Learning Management Systems. They have now provided a summary of the results, based on 184 responses. And in the May issue of T+D Magazine, they released the results of their 2008 Salary Survey of ASTD members. ASTD members can read the article online, though the text of the article (minus the data tables) is available to all as an MP3 Audio file.
SCORM, LETSI, and the ADL
And finally, ASTD reports that there has been an update in the plans of LETSI and ADL in terms of stewardship of the important industry SCORM standard. See this brief news item for details.
— Thomas Stone (Tom_Stone@elementk.com)
