This month's question comes out of something that Catherine Lombardozzi wrote pointed me to:Jim Collins, in an essay in Learning Journeys, wrote, "A true learning person also has a "to-learn" list, and the items on that list carry at least as much weight in how one organizes his or her time as the to-do list."Thus, for September we are exploring:To-Learn ListsI personally, do not have a formal to-learn list. Instead, my exploration via work, blogging, speaking, I seem to find ample learning opportunities. But it does seem like a very good idea to be a bit more directed. So, more specifically, I'd like to hear:If you have a to-learn list and are willing to share, and willing to share how you work with that list, that would likely be helpful information.As Knowledge Workers, work and learning are the same, so how does a to-learn list really differ from a to-do list? How are they different than undirected learning through work, blogging, conferences, etc.?Are to-learn lists really important to have? Are they as important as what Jim Collins tells us?Should they be captured? Is so how?How does a to-learn list impact something like a Learning Management System (LMS) in a Workplace or Educational setting?What skills, practices, behaviors do modern knowledge workers need around to-learn lists?This has been discussed a bit out there, but I'm not that familiar with good sources on this topic, so feel free to provide links to sources. I look forward to seeing responses. How to Respond:Option 1 - Simply put your thoughts in a comment below. This may be hard given the complexity of the topic.Option 2 -Step 1 - Post in your blog (please link to this post).Step 2 - Put a comment in this blog with an HTML ready link that I can simply copy and paste (an HTML anchor tag). I will only copy and past, thus, I would also recommend you include your NAME immediately before your link. So, it should look like:Tony Karrer - Safety Training Designor you could also include your blog name with something like:Tony Karrer - Safety Training Design : eLearning TechnologyPosts so far (and read comments as well):Manish Mohan - Here's my To-Learn list that I created after reading this post.The Learning Leaders Blog ResponseTo-learn list: The Big QuestionTo Learn Lists: The Big QustionKaryn Romeis: The Big Question: To-learn listMy To learn listThe E-learning Curve Blog - To-Learn Lists indicate some potentially useful approaches on how to engage others in continuous learning...Clark Quinn - To-Learn Lists?Bill Brantley - To Learn Lists - What My Grandfather Taught MeJay Cross: To-learn lists, unlearning.Ignatia - my to-learn list blogpostClive Shepherd: http://clive-shepherd.blogspot.com/2008/09/to-learn-lists.htmlKerry - my listNorman Lamont - http://normanlamont.typepad.com/eellearning/2008/09/the-big-questio.htmlKarl Kapp - Kapp Notes: List to Learn, Learn to List#linksLorretta J Davis -http://ljdavis.biz/blog/?p=19Emanuele Siracusa - 5 Things to Learn before a Round the World TripHugh GreenwayTaruna Goel - My views hereAdventures in Corporate Education: What’s a "To Learn" List?Claudia Escribano @ The LifeLongLearning Lab: Personal Responsibility for Learning

This month's question comes from a series of questions I've received recently on my blog all asking some form of, "I'm interested in eLearning. What should I do first?"Thus, for October we are exploring:First e-LearningAn example is shown in my post - First Authoring Tool.I am an educator in Arizona about to graduate with my Masters in Instructional Design. I wish to apply my experience designing courses for online learning; however I've searched and don't know where to begin to actually learn how to use the LMS and course design software available. I came across your blog and thought you might be able to offer some suggestions.I have great computer skills but am not experienced in creating web courses. I've seen all sorts of elearning software- Dreamweaver, Lectora, Captivate, Flash etc etc mentioned in job ads, but don't really know which ones to choose in order to get a well rounded working knowledge of how to build a course. Do you have any suggestions where to start? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.Now, several people took the opportunity to politely bash their masters program for not giving them this experience as part of their education. Let's avoid this here. Instead, let's focus on the real point of the question.So, what advice would you give to someone new to the field. Where do you start?Particular tools you should explore?Resources you should read? Videos/screencasts you should watch?What would your To Learn List look like? How to Respond:Option 1 - Simply put your thoughts in a comment below. This may be hard given the complexity of the topic.Option 2 -Step 1 - Post in your blog (please link to this post).Step 2 - Put a comment in this blog with an HTML ready link that I can simply copy and paste (an HTML anchor tag). I will only copy and past, thus, I would also recommend you include your NAME immediately before your link. So, it should look like:Tony Karrer - e-Learning 2.0or you could also include your blog name with something like:Tony Karrer - e-Learning 2.0 : eLearningTechnologyPosts so far (and read comments as well):Getting Started With Instructional Design.Kapp Notes: Help, I have an Instructional Design Master's Degree and I Can't Create E-Learning (read some of the comments on Karl's post for addl ideas)Learnlets - First eLearningKen Allan - The Elearning ApprenticeClive Shepherd - http://clive-shepherd.blogspot.com/2008/10/big-question-making-start-in-e-learning.htmlBrandon Hall Research: Janet Clarey, E-Learning for NewbiesVinnie - How To Get Started in E-learning- The Big QuestionBLP - Lessons on LearningWendy - My thoughtsGina Minks - Learning Circuits Blog Big Question: E-LearningKevin - Learn to eLearn

This month's question comes out of part of the dialog that occur during the recent Work Literacy course. While discussing social networking for personal learning, the question came up around being able to reach out and get help from people or find expertise in the form of a person / conversation.Thus, for November we are exploring:Network FeedbackIn Getting Help, I discussed some aspects of the central question being raised. I've got a question about a work task and would like to get feedback from someone (a person, hopefully with some level of experience and expertise on the topic). Or paraphrasing Colin in Blogging to ask for Help:If you need input from people, where's the best place to ask?My larger claim is that this is one of the most important, fundamental shifts in New Workand new work skills that include being able to:How to reach out and find expertiseHow to use Social Media to Find Answers to QuestionsHow to Learn through Conversation However, the question overly simplifies the problem. Different situations will require different answers. There's no "best place". And the landscape is shifting all the time. And while I discussed a couple examples this recently in LinkedIn for Finding Expertise and Searching for Expertise - LinkedIn Answers, my belief is that it is really hard right now to know enough about enough places to make good choices about:Where to go in what cases?What works and doesn't work?How do you effectively work within a given context?What do you need to have done to effectively get help ahead of time?Are there places you can go if you are relatively new and needing to ask questions?In addition to your thoughts on the above, it would be really great if people who answer this could provide specific examples.What was the question you were facing?What did you consider using?What were the steps you took? How did things evolve?What was the outcome?What could you have done differently? Better?I'm also certain there are lots of resources out there that could help someone learn about this. I'd appreciate pointers to any of those. How to Respond:Option 1 - Simply put your thoughts in a comment below. This may be a good question to leave a comment.Option 2 -Step 1 - Post in your blog (please link to this post).Step 2 - Put a comment in this blog with an HTML ready link that I can simply copy and paste (an HTML anchor tag). I will only copy and past, thus, I would also recommend you include your NAME immediately before your link. So, it should look like:Tony Karrer - e-Learning 2.0or you could also include your blog name with something like:Tony Karrer - e-Learning 2.0 : eLearningTechnologyPosts so far (and read comments as well):Karyn Romeis - November's Big Question: getting feedbackManish Mohan - Email as best input source - here.Colin - Opportunity Knocks - Input NeededJeffery Goldman - http://minutebio.com/blog/?p=70Gina Minks - Adventures in Corporate Education: Learning Circuit Blog’s Big Question for November: Network FeedbackKapp Notes: The Right Place to Find Help: ASTDs Big QuestionExample Inquiry - Find Speaker for Local ASTD ChapterGet Help - Spam?

We are going to continue a tradition in the Big Question ...The Big Question for December is:What did you learn about learning in 2008?If you are a blogger, I would highly recommend taking this as an opportunity to go back through your blog posts over the year and looking for any "aha moments" or highlight the posts that you think were the best/most interesting.You might want to look back at some discussions going on during the last two yearly recaps:2007 - What Did You Learn about Learning?2006 - Past experiences. Present Challenge. Future Predictions.January's Topic:Predictions for learning in 2009How to Respond:Option 1 - Simply put your thoughts in a comment below.Option 2 -Step 1 - Post in your blog (please link to this post).Step 2 - Put a comment in this blog with an HTML ready link that I can simply copy and paste (an HTML anchor tag). I will only copy and past, thus, I would also recommend you include your NAME immediately before your link. So, it should look like:Tony Karrer - e-Learning 2.0or you could also include your blog name with something like:Tony Karrer - e-Learning 2.0 : eLearningTechnologyPosts so far (and read comments as well):Jeff Goldman - What I have LearnedMichael Hanley - A Year in E-Learning: One Blog’s Progresshttp://learningjournal.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/musings-toward-new-years-resolutions/Tony Karrer - 2008 2009Clark Quinn - What did I learn about learning in 2008?Ken Allan - The Baby, The Bath and The BathwaterKaryn Romeis - Oh dear, the dread annual question!Jason Allen - Nurtured ChaosKen Allan - Having Saved the BabyIgnatia/Inge de Waard - My two cents of learning during the last year. Rupa - http://blog.thewritersgateway.com/2008/12/08/what-i-learnt-in-2008/Katie Christo - What have I learned about learning in 2008?Virginia Yonkers: Connecting 2 the World Erin Murphy - What did I learn about learning in 2008Adventures in Corporate Education - Big Question: What did you learn in 2008John Zurovchak - Long Tail Learning:The Big Question December 2008Ellen at the aLearning BlogTaruna Goel - Learning About Learning in 2008Kevin Marsh - http://storycurve.blogspot.com/2008/12/what-i-learned-in-2008.htmlKevin Thorn - 5 Things I learned in 2008Kerry... what I've learnedManish Mohan - What I learned in 2008Karl Kapp - New LearningClive ShepherdChristy Tucker: What I Learned This YearGeetha Krishnan: 2008: Low on LearningIngrid O'Sullivan - What did I learn in 2008? Lots..

Happy New Year!We had great response to last month's question - What Did You Learn about Learning in 2008? This was a great opportunity to look back at 2008. This month we are going to look forward.Thus, for January the question is:What are yourChallenges, Plans and Predictions for 2009?The goal here is again to be a bit reflective. What are your biggest challenges for this upcoming year?What are your major plans for the year?What predictions do you have for the year? You might want to take a look back at last month's posts and as well what people talked about in:January 2008 - Predictions for Learning in 2008?December 2006 - Past experiences. Present Challenge. Future Predictions.How to Respond:Option 1 - Simply put your thoughts in a comment below. This may be hard given the complexity of the topic.Option 2 -Step 1 - Post in your blog (please link to this post).Step 2 - Put a comment in this blog with an HTML ready link that I can simply copy and paste (an HTML anchor tag). I will only copy and past, thus, I would also recommend you include your NAME immediately before your link. So, it should look like:Tony Karrer - e-Learning 2.0or you could also include your blog name with something like:Tony Karrer - e-Learning 2.0 : eLearningTechnologyPosts so far (and read comments as well):Sarah Stewart: Sarah's Musings: http://sarah-stewart.blogspot.com/2008/12/huge-challenge-for-me-in-2009.htmlKen Allan - few and simpleGillian said: http://learningandqualifications.wordpress.com/2009/01/02/re-charged-and-de-clutteredre-charged-and-de-cluttered/John Zurovchak Long Tail Learning Goodbye 2008, Hello 2009Karyn Romeis Predicting 2009?Clark Quinn: Learnlets predictions.Adventures in Corporate Education: Gina's answer to January's Big QuestionMy predictions for 2009 at MinuteBioLee Graham's eLearning 3.0 Blog: "Your Wish List for eLearning in 2009"Leslie http://heartofsocialwork.blogspot.com/Plans, Challenges, Predictions!Design of Knowledge: 2009 is the Year that Training becomes an Evidence-Based ProfessionDan Roddy, Learning Rocks 2009 - Year of consumer e-learningKapp Notes: 2009 Predictions, Remembrance and ChallengesThirdForce - Seven technologies we're predicting will impact 2009...Geetha Krishnan: 2009 - Predictions, Challenges, PlansMark T. Burke, Virtical Education: 2009 Challenges, Plans and PredictionsKevin Thorn: LearnNuggets Challenges,Plans,Predictions for 2009Clive Shepherd: Predictions for 2009Globe Trotting Kerry - my thoughts hereAnkit Jain - A New Perspective to eLearning Prediction for 2009Tony Karrer - 12 eLearning Predictions for 2009

There were some really interesting posts last month in - Challenges Plans and Predictions for 2009. This month's topic was suggested by several people and was touched on by some of the posts last month.Thus, for February the Big Question is:What is the impact of the economy on you and your organization? What are you doing as a result?The goal here is for each of us to reflect and share what's happening to us today as well as looking at what we might need to plan for going forward.How to Respond:Option 1 - Simply put your thoughts in a comment below. This may be hard given the complexity of the topic.Option 2 -Step 1 - Post in your blog (please link to this post).Step 2 - Put a comment in this blog with an HTML ready link that I can simply copy and paste (an HTML anchor tag). I will only copy and past, thus, I would also recommend you include your NAME immediately before your link. So, it should look like:Tony Karrer - e-Learning 2.0or you could also include your blog name with something like:Tony Karrer - e-Learning 2.0 : eLearningTechnologyPosts so far (and read comments as well):Jeff Goldman - Big Question: Minutebio.comClark Quinn - Learnlets - Economic ImpactMichael Hanley - E-Learning Curve - Impact of Economic Crisis on ElearningVirginia Yonkers - AnswerKen Allan - Recent posts on the topic ( 1 ) ( 2 )Terrence Seamon - http://learningvoyager.blogspot.com/2009/02/big-question-for-february.htmlJesse Kramer my answerKapp Notes: Impact of Tough TimesKaryn Romeis - Making it up as I go alongClive Shepherd - What is the impact of the economy on your organisation? Anthony Montalvo - La Gran PreguntaAnkit Jain - Opportunity in Adversity

From Digital Immigrants and Digital Natives to Digital Wisdom - InnovateDigital wisdom is a twofold concept, referring both to wisdom arising from the use of digital technology to access cognitive power beyond our innate capacity and to wisdom in the prudent use of technology to enhance our capabilities.It Only Took HOW Long? -Duthie earningWe've ended up with 78 minutes of what could be argued is elearning content for doctors. Total production time? 11.9 hours. Run the math and it comes to 9.15 hours' development time per hour of finished 'seat time,' roughly 9:1. Compare this to high production value, interactive elearning, which generally takes 200-300 hours per hour (200:1 to 300:1).The trouble is that the doctors each spent (in my estimate) 5-10 hours apiece preparing their slides and narrations.SpyListen in on the social media conversations of any topic you're interested in. The above link will take you to the latest converstaions on eLearning. Don't like that one -- try this one.Two Strands of Connectionism - The TechniumOne strand of massive connectionism is currently called social media. The other strand of massive connectionism relies on a massive number of machines. This new territory can best be illustrated by the far-right top extreme where both sides meet in the center - the area where we have maximum machine connection and maximum human connection. This overlap or convergence space would be the emerging global superorganism.

Last month's big question got quite a great response. I'm very much looking forward to the response this month.The inspiration for this question comes straight from Gina Minks' post - I think grad school is making me crazy. She is in a graduate school program and is a great self-directed learner:I’m learning about things like instructional theories, learning theories, how to tie learning to performance, how to tie learning to business requirements, and ways to measure all these things. I’m learning that my technical skills are important as learning moves to a web 2.0 platform. I’m learning my experience as a community organizer is very transferable to building online communities. I’ve learned my background in information studies helps tie all these things together. Participating in courses like CCK08 helped accelerate my thinking on the real possibilities of change that are available now. But Gina also works inside an organization (in her case a large corporation) but I think most people will recognize her comment:The realities of being part of a large organization and my responsibilities are more clear to me now too.I feel I’m going to be stuck doing the same thing forever with all these cool ideas in my head that will never get implemented.Thus, for April 2009 Big Question is:Stuck? Getting unstuck?There's really quite a bit to this question.Do you sometimes feel stuck? Feel like you have so many more ideas about how you could help your organization or your clients, but that What Clients Want is just some training?Should you attempt to get unstuck? How hard should you push your internal or external clients to get them to see the full range of what is possible? Or should you give them what they ask for?If you are feeling some level of stuck, what should you do to get unstuck? How important is it to get unstuck? Is it okay to learn a lot about all kinds of different solutions, but to primarily work on simple training solutions?If you are stuck, should you be concerned about your future?For those of you who are not bloggers, come and at least comment on whether you feel a bit stuck!How to Respond:Option 1 - Simply put your thoughts in a comment below. This may be hard given the complexity of the topic.Option 2 -Step 1 - Post in your blog (please link to this post).Step 2 - Put a comment in this blog with an HTML ready link that I can simply copy and paste (an HTML anchor tag). I will only copy and past, thus, I would also recommend you include your NAME immediately before your link. So, it should look like:Tony Karrer - e-Learning 2.0or you could also include your blog name with something like:Tony Karrer - e-Learning 2.0 : eLearningTechnologyPosts so far (and read comments as well):Sreya Dutta - Big Question: OMG I'm Stuck!!Jeff Goldman - April's Big QuestionRupa Rajagopalan - Big Question: Stuck? Getting Unstuck?Ignatia/Inge de Waard - Get your innovative eLearning ideas out no matter what others think!Robert Kennedy - Getting Rid Of The GlueAnthony Montalvo - Help! I'm stuck!Clark Quinn's Learnlets: Getting RevolutionaryStephanie Sandifer - Getting UnstuckLisa Meece - April's Big Question on the LOL BlogAmit Garg - Upside Learning Blog - Just do itKern's Learnability Matters - Getting Stuck and Unstuck

This month's big question comes from an inquiry that I received as a result of my presentation on the Social Grid. The question is the basis of the May 2009 Big Question:How does/will the Social Grid will impact Human Capital and Organizations?In Social Learning Measurement, I discussed some different ways that we could measure social learning, but I think the question that is raised here is a question that needs to be asked prior to asking about measurement.My guess is that there are all kinds of interesting dynamics that will come about in organizations that have a strong social grid and a workforce that is highly skilled in using that social grid. For example, the recent MIT Study that showed that more highly networked individuals were more productive (see Workplace Productivity).What do you see as the impact?How to Respond:Option 1 - Put your thoughts in a comment below.Option 2 -Step 1 - Post in your blog (please link to this post).Step 2 - Put a comment in this blog with an HTML ready link that I can simply copy and paste (an HTML anchor tag). I will only copy and past, thus, I would also recommend you include your NAME immediately before your link. So, it should look like:Tony Karrer - e-Learning 2.0or you could also include your blog name with something like:Tony Karrer - e-Learning 2.0 : eLearningTechnologyResponses So Far:Clark Quinn - Learnlets on Twitter and Chaos

This month's big question comes from an inquiry I received from Robert Kennedy via my blog. The question was:What is your typical day like? How do you do all you do with elearning learning, elearning technology, techempower, work literacy and all the consulting and still remain profitable while having a LIFE? Ok, so that is more than one question, but hopefully you get the drift. What are your thoughts here? This is a great question and I'm guessing the answers will be quite interesting. After all, when I do presentations that introduce things like blogs, RSS readers, social networks, etc. I am almost always asked - "How much time do you spend on this? Where do you find the time?" And what they really mean is - I'm already too busy, how the heck can I also do all of what you are telling me about. So I really hope that we can have a great resource here that will give people a sense of what's going on in the lives of people who are adopting some of these things.Where is your time spent?I'm really hoping that we can get a broad cross section of answers. I consider myself to be somewhat of a "special case" ... but I'm guessing that's true for many of us.Beyond the basic answer I'm hoping you will chime in with thoughts around:How much time do you spend and how did you find time for all the relatively newer things like reading blogs, twitter, social networks, etc.?What are you doing less of today than you were 3-5 years ago?Do you have less of a life with all of these new things?How to Respond:Option 1 - Put your thoughts in a comment below. Likely there can be some pretty good thoughts left via a comment.Option 2 -Step 1 - Post in your blog (please link to this post).Step 2 - Put a comment in this blog with an HTML ready link that I can simply copy and paste (an HTML anchor tag). I will only copy and past, thus, I would also recommend you include your NAME immediately before your link. So, it should look like:Tony Karrer - e-Learning 2.0or you could also include your blog name with something like:Tony Karrer - e-Learning 2.0 : eLearningTechnologyResponses So Far:Jenise Cook | Ridge View Media's Blog - Time SpentRupa - Big Question June 2009 :Where is your time spent? Jennifer Beever: The Big Question June 2009: Where is Your Time Spent?Just ReflectionsArchana: Quantifying Time Spent on Web 2.0 toolsAbhijit Kadle - The Big Question: Time Spent Michele Martin: The Big QuestionHow Clive Shepherd spends his timeRobert Kennedy - Big Question - June 2009Ken Allan - 'ere 'tis.Sreya Dutta Big Question: Time SpentVirginia Yonkers: Connecting 2 the worldNorman Lamont: http://normanlamont.typepad.com/eellearning/Tony Karrer: How I Spend My TimeInge de Waard: Finding my 2.0-time schedule scrambled for personal reasons Francis - http://www.mantissa.net/blog/2009/06/15/the-big-question-how-do-you-spend-your-time/Gina from Adventures in Corporate Education: Where do I spend my time? June’s Big Question