I was recently asked a question by a colleague about machine learning and I couldn’t answer it. So of course, I went looking…first, the definition: "Machine learning: The ability of computer systems to improve their performance by exposure to data without the need to follow explicitly programmed instructions." A recent paper, "Cognitive technologies in the technology sector: From science fiction vision to real-world value" published by Deloitte University Press reports there have been 100 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) within the technology sector involving cognitive technology companies, products, and services since 2012. Yowsa. Other interesting articles on this topic: This AI Algorithm Learns Simple Tasks as Fast as We Do

Yesterday marked ten years of Twitter. In 2006 Jack Dorsey, an undergrad at NYU, published the first message. It was twttr then: Last week, Jane Hart posted a list of 50+ people who tweet about workplace learning. I’ve mashed that list up with the first tweets of the top 20 of them (in order of number of followers as of 3/12/16). What was your first tweet? Add it to the comments.  Josh BERSIN @Josh_Bersin, HR and Learning Analyst (US) Steve WHEELER @timbuckteeth, Associate Professor at Plymouth University (UK) Jane HART @C4LPT, Founder, Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies (UK) Jeanne MEISTER @jcmeister, Author of The 2020 Workplace (US) Gautam GHOSH @gautamghosh, Interested in how social technology impacts work (India) Marcia CONNER @marciamarcia, Contributor to FastCompany (US) Jane BOZARTH @JaneBozarth. Author of Show Your Work and more (US) Roger FRANCIS @RogerFrancis1, Director at Creative Learning Partners (UK) Harold JARCHE @hjarche, Champion of Personal Knowledge Mastery (Canada) Abhijit BHADURI @AbhijitBhaduri, Chief Learning Officer of Wipro (India) Clark QUINN @Quinnovator, Helping organizations use learning technology strategically (US) Luis SUAREZ @elsua, Wirearchist and Chief Emergineer (Spain) Brent SCHLENKER @bschlenker, Chief Learning Officer of Litmos (US) Euan SEMPLE @euan, Author of Organizations Don’t Tweet People Do UK) Cathy MOORE @CatMoore, Creator of the action mapping process for designing training (US) Janet CLAREY @jclarey, Manager in L&D Research @Bersin by Deloitte (US) Cammy BEAN @cammybean, VP of Learning Design at Kineo (US) Connie MALAMED @elearningcoach, Professional Explainer (US) Donald H TAYLOR @DonaldHTaylor, Chairs LPI, LSG and Learning Technologies (UK) Charles JENNINGS @charlesjennings, Author of 70:20:10 Towards 100% Performance (UK)

Wow, I thought I knew what I was doing. But, I don’t know what I don’t know and if I am to sustain any sort of relevance over the next 10 years, I need to reverse that trend and start to know what I don’t know. We’ve been reading for years how the workplace will [...]

I’m trying to keep up, really I am.  But even setting up this blog is not that easy.  And, as many middle-aged adults would attest to, I had to solicit the help of my 23-year-old daughter. Yes, the blog is free and, yes, there are lots of directions and resources, but I figured that the [...]

As I listen to so many people speak about how important training is, I wonder if they are really seeing the entire picture. Sure, many discuss the need for a holistic approach, but do they all own the solution which, of course, is owned by all of us? Part of my inspiration for this blog [...]

Some may refer to the title of this entry as "trying to keep up," but I would argue that keeping up is not the same as staying relevant. Keeping up means you are following, not leading. Staying relevant means you are not only engaged, but looking for ways to contribute. Considering the level of technology [...]

A new movie is coming out in the fall. Take a moment and view the trailer. This is out of scope, a bit, for this blog but it is worth it. My brother said it best on Facebook: "This film will do for education what ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ did for climate change." Filed under: Education [...]

ABC World News reports that the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is now about the size of Kansas.  Yes, one drop is too much, yet 4,700 average size swimming pools could be filled by the amount of oil that has spilled, according to ABC News.  But what was our focus yesterday?  More than [...]

Technology, there sure is a lot of it…and the pace just keeps getting faster.  I thought I would share what I do with some of it. iPad - Many have commented on it, but the one consistent question I get is, "What do you do with it?" Read books - I do this more than [...]

Today I posted two articles on Facebook and Twitter (aren’t I getting fancy!!!). The first as about the "Let’s Move" initiative that is working to prevent childhood obesity. The other post was in reference to kids using iPads. Maybe, just maybe, our kids spend so much time using new technology that they are missing using [...]