I've had a number of people ask me recently about what questions we are asking in our Pilot surveys.The largest survey we did was for our Unified Communications rollout.I have started to use some of these questions during other implementations to get a feel for how the training programs impact the adoption of a new tool.  These surveys are being sent out one month after the implementations. We have found that we get a better idea as to whether the solution and the training that supports the solution worked. People have had time to work with the new solution and processes. Patterns as to what is being used and what isn't are beginning to surface. Plus, I find I get more honest answers from people one month out.  The general questions we ask:How helpful did you find the training materials?We then list each individual training object (each type of classroom training, each tutorial, each quick reference)Helpful / Not Helpful / Did Not View or AttendWhat other resources did you find helpful as you learned how to x?This is a free-text fieldI find x intuitive and easy to use - Yes / Somewhat / Not at allx = the IT applicationAs a result of the training, I felt I could use x - Yes / Somewhat / Not at allI have generally found that for Somewhat and Not at all - people will add comments without promptingAs a result of the training, I could use x to perform y tasks - Yes / Somewhat / Not at allThis question can be separated into the different type of tasks if the solution was modularAgain, people will generally add comments without promptingAs a result of the training, I felt I understood (any resulting new process / concept) - Yes / Somewhat / Not at allWe will add this question when there is an affiliated major process change. The question also helps us to see whether we did a good job putting the material in contextThe training applied to how I need to use x to do my job - Yes / Somewhat / Not at allAnother question asking whether we got the context rightWhat features do you find you use most often, check all that applyFor new IT applications, this gives us a feel for what people are actually usingThis also gives us information for where we need to do more training, or ask more questions as to why they are not using a particular feature or area we are expecting people to useDepending on the sensitivity of the audience, this question is best done with clear identification vs anonymously.  This provides a better feel for whether we got the audience needs assessment right if we are working with multiple audiences. Rate your understanding of the following subjects as a result of this implementationHere we check to see how well we covered the individual areas We used a Likert scale ranking from I understand to No understanding + Does Not Apply to MeWe are able to see what may require more training and whether we captured the appropriate audience.What topics do you wish were better covered? - Free TextHow can we improve the training and support for implementations like this one - Free TextWhat improvements do you think we can make to (the resulting new process) - Free TextWe had one question for each major process that was affected by the implementationAny other comments or would you like someone to follow up with you - Free TextThese surveys have really helped us get a better feel for how the training solutions we design are helping (or hurting) implementations that (hopefully positively) impact the business.If you see other questions you think we should be asking - please add them to the comments.

Last spring, after the Integration SWAT Team guy showed me Archi and walked me through how to develop a process using Archimate, he sent me off with a copy of the enterprise architecture as it currently exists (not including specific server IPs or other sensitive information that I don't need anyway). a link to Archimate, a couple of work samples, and the invitation to ask him any further questions.THIS is why you want to make friends with your IT folks.Huge swaths of things I had planned to do, he had already done.All I needed to do was fill in the blanks.----------------I took my Visio version of the Classroom Trainee Registration workflow and began to convert it to Archi.And here....I started to run into issues.....---------------------------------A side benefit of learning another language - whether it be cultural, programming or modeling - is the chance to look at something in a completely different way.In my attempts to fit this workflow into this tool, I'm having to think about other ways to communicate this workflow.Unfortunately, I also ran into some big problems with trying to cram a particular workflow into a particular modeling language.  Hence why this post has been sitting in my draft queue since last spring.After much thought and head-banging, I came to the following conclusions:1) Just because I am learning a particular modeling language and want to communicate in that language doesn't mean anyone else understands what I am trying to communicate.  It's like saying "I'm learning Spanish, therefore I am going to speak to everyone in Spanish whether they understand me or not." 2) Modeling languages have types of workflows that work best in that language. - Archimate is best designed for technical architectures- BPMN (Business Process Modelling Notation) is best for business process workflows I have personally decided to prioritize speaking / modeling in the stakeholder's language. I want someone to be able to look at the picture and follow along easily.I want someone to quickly see what is a human step and what is a computer step. If that means using stick figures and little clip art people, then so be it. Besides - stick figures communicate a lot.And, frankly, it's easier for ME to understand too.

I feel like I don't use enough random clipart.....This was found under "sharing" in MS Word 2010.You're welcome.-----------------------------Once I have a few process workflows completed and the members of my team are happy, the next step is to show them to others. I don't need all of them.  I just want to show a few examples of the "least challenging" and get a better feel for how much these stakeholders want to participate.  And I want to do this really quickly so I get input before I get too far in the process.The workflows  are meant to be conversation-starter.For the process itself -  "This is what we are doing?  What's your process? What's working? What's not? What would you like to be able to do?"For architecture in general - "Is this something you would like to participate in?  Is there something you would love to see coming out of this effort? Does this flowchart format make sense to you without me explaining it?  Are you interested in seeing some of the other work we are doing to make sense of our environment?"If all goes well, these little bits of outreach and relationship-building is the start of a beautiful relationship.When having discussions with the other trainers, I have to be really careful about couching this as just our process. I don't expect them to adopt it or want to use it or even that it will work for them.  Just a conversation. This is where coming from the IT department, honestly, makes this conversation a bit more hazardous.  The last thing I want is to have the other training teams feel like they are being forced to do something because "that's the way IT does it."  That never goes well.

This is just one option.  This does not reflect the direction we may actually head...---------------------------------------I have found that 6 months - 1 year out from the end of the LMS contract (or whatever the "core" of your ecosystem is) is a good time to re-evaluate the ecosystem and take a close look at the environmental factors surrounding the ecosystem.In our case, there are some major environmental changes afoot.  1) The chance of us being able to have one learning ecosystem (vs separate ecosystems for staff and students) is greater than it has ever been.  It never made much sense to me that we had 2 separate and practically parallel systems doing pretty much the same thing.The biggest risk we are taking by having just one ecosystem is that we are giving up control to another group. In this case, academics. Which is where it rightly belongs.2) Our leadership has finally realized that how we do business is unsustainable.  We might be able to afford multiple systems doing the same thing now, but we won't be able to afford that much longer.  The willingness to make some hard and uncomfortable decisions is much higher than I've ever seen it.In execution - there are going to be a lot of negotiations around people's processes and what is REALLY a mandatory requirement vs a nice to have.  I see those conversations (the ones that are forcing people to change) getting pretty ugly.  I hope everyone is ready.3) The technologies that are available for the ecosystem are very different from the ones that were available when we first designed it.   The technologies we now have available are a lot more flexible and interchangeable than before.Our lead architecture teams are very focused on flexibility and interchangeability.These teams are also focused on "cloud" - which is going to force everyone to be a heck of a lot more responsible for learning their toolkits without leaning on excuses.  Where our environment is headed is going to force a lot more accountability for one's own learning and mastery of his/her job. The same people who whine that "they weren't trained on the tool" are the same people who are perfectly capable of figuring out how to use a new cell phone. "I wasn't trained on that" is not going to fly as an excuse much longer.4) Our IT group is now thinking in terms of roadmaps for those technologies. As a result, I have a better idea of how the ecosystems that touch the Learning Ecosystem plan to evolve.  I can plan the next iteration of my ecosystem to account for and support that evolution.The Learning Ecosystem is well-placed to relate multiple roadmaps.  Because, ultimately, people use a collection of technologies to work. Not just one type.In my mind, these are positive environmental changes.  The recognition that systems have not just a purchase cost, but a maintenance and operations cost.The recognition that we do not have endless pools of money (or people, or people's time and energy)The recognition that we need to plan and think longer-term.The recognition that we need to start saying "no".In a recent meeting, one of my favorite mid-level managers said the following:"Probably the best thing we can do is take the checkbook out of everyone's hands. THAT'S going to force an awful lot of conversations, compromise and creative thinking. We've been too comfortable for too long." Agreed.I'm gearing up to get mighty uncomfortable.And to give up a lot of what we've been doing for the past 7 years.It's time.

Click the picture to view a larger version.Again, this is NOT the direction we have decided to head. NO decision has been made as of this writing and the picture does not reflect what is going on with my employer.I am putting this here as an example.-------------------------In the proposed architecture picture above, you may have noticed some colored rectangles.I am following some ecosystems and roadmaps that impact our ecosystem.Identity - Corporate / Staff training relies heavily on the ability to divide people into groups.  By org chart (who reports to who and which department). By job type (ex. all acccountants across an organization. By job task (ex. the person in this job needs to view and work with personal health information).  Efforts in this area determine how easily we can assign and push materials to particular groups.Document and File Management - Where we stash our stuff. I don't want to pay for and maintain an entirely separate solution. I want to work within where everyone else is stashing his / her stuff.Communications - These tools are how we deliver live online training.  I pulled out WebEx since this is the primary tool we use.Business Intelligence - this is not listed as a roadmap in this diagram, but more of a catch-all for reporting. The current thinking is that we are going to try to maintain as much reporting as possible within the host system (in this case, the LMS). This thinking maps to the Business Intelligence unit's roadmap.  HR Roadmap - this is the roadmap of our primary staff-side stakeholderAcademic Roadmap - this is the roadmap of our primary student-side stakeholder AND the group that, in this model, would serve as the Learning subject-matter expert.Identity, Document and File Management, Communication and Business Intelligence Roadmaps all impact the tools we have at our disposal.  One of the guiding principles of our ecosystem is that we use what everyone else uses as much as possible.  No point in doing the same functions in a special "learning" solution when everyone is working elsewhere.The HR and Academic Roadmaps help me stay in alignment with the goals and direction of our primary stakeholders.  Through those roadmaps, I am able to see what is important to them, where this ecosystem needs to connect to their ecosystem, and what direction they plan to head. Ultimately, any Learning ecosystem needs to work for these two stakeholders.  They are the ones who will use the solutions coming out of this the most.

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 2, 2011.#681 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.55,441 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.Host of Learning 2011 - Over 1,087 Colleagues Registered! 1. "School Days!" A New Year Begins After Labor Day.2. Music Licenses for Learning - Design Decisions. 1. "School Days!" A New Year Begins After Labor Day: In just 4 days, my New Year begins. You see, I still think of the year as starting the first day of school, which was the day after Labor Day (here in the U.S.) as I was growing up. The start of school meant a new teacher, new school books, new subjects to master and a deep dive into learning - after a great summer vacation.  It often meant some new clothes (or at least some new hand-me-down clothes from a neighbor), a new loose leaf notebook (with plastic reinforcements to keep the pages from tearing) and a few other school supplies. Decades later, my year still starts right after Labor Day. Here are a few of the things that I will be doing on Tuesday, my virtual first day back at school: * School Supplies - I’ll stop at the store and buy one or two new notebooks, pens and other school supplies.* New Calendar - I’ll get a 2011 - 2012 Academic Calendar to hang on my wall, marking the Sept. to Sept. year cycle.* Books Ordered - My Amazon account is busy as I buy eBooks and hardcovers to enjoy in this new year. I got 6 yesterday!* Goals and Objectives - My whiteboard will get cleaned and the staff will see my targets for the next few months with a fresh eye.* Registration Spikes - Once September starts, we watch a marked spike in the rate of registrations for Learning 2011 as people start to focus on the Fall.  We already have 1,087 colleagues signed up, but it will rise as it is now the Fall season.* Style Shifts - Almost every Fall, I try to change up one aspect of my style: how I approach work or life.  This year…hmmmmm? I find myself feeling the excitement of the kid going back to school as Labor Day comes around. I reach out to friends I haven’t spoken to since June, share summer stories and make plans to connect now that the "School Year" has started.  And, feeling alive and focused as a learner is great. So, am I alone in this?  If you also think of the year as starting in September, send me a note to emasie@masie.com  . 2. Music Licenses for Learning - Design Decisions: If you walk into a session at Learning 2011 in Orlando in November and hear some music playing, it will be legal. We have a Code of Conduct at The MASIE Center to have full licensed rights to any music that we play at an event. While it would be simple to just pop in a CD that we bought, or download a song from iTunes, or play a streamed clip from the web, it would not be legal or appropriate. So, we use several music licensing bureaus, such as ASCAP and BMI, to have an event-wide license for Learning 2011. We pay between $800 to $1,300 per year (based on number of days and participants) and are fully covered. Another strategy is to just use "royalty free" music, but I love to have familiar tunes and even songs that relate to the themes of the sessions: "Respect" for a talk about roles in Learning or "Lean on Me" for mentoring strategies. Knowing that we can play almost any song, I have fun in the next 9 weeks picking a play list for the General Sessions and breakouts. Many events don’t bother with licensing or assume that the hotel has paid a fee. But, to be in full compliance, we are doing the paperwork for music licenses for the 4,000 ears that will be at Learning 2011 in just 66 days. Follow along with our Design Decisions blog at http://www.learning2011.com/designblog Yours in Learning, Elliott Masie.email: emasie@masie.com MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:* Learning 2011 - Nov 6 to 9, 2011 - Orlando, Florida.* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUMInfo and Registration: http://www.masie.com

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 6, 2011.#682 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.55,449 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.Host of Learning 2011 - Over 1,107 Colleagues Registered! 1. Gamification Caution - Mechanics Aren’t Design!2. Learning at Facebook, Southwest Airlines & Starbucks. 1. Gamification Caution - Mechanics Aren’t Design! One of the "hot" buzz words these days in Learning circles is "Gamification"  The idea, which on the surface is compelling, is to apply the elements of game theory and game design to a learning activity, like earning badges or getting virtual awards, in order to increase learner engagement and influence behavior.  While I have been a long-time fan and proponent of Serious Gaming for Learning - the application of game design to learning design - the world of "Gamification" is more heavily focused on game mechanics, where one would simply add "a game layer" and get results. For example, take a compliance eLearning course and add one or more of the following game mechanics: score ratings, leaderboards, virtual badges or even real gifts. While it may alter behavior, it could just as easily either trivialize or backfire. The problem is not about applying the powerful world of gaming and competition: it is about the oversimplification, in my opinion, of the design process. It will take way more design and organizational change to introduce these elements into the organization than simply linking to a vendor for gaming badges or virtual prizes. There is a parallel in the world of gaming in classroom training. We have all been in a seminar where the leader announces that we are going to start with an "Ice Breaker Game". These might work or they might truly evoke a large groan from the audience. If they are designed right - with the experience and focus of the audience at top of mind - an ice breaker might really get a group learning process started.  But, more often than not, they are seen as a "cute" ritual, which many hope will just be over so they can dive into the content of the program. Games in the classroom are more complex than just picking a "Game Idea Card" and adding it to the agenda. Let’s collectively explore how we can leverage new technology, social media and evolving designs to increase engagement and support performance and learning. Elements of game design are key, as will be apps and technologies that allow for lower cost deployment. But, don’t jump on the bandwagon thinking that you can take an unvisited SharePoint site and turn it into a highly valued Knowledge Village by dispensing Gamification tokens to users. For every quickly deployed Gamification for learning program, there will be a dozen ways in which learners can game the game to get around the system.  One colleague showed me a macro deployed in an organization to add short, automated comments to collaborative spaces in order to get higher Gamification scores and badges. Gaming Design is a great opportunity space for learning, but let’s not just roll with the hype and forget the critical role of design, experimentation and organizational change! 2. Learning at Facebook, Southwest Airlines & Starbucks: Ever wonder how Facebook uses social elements for Learning? How does Intel put Learning "inside" @ Intel? Does Learning @ Southwest Airlines take a very different route? Or, is a café culture embedded into Learning @ Starbucks? At Learning 2011, we are asking 12 major "brand name" organizations to provide you with an up-close and deep overview of Learning @ Their Organization: - Learning @ Facebook.- Learning @ Farmers.- Learning @ Intel.- Learning @ Humana.- Learning @ MetLife.- Learning @ SC Johnson.- Learning @ Southwest Airlines.- Learning @ Starbucks.- Learning @ Hospital Corporation of America.- Learning @ The U.S. Senate.- Learning @ Wendy’s.- Learning @ Xerox. In the mix of over 220 choices at the event, the "Learning @" sessions will be intriguing ways to take a look at how a well-known organization approaches learning: each in a different and distinct fashion. We have asked Learning Leaders from each of these organizations to provide an overview of learning as well as focus on a key change, transformation or alignment to their corporate strategy. For example, how does Facebook leverage its social and agile culture as part of their learning strategy? Check out my Design Decisions Blog for Learning 2011 for more details: http://tinyurl.com/3zwj87s - Yours in Learning, Elliott Masie.email: emasie@masie.com MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:* Learning 2011 - Nov 6 to 9, 2011 - Orlando, Florida.* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUMInfo and Registration: http://www.masie.com

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 27, 2012.#749 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.55,838 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.Host, Learning 2012 - Oct 21 to 24, Orlando - 1,294 Registered! 1. Buttons for Mingling & Schmoozing!2. Mobile Learning Researcher at MASIE Center. 1. Buttons for Mingling & Schmoozing! Today is Button Day here. Rather than issue those name badge "descenders" with phrases like Speaker or Sponsor, we opt for cool, artsy looking buttons. In fact, we are about to order almost 10,000 buttons for the participants in Learning 2012 to choose and wear for 4 days in Orlando in less than a month. * Introvert!* Aging LMS?* Totally Mobile.* Classroom Trainer.* Mentor Needed. These are just a few of the fun buttons we are about to order. Check out our design process for these buttons, along with graphics of our current choice set at: http://www.learning2012.com/item/buttons-mingling.html And, if you have a few other ideas for buttons, please send me a note to emasie@masie.com 2. Mobile Learning Researcher at MASIE Center: We are honored to have a Researcher working for four months at The MASIE Center on the in’s and out’s of Mobile Learning. Videhi Bhamidi, a recent Masters graduate of the University of Oxford in the UK with studies in eLearning, is working with our team on expanding the research and perspectives on Mobile Learning. In the coming weeks, you will receive some surveys from us focused on the reality and "hype" of Mobile Learning. For example, are more people using mobile devices for their own searching and contextual knowledge seeking or are companies really building authentic mobile learning packages? What are the pedagogical differences of a mobile learning process? And, when do highly mobile workers suffer from "distance or distraction" in a meeting due to compulsive device checking? We will also take a look at the current and future pathways for organizations to explore mobile learning options. Join me in welcoming Videhi by writing to her at videhi@masie.com  We will be doing some Real-Time brainstorming on Mobile Learning options at Learning 2012. Yours in Learning, Elliott Masieemail: emasie@masie.comtwitter: @emasie MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:* Learning 2012 - Oct 21 - 24, 2012 - Orlando, Florida.* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUMInfo and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - October 4, 2012.#751 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology. 55,841 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.Host, Learning 2012 - Oct 21 to 24, Orlando - 1,384 Registered! 1. Mobile Learning or Mobility or Tomorrow?2. Apple Lightning to 30-pin Adapter - Oops?3. Chairs for Soft and Sharp Interviews! 1. Mobile Learning or Mobility or Tomorrow? So many of us are excited about Mobile Learning and the application of mobile devices to worker/workplace productivity. Yet, when we go out to the field and ask for concrete examples of Mobile Learning that are in place and working, there is more silence and aspiration than evidence.  The MASIE Center is conducting an in-depth exploration of Mobile Learning and, in a few days, we will send you a TRENDS Survey to look at current plans, hopes and needs.  But, we need to tone back a bit of the conversation about Mobile Learning and consider if we are in "Phase 1", which is more about mobility. In other words, we are looking closer at how workers, with their own or corporate devices, are computing, communicating and collaborating with mobility. Clearly, there will be growing options, apps and designs that will give our organizations and learners increased ability to learn, practice, get support, collaborate and improve with the expanding devices. But, before we yell "Mobile Learning is Here", let’s understand that we are just getting started and evidence-based experiments and innovations are more the reality today. Exciting times ahead, but let’s watch the "hype" meter. 2. Apple Lightning to 30-pin Adapter - Oops? I got my iPhone 5 and am quite happy, EXCEPT…there is not currently available an adapter to allow my new phone, which uses the Apple Lightening plug, to connect with the many devices that are for the iPhone 4 and other earlier devices. So, my phone does not work with the in-car power/connector, won’t fit into my cool portable speakers for iPhones and other things. Last night, I went to several stores to buy an adapter, but it is not shipping "yet".  The catalog says in a few weeks.  Ugh! Once you build an infrastructure of devices and adapters, if you are going to change to a new format, make sure that real-time adapters are available. Ugh! 3. Chairs for Soft and Sharp Interviews! Yesterday was "select-a-chair-for-keynoters-to-sit on" day. It is actually quite an elaborate process, including choosing color, height, leg length and even squishy factor for the seat. We want our speakers like General Colin Powell USA (Ret.) to be comfortable and also sharp in the chairs. So, it was a day of choice and factor filtering. Follow along with my Design Decisions at http://www.learning2012.com/item/choosing-a-chair-for-stage.html Yours in Learning, Elliott Masieemail: emasie@masie.comtwitter: @emasie MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:* Learning 2012 - Oct 21 - 24, 2012 - Orlando, Florida.* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUMInfo and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

TO: Learning, Training & Performance ColleaguesFROM: Elliott Masie, The Learning CONSORTIUM Please take this 3 Minute Mobile Learning Pulse Survey! http://www.masie.com/mobilepulse Everyone is talking about Mobile Learning. Some of the conversation reflects real projects and innovations. Some is just "Hype" - overstating the current reality of Mobile Learning. The MASIE Center invites learning colleagues from across the globe to take a few minutes to share your confidential views, hopes, frustrations and projects about Mobile Learning. Results will be shared at both Learning 2012 and also online at the end of October. Survey at: http://www.masie.com/mobilepulse Yours in Learning, Elliott Masieemail: emasie@masie.comtwitter: @emasie MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:* Learning 2012 - Oct 21 - 24, 2012 - Orlando, Florida.* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUMInfo and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - November 29, 2012.#757 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.55,869 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.Host: Video for Learning LAB & Seminar - Jan. 2013 1. Mobile Learning Survey Results & Trends!2. Video Segments from Learning 2012 On-Line.3. Graduate/Research Internship at MASIE Center. 1. Mobile Learning Survey Results & Trends! We are pleased to publish the results of our global survey on Mobile Learning Trends. Based on responses from 823 global organizations, the Mobile Pulse Survey has interesting trends and challenges facing corporations as they pursue Mobile Learning. Report Segments: "Interest in delivering learning on mobile devices is high but implementation is in the very early stages of development. Approximately 80% of organizations reported at least a moderate interest in mobile learning. So far that interest has primarily translated into projects to explore and test mobile learning and developing some content designed for mobile devices. At the same time, less than 30% of organizations have an enterprise strategy for mobile learning." "Surveyed organizations acknowledge that leveraging mobile devices for learning provides some important affordances, but also have critical and constraining concerns. Key affordances include: the ability to provide learners with access to learning that is "anytime and anywhere"; reinforcement and updating of previous learning; maintaining proficiency and using otherwise unproductive time for learning activities. Chief among the concerns are the lack of sound designs for mobile learning (which can frustrate learners), technical issues that negatively impact the brand, the hype that leads learning organizations into adopting technologies that do not prove fruitful, and the potential that mobile learning will devalue in-depth knowledge and learning." The complete report and all results are online, without charge, from The MASIE Center at: Mobile Pulse Survey:http://www.masie.com/mobile2012 Special thanks to Videhi Bhamidi, Research Intern at the MASIE Center and recent graduate of Oxford in eLearning, who coordinated this survey. In the coming weeks, we will also publish her work on specific areas of Mobile Learning "Routes" as we consider the future of design for learning with mobile connectivity. 2. Video Segments from Learning 2012 On-Line: We have posted hours of video content segments from the keynote speakers at Learning 2012 (for those who gave us permission to circulate their presentations). You can view segments from Charles Duhigg, Susan Cain, Richard Culatta, Marshall Goldsmith and many more at http://www.learningtalks.com  Access the Learning 2012 menu for these segments. The MASIE Center has an Open Sharing model for our content and programs and are honored to make these available to the learning field. 3. Research Internship at The MASIE Center: The MASIE Center and Learning CONSORTIUM are searching for a Research Intern to be in residence in Saratoga Springs for 4 to 5 months. The ideal intern is either currently in graduate school or recently graduated from a program focused on learning, technology, business or human resources. They will be working with Elliott Masie and our team on research projects in our Learning LAB. We are eligible to sponsor a qualified candidate from a global location for an Internship Visa. There is a stipend and structured learning experiences. If you are interested, please send a note to emasie@masie.com and we will send you information. Please forward a short note about your background and interests. Previously, we have hosted interns from Korea, Brazil, India, Canada and other locations, as well as US based colleagues. Yours in learning, Elliott Masieemail: emasie@masie.comtwitter: @emasie MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:* Learning 2013 - November 2013 - Orlando, Florida.* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUMInfo and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 20, 2013.#792 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.56,234 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.Host: Learning 2013 - Nov 3 to 6 - Orlando - 1,079 Registered Already! 1. From a TV Show to a Button: Upgrading Changes!2. Absentee Voting Reminder. 1. From a TV Show to a Button: Upgrading Changes! I had a huge "AHA" this morning. And, it was about how much the world of system changes has evolved in the past 20 years. This morning, I upgraded my iPhone and iPad to iOS7. This is not a review of these new systems, but about the shift in ease of upgrade. In a nutshell, I went to the Settings menu, pressed one button that said iOS7 Upgrade and waited for 15 minutes while the full operating system of my device was changed, a new code was downloaded and all of my content and apps were still there. One button and 15 minutes later, my device was upgraded. Now, let me take you back to January 1995. I was asked by Microsoft and Bill Gates to be the host of a TV show called Windows 95, a new operating system they were planning to release in August 1995.  Each month, I flew to Microsoft and hosted a two hour satellite and cable TV show with interviews and demonstrations for techies and geeks around the world. They let me ask almost any question and we had queries come in by fax and email in real time from around the world. For eight months, the technology world and users prepared for the upgrade. I remember receiving a list of 200 things that could go wrong as a user or organization made the upgrade. Believe it or not, for 100 days, every day I received a FedEx with 25 diskettes (pre CD) to try the latest improvement. And for the most part, applications were not going to work "out of the box" when the Start button appeared for the first time on users’ screens. Yes, Microsoft and the user community around the world made it through the upgrade. But, how things have changed. We have come to expect, assume and demand almost seamless upgrades. We want, for the most part, the technology to be in the background and our user experience to be in the foreground. We now have the web and apps for $1.99 rather than programs for $800.  And, in 1995, there were millions of hours of classroom instruction on "Intro to Windows 95 for Users"! I just pushed the button and started to explore this morning. Yes, we have come a long way - and may user usability always drive innovation and simpler processes!  On my train ride to New York City this morning, I am writing this TRENDS and playing with my operating system. Thanks designers and programmers for the ease of shift! 2. Absentee Voting Reminder: We want to remind our Learning TRENDS readers who are attending Learning 2013 that November 5th is both Election Day and the third day of our conference. U.S. voters should sign up to vote by Absentee Ballot. Here is a link to a site for resources on absentee voting procedures: http://www.learning2013.com/blog/item/absentee.html Yours in learning, Elliott MasieHost, Learning 2013 email: emasie@masie.comtwitter: @emasie MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:* Learning 2013 - November 2013 - Orlando, Florida.* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUMInfo and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - October 16, 2013.#798 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.56,287 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.Host: Learning 2013 - Nov 3 to 6 - Orlando - 1,507 Registered Already! 1. Gamers Solve Decade Old Enzyme Puzzle in 10 Days!2. My Global Trip to Asia and Middle East Scheduled.3. 167 Learning Sessions and Activities. 1. Gamers Solve Decade Old Enzyme Puzzle in 10 Days! Scientists from Washington University have been struggling for the past decade to decipher the complex structure of an enzyme that exhibits AIDS-like behavior, and which might hold a critical role in building a cure for the disease. Gamers playing spatial game Foldit have managed to collectively determine the enzyme’s structure in ten days.Check it out at http://tinyurl.com/gamesolve This has great implications for the role of gaming and "crowd inventing"!  Now, let’s apply this to our learning design models. 2. My Global Trip to Asia and Middle East Scheduled:  I will be spending a month on a global learning trip - including stops in Singapore, Beijing, Manila and Dubai - starting on November 15th.  If you or your colleagues are in those locations, please send me a note. As always, it would be fun to meet and dialogue with peers from around the world.  Send a note to masie2@masie.com  I look forward to connecting with you and your global colleagues. 3. 167 Learning Sessions and Activities:  In just 3 weeks, we will be wrapping up Learning 2013 in Orlando. The Design process takes almost an entire year and we are honored to release the complete Learning 2013 Program Guide with 167 learning activities described in depth.  There is still time to take advantage of the discounted hotel rates and our Advanced Registration Tuition.  Go to http://www.learning2013.com/guide Yours in learning, Elliott MasieHost, Learning 2013 email: emasie@masie.comtwitter: @emasie MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:* Learning 2013 - November 2013 - Orlando, Florida.* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUMInfo and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - March 12, 2014.#817 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.56,395 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.Host: MOOCs & Corporate Learning: Symposium & Lab. 1. Impressions from Talent & HR Conversations.2. My Curiosity Mobile Device.3. Stormboard - Online Brainstorming!4. Massive Learning - Less Instructor Time. 1. Impressions from Talent & HR Conversations:  Hello from Scottsdale, Arizona, where I have been meeting with senior Talent, HR and Performance leaders at the annual i4cp conference.  On Monday, I led a 2 1/2 hour facilitated discussion with 10 senior leaders from companies including Boeing, Yum! Brands, Shell, Agilent and others on Trends in Learning.  Although I was the briefer and facilitator, I came away with several key impressions on trends: * Global Leadership Requirements:  We need to take a fresh look at the competencies needed by leaders of global organizations.  How do we build global leadership capabilities in candidates who have not lived in multiple countries?* Talking Talent and Learning at the Same Time:  The languages of "Talent", "Human Capital" and "Learning" are similar but different dialects that address similar issues with quite different words and phrases.  Learning leaders will need to find ways to be trilingual in these focuses.* Lazy LMS:  There is widespread frustration with the current agility of Learning Management Systems to meet an ever expanding menu of content models.  Most organizations are looking at using the LMS as more of an underneath enterprise system, adding needed functions as software as service or overlays. The best example is the inability of most LMSs to be agile with video as a content mode.* Learning Personalization:  There is serious interest in how organizations build Learning Personalization into current and future programs.  The learner is evolving quicker than our designers or learning systems. If you are interested in exploring these and other Learning Directions, check out my one-day blended program that will soon be offered in New York City, Chicago, Houston and Silicon Valley.  Details at http://www.masie.com 2. My Curiosity Mobile Device:  I just checked how often I do a Google or Bing search on my mobile phone or tablet.  Wow! On average it is between 15 and 30 times a day about thinks like a phrase from a presentation, a name mentioned in a news story or a topic in a conversation.  Check out the search history in your mobile devices to get a sense of your own mobile search intensity.  While many talk about Mobile Learning, I am more intrigued with how we optimize and personalize Mobile Search - including secure access to corporate intranets - right alongside external search engine results. 3. Stormboard - Online Brainstorming!  Check out a new version of a shared brainstorming/mind mapping software.  This is highly visual, sharable and there is a free edition for a small team.  I am experimenting with it for Learning 2014 team design.  Details at http://www.stormboard.com 4. Massive Learning - Less Instructor Time:  "How do we deliver short learning to massive numbers of employees - without having to increase the amount of available instructor time?"  This question quickly follows most discussions about Massive, Open, Online Courses/Content.  The desire for organizations to find new and scalable models for delivering a short program to tens or hundreds of thousands of workers - with a high level of engagement - without the cost of instructor time for each learner is a fascinating aspect of exploring MOOCs. We will delve deeply into this at our rapidly filling MOOCs & Corporate Learning: Symposium and Lab, to be held from April 2 to 4 in Saratoga Springs, NY.  There are a few spaces still available and online registration is open at http://www.learningmoocs.com Yours in learning, Elliott MasieHost, Learning 2014 email: emasie@masie.comtwitter: @emasie MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.* Learning Directions Briefings.* MOOCs and Corporate Learning: Symposium and LAB.* Video & Learning LAB.* On-The-Job Learning LAB.* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUMInfo and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - July 28, 2014.#835 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.56,577 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 634 Registered Already. Announcing: The Gamification Game! Gamification and Learning Explored. The word Gamification evokes many responses from Learning Professionals: * It would be very cool to use competition, rewards and games to engage workers in workplace learning.* Is Gamification really a deep game or a just a quick blast that is limited in impact?* Gamification can be a software layer living on top of a learning activity - integrated easily.* Does Gamification scale and sustain?* How do Introverts respond to Gamification that is often socially tilted?* Where is the evidence on learning impacts of Gamification?* Is Gamification always linked to digital badges or rewards, and is there a non-digital version of Gamification?* How do Gamification systems play with LMS systems? I am fascinated and challenged by the conversations about Gamification. And, there is a need for us to look at the evidence to explore when Gamification works or even interferes with workplace learning. On a personal level, I LOVE the role that Gaming can play in increasing engagement for some people on some tasks. I have played chess as a child, crossword puzzles as an adult and am fascinated with games used in learning and simulation areas. Gamification software is popping up, often targeted at Customer Engagement or Participation Engagement in a corporate collaborative space. Gamification is often linked to "badges" or public awards for degrees of involvement. And, many companies are experimenting with Gamification wrapped around internal social networks or innovation contests. So, what should we do at Learning 2014 (Oct 26 to 29) to explore and examine the role of Gamification and Learning? Many conferences are using functions in a mobile app (like our Engage app) that provide points for people talking to suppliers or networking with others. But, we wanted to go deeper and explore what works or does not work with Gamification, exploring a wider set of Games, Gamification Packages and Methods. We are announcing "The Gamification Game" at Learning 2014. Throughout the conference, we will provide multiple options, experiences and discussions for participants to use, evaluate and explore different Gamification approaches. The "Game" part of this is to explore what is REAL, what is HYPE, what is NOT YET ad what is TOMORROW in this world. "The Gamification Game" will be a vendor-neutral look at these engagement and contest models - with an eye to how they are applied to learning activities. We will use high tech, low tech and even a few games aimed at the introverts in the community. You and your colleagues are invited to participate in "The Gamification Game" and help move the dialogue forward! Complete details at http://tinyurl.com/gamificationgame Yours in learning, Elliott Masieemail: emasie@masie.comtwitter: @emasie MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUMInfo and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie  

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - December 11, 2014.#858 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.56,769 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.Host: Learning Innovations Retreat LAB - Jan 7 to 9th. 1. Digital Trust?2. Producing: Process & Details. 1. Digital Trust? A new project that The MASIE Center will be focusing on: "Digital Trust" How does the process of trust change, shift, shrink, expand or evolve as we connect, collaborate and know colleagues (and friends) digitally? How does a new employee at a 10,000 person company trust (or perhaps not trust) colleagues that they meet through a corporate collaboration vehicle such as Jive, SharePoint or Intranet? How does an individual assess - from a trust perspective - content, context or opinions from people they have never met face to face? How does an individual build the personal and professional competency of Digital Trust? In the next few months, I will be publishing a digital book on Digital Trust, bringing together learning and HR leaders from various organizations to explore the dimensions of Digital Trust and more. If you are intrigued by this topic, please send me an email to emasie@masie.com  We believe that the issues of trust, as explored by Steven MR Covey and others, are even more important and perhaps elusive in the digital world. So, send me a note to emasie@masie.com and let’s explore this intriguing topic. 2. Producing - Process & Details: I am writing this Learning TRENDS as I leave Paris for New York, after we just opened a new Broadway show, "An American in Paris". This is an exciting new show that combines amazing dance, sets, music from Gershwin, political themes and an incredible cast. MASIE Productions is honored to be one of the Production Partners for this show, which opened in Paris and will move to Broadway in March 2015. You can scan stories and video from the show at: http://www.anamericaninparisbroadway.com/ I wanted to share some perspectives about "producing" that are wonderfully connected to our worlds of learning. The process of creating a Broadway show, especially a hit, takes years of collaboration, work, labs, demonstrations, casting, fund raising, disagreements, shifts and marketing magic. What we watched in Paris was an amazing point (but not the finish line) of the production and creation process for "An American in Paris". Director Christopher Wheeldon takes the cast and creative team through a daily process of experimentation, rehearsal, feedback and coaching. The leads of the show, accomplished ballet dancers, have been coached in singing and acting, and supported to expand their craft to this new format. Our opening in Paris was received with over 12 minutes of standing ovations - from a Paris blended audience - and the dozens of producing partners traveled to France to both celebrate and learn. We gave a spare ticket to a 21 year old woman who was passing out arts newsletters outside.  We surprised her a few minutes before the sold out show with a free ticket (in an upper balcony) and just asked her to send me a message after she got out with feedback. Here are a few lines from her (Virginie Bénévent): "I love theater and this show blends everything: songs, dancing and acting. It reminds me of Gene Kelly, a genius and master of dance. Plus, it echoes many events of our history in Paris. The props and the setting are perfectly designed - these details are crucial. This a trip in this beautiful story between 2 worlds of art: France and America. The show lasted almost 3 hours but it seemed so short. The final dance was amazing. Elliott, in three words: wonderful, efficient and free." Production is about 360 degree feedback. It is about the ability to listen to the cares and angles of every segment of the audience. It is about creating more than a good show - but rather a GREAT show - and that takes time, risk and discipline as well as agility as artists and producers. When you see an awesome piece of theater, it reflects the works of dozens or even hundreds of artists over years. We never rush being "done" as great theater comes from circles of experimentation and feedback. So, as I fly back from Paris I am thrilled and honored. And, I am making a list of dozens of micro elements of "An American in Paris" that could evolve and stretch in the months ahead. I will share elements of the process with Learning TRENDS readers and hopefully you can see it on Broadway or when we go on tour in a few years. Note: Learning LABS in 2015: We are pleased to announce 3 Learning LABS for Learning Professionals that will be hosted at The MASIE Center in Saratoga Springs in 2015: - Learning Innovations Retreat & LAB: January 7 - 9, 2015.- On The Job Learning & Performance Support LAB: January 20 - 22, 2015.- Video & Learning LAB: February 10 - 12, 2015. We have had many registrations for these programs already and space is quite limited. They are hands-on and roll-up-your-sleeve LABS. Check out the content and online registration at http://www.masie.com Yours in learning, Elliott MasieChair, The Learning CONSORTIUM MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM- Learning Innovations Retreat at Elliot Masie’s LAB. - Jan 7 - 9, Saratoga Springs.- On-The-Job Learning & Performance Support = Agile Learning - Jan 20 - 22, Saratoga Springs.- Video & Learning LAB - Feb 10 - 12, Saratoga Springs.- Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4th - Orlando, Florida.Upcoming:- Gamification and Learning LAB.- MOOCs and Corporate Learning LAB.- Learning Strategy & Learning Leadership.- Leadership Development Evolves. Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

TO: Learning, Training & Performance ColleaguesFROM: Elliott Masie, The MASIE CenterDATE: March 3, 2015 RE: Gamification & Learning LAB We are pleased to announce a new program for learning professionals: Gamification & Learning LAB!Hosted by Elliott Masie.May 4th to 6th.MASIE Learning LAB - Saratoga Springs, NY USA.Details: http://www.masie.com Gamification is one of the much talked about elements in the world of learning innovations. There are intriguing early implementations, emerging models for adding gamification to non-game activities (such as learning), much hype and overstatement, and a great deal of both curiosity and confusion in our field. I have designed an intensive, vendor-neutral 2 1/2 day deep dive into Gamification & Learning for a small group of global learning colleagues in early May. Here are the topics that we will address: - Gamification: What Is It?- Gamification & Learning Models.- Gamification of Non-Games.- Does Gamification Work?- When Does Gamification Not Work?- Learning Gamification vs. Marketing Gamification.- Is Gamification Sustainable?- Costs & Expenses for Gamification.- ADDIE & Gamification.- LMS & Gamification.- Gamification Marketplace.- Producing Gamification - The Skills.- Gamification, Introverts, Styles & Emotional Intelligence!- The Strategic Risks & Downsides of Gamification.- Failure & Simulations: "Failing Our Way to Success". - Play as a Human Trait.- Badging in the Workplace.- Usability & Gamification. Our LAB will include hands-on exploration of current and emerging Gamification & Learning models. We will interview (by live video) experts from implementing organizations, Gamification inventors and suppliers, and Academics studying the evidence of Gamification’s impact on Learning. In addition, we will conduct a real-time focus group with a range of employees to assess their readiness and reactions to Gamification leveraged for learning and performance. Complete information and online registration at http://www.masie.com   Please register early as space is tightly limited in the Gamification & Learning LAB. Yours in learning, Elliott MasieChair, The Learning CONSORTIUM MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM- Learning Strategies LAB - With Doug Lynch and Elliott Masie - March 25 to 27 Saratoga Springs.- Gamification & Learning LAB - With Elliott Masie - May 4 to 6 - Saratoga Springs.- Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4 - Orlando, Florida.Upcoming:- Gamification and Learning LAB.- MOOCs and Corporate Learning Summit. Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - April 10, 2015.#870 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.56,849 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.Host: Learning Directions in Dallas, Seattle, Chicago & New York City. 1. LinkedIn Buys lynda.com for $1.5 Billion - Not an April Fools Message.2. Testing Amazon Echo - Talking to My Speaker & Cloud.3. Gamification & Learning LAB - New Section Added in June. 1. LinkedIn Buys lynda.com for $1.5 Billion - Not an April Fools Message: I was quite surprised by a message yesterday announcing that LinkedIn has purchased lynda.com (an eLearning site) for $1.5 Billion. Details at: http://www.cnet.com/news/linkedin-to-acquire-online-training-site-lynda-com/ Why surprised? Just a few days ago, as part of my annual April Fools Learning Trends message, I said, "LinkedIn leaders are convinced that a learner’s resume will have a key role in expanding learning. As a worker enrolls for a class, "LinkedLearn" will relate the content to the learner’s previous positions and work experience. If one shifts their job from a bank to a restaurant, their onboarding eLearning on how to work at the order counter will use visuals and even videos from a banking example. "LinkedLearn" is aimed at truly adaptive learning design. It may also leverage feedback from the last 10 years of a worker’s performance reviews."  This was not a prediction - just a joke. But, I guess good jokes have some element of truth and prediction. It will be interesting to see how LinkedIn leverages the resources and assets of lynda.com in the coming years. Stay tuned for more perspectives. 2. Testing Amazon Echo - Talking to My Speaker & Cloud: This week at The MASIE Center, I have been testing a new technology: Amazon’s Echo. It is a high quality speaker, about one foot tall and 3 inches wide, that takes some of the function of Apple’s Siri and rolls it into a Cloud-based Music, Knowledge and Control Center. First, I plugged it in and downloaded an Echo app to my smartphone. It links to my Amazon Prime Account and the building’s wireless system. Then, just by calling the Echo’s name - "Alexa" - I can then ask for the weather, latest news or almost any song or album. It does an instant search of Amazon Prime Music and starts to play in less than 2 seconds.  And, it also will make me laugh if I say, "Alexa, tell me a joke." Additional features are being added, including control of household appliances and linking multiple Echos together in different rooms. Check it out at http://www.amazon.com/oc/echo  It is $199 and has a 3 month waiting list. I am intrigued about how it could also access a corporation’s knowledge or intranet for spoken assistance to a worker sitting at a desk or working on a factory floor. And, I have had fun with instant songs and much needed jokes. 3. Gamification & Learning LAB - New Section Added in June: We have sold out our first Gamification & Learning LAB, with a waiting list, for May. So, I have opened up a second section that will be held in Saratoga Springs, NY from June 23 -25. Register soon as we are already filling seats in this hands-on LAB.  Details at http://www.masie.com Yours in learning, Elliott MasieChair, The Learning CONSORTIUM MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM.- Learning Directions - Dallas, Seattle, Chicago and NYC in June.- Gamification & Learning LAB - Led by Elliott Masie - June 23-25, 2015 - Saratoga Springs, NY.- Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4 - Orlando, Florida. Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - May 7, 2015.#874 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.56,907 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.Host: Learning Directions in Dallas, Seattle, Chicago & New York City. 1. Gamification & Learning Aha’s.2. Gamification Forum with Karl Kapp at Learning 2015.3. Lighting for Skype, Webinars & More. 1. Gamification & Learning Aha’s: The last three days have been an amazing learning opportunity for me on the evolving topic of Gamification and how it fits into the world of corporate learning. I hosted 46 learning leaders from around the world, including China, Brazil and Germany, for an intensive deep-dive into Gamification and Learning. The dialogues with the participants as well as connected collaborations with game developers, learning analysts, corporate learning experimenters and even the U.S. Dept. of Education evolved my thinking about the current and next step in Gamification adoption and evolution.  Here are a few of those Elliott aha’s: * Gamification is NOT a formula of how to add leaderboards, points, badges and a few characters to eLearning.* Gamification IS a spectrum of methods, ascetics, rules, engagement strategies and more - to add GAME Elements to a NON-GAME learning setting.* Game Design is NOT natively aligned with Instructional Designs. Rules bend, characters evolve and FAILURE is highly valued.* Gamification CAN be applied to each of these formats, with the right set of designs and Usability testing:  - eLearning and Game Elements  - Classroom and Game Elements  - Webinars and Game Elements  - Course Structures and Game Elements  - OJT and Performance Support with Game Elements* Learning Personalization will impact Gamification even more deeply than expected. The learner/player will want to shift models in real time.* Gamification MAY NOT be the brand in the end. Participants were using "Engagement", "Interactive", "Simulations" and even "Company Challenges" instead.* Gamification REQUIRES that the designers and facilitators spend serious time as PLAYERS to engage.* Gamification CAN leverage older games - e.g. playing cards, Mad-Libs and sports models - as well as Video Game Metaphors. It was one of the most high-energy 3-day sessions that I have ever facilitated thanks to the participants, resource people and the dynamic nature of the content. We are almost filled for the next section of our Gamification & Learning LAB to be held in Saratoga Springs, NY from June 23rd to 25th. Details and online registration at http://www.masie.com If you are planning on attending, please register ASAP as the last class was fully booked with a waiting list. 2. Gamification Forum with Karl Kapp at Learning 2015: As a result of the field’s reaction, confusion and need for evidence-based research, yesterday we expanded our Learning 2015 program and are pleased to announce a new section: Gamification Forum. And, I am honored to announce a new Featured Keynoter at Learning 2015: Karl Kapp - Gamification & Learning.Featured Keynoter at Learning 2015. Karl Kapp is the author of several key books, including The Gamification of Learning and Instruction. He is the assistant director and faculty member at Bloomsburg University’s Institute for Interactive Technologies. And, Karl is an analyst that combines the worlds of corporate learning production with the evolving world of Games, Gamification and Engagement. He will be a Featured Keynoter at our General Sessions and will lead sessions and conversations in our Gamification & Learning Forum. Early registration discounts for Learning 2015 are now available at http://www.learning2015.com 3. Lighting for Skype, Webinars & More: Read my lips - buy some photo lights for your Skype, Webinar and other video sessions! You can buy a photographer’s light on a tripod or a new LED light - for under $100 - and it will make your image, your video and even your age look much better. As we add video to so many of our interactions, lighting really matters. Another option that I have used in our Center is to add a lilt down lamp into the ceiling, aimed at my face when on video. Do it! You and your viewers will much be happier. Yours in learning, Elliott MasieChair, The Learning CONSORTIUM MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM- Learning Directions - Dallas, Seattle, Chicago and NYC in June.- Learning Strategies LAB with Doug Lynch & Elliott Masie - July 15-17 - Saratoga Springs, NY.- Gamification & Learning LAB - Led by Elliott Masie - June 23-25 - Saratoga Springs, NY.- Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4 - Orlando, Florida. Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - May 22, 2015.#877 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.56,928 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.Host: Gamification & Learning LAB - Saratoga Springs - June 2015 1. Thumb Scrolling Content?2. "Hello Stay Interviews, Goodbye Talent Loss"3. Gamification & Learning LAB - 9 Spaces Open. 1. Thumb Scrolling Content?: Here is a bit of "homework" for TRENDS readers.  Watch how your friends and colleagues move through content on their mobile phones over the next few days. You will probably see "Thumb Scrolling" as they use swipes of their thumb in apps like Facebook and email to rapidly glance, scan and move forward through content and publications.  There is a shift in programming, with a tilt towards "Mobile First", to embrace the rapid glance/scroll with a thumb (or even 2 thumbs) to rapidly scan large (and expanding) universes of content. I am watching 3 people sitting on the train near me as I write this article, and each is scrolling through loads of Facebook pictures, posts and comments at a rate of 20 or more posts per minute. And, one of them used the same process to scroll through loads of email. I do the same in many mobile apps: hyper-scrolling and rapidly selecting just a few for more in-depth content or clicking through. It seems to work for social content, but I have some questions about the "thumb scroll" applied to deeper learning content items at the workplace. Do our learners get an overly superficial glance at content, or is it part of the personalization of the learning process? Is the learner the designer and thumb scrolls to just those items that are "hot" or "key"? Looking at the usability data for "mobile first" sites reveals a significantly lower level of "click through".  In other words, users glance and scan - and rarely drill down deeper. Good news from a scan perspective; perhaps bad news from a retained and processed learning content perspective. I would love to ask Learning TRENDS readers to observe and consider the shifts in how users navigate content on their mobile devices. Share some of your thoughts about how that might impact learning.  Send me a note to emasie@masie.com   I’ll share a summary of our content perspectives in 2 weeks. 2. "Hello Stay Interviews, Goodbye Talent Loss": One of our featured keynoters at Learning 2015, Beverly Kaye, has just published an awesome book that addresses the opportunity to retain great talent through high levels of engagement with their managers. I would strongly recommend this book for Learning, Development and HR leaders. Check out "Hello Stay Interviews, Goodbye Talent Loss", available at http://tinyurl.com/kkt4hlv. 3. Gamification & Learning LAB - 9 Spaces Open: Our second Gamification & Learning LAB has only 9 spaces available and will be held at the MASIE Center Learning LAB in Saratoga Springs, NY from June 23 to 25. This is a very high engagement, drill-down look at how Gamification, Games, Engagement and Game Elements are being leveraged as part of workplace and customer learning in major organizations around the world. Led by Elliott Masie with video interviews of key Gamification resources, including Karl Kapp, this is a unique, vendor-neutral exploration of Gamification and Learning. Our first LAB sold out with a waiting list, so please check it out at http://www.masie.com and register ASAP. Yours in learning, Elliott MasieHost, Learning 2015 MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM- Learning Directions - Dallas, Seattle, Chicago and NYC in June.- Gamification & Learning LAB - Led by Elliott Masie - June 23-25 - Saratoga Springs, NY.- Learning 2015 - Nov 1-4 - Orlando, Florida. Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie  

TO: Learning, Training & Performance ColleaguesFROM: Elliott Masie, The Learning CONSORTIUM RE: 7 Minute Survey on Learning Directions & Shifts! Each year, The MASIE Center conducts an open scan of Learning Directions and Shifts. Can you please take 7 minutes to respond to our anonymous 2015 Learning Directions "Pulse" Survey, gathering global data on how organizations are shifting (or not shifting) their Learning Directions or approaches? Are we doing more/less/the same levels of webinars, classroom, eLearning, mobile, gamification, adaptive design, social learning and personalization of learning? Go to: http://tinyurl.com/masie2015  . We will publish these results shortly on The MASIE Center website. Thanks for your participation! Yours in learning, Elliott Masiehttp://www.masie.com

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 1, 2015.#887 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.57,010 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.Host: Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4 - 1,009 Colleagues Now Registered! 1. Back to School Thoughts on Sept. 1?2. Maestro & Orchestra in Audience - Dynamics and Leadership.3. 1,000th Learning Colleague Registers for Learning 2015. 1. Back to School Thoughts on Sept. 1?  I get a familiar feeling every year as September 1 approaches. My brain kicks into "Back to School" mode. Confession: as a kid, I was one of the students that LOVED to go back to school. While summer vacation was great, the upcoming start of school was marked with several key rituals, some of which I find myself still doing around this date: * New School Supplies: My mom would take me to buy a few new school supplies. I still find myself going to the store and buying one or two new notebooks and even thinking about getting a brightly colored pencil holder.* Reinforcements for Loose Leaf Paper: OK, I will date myself here. I would spend several hours sticking round plastic reinforcements around the holes on my loose leaf paper. (For my younger colleagues, here is a picture of one: http://tinyurl.com/oqp5ws5)* Read Ahead to Be Ready: I would find out the name of one of the books that we would be reading in school and check it out at the library. I still do that when I take a new course.* Practice Day 1 Show and Tell: I got my start as a public speaker with Show and Tell at school. On the first day, we would be asked to stand up and share 2 minutes on "What I Did on My Summer Vacation". I would practice and come in with a few artifacts to share. I even organized a few of my friends to practice our Day 1 talks at home the night before.* Questions Galore: I would keep a list of questions that I had about everything and I would bring them to school, much to the delight or horror of that year’s teacher. In a nutshell, my year started on September 1st. I still love to get wall calendars that go from September to September. And, I find that many of my learning colleagues view the true and personal start of the year as aligning with the Start of School. More classes and learning programs are rolled out after September 1st and we often say, "let’s get back to that after Labor Day".  There is a refreshing sense of starting anew this time of year and, as I write this, I am planning my trip to the store to get some "reinforcements". Would love to hear from others that are in Back to School mode: emasie@masie.com 2. Maestro & Orchestra in Audience - Dynamics and Leadership: Imagine a symphony orchestra embedded in the audience and playing their instruments.  Imagine sitting around the musicians and the conductor, seeing the dynamics of the music and orchestra in action. We are honored to announce that Maestro Roger Nierenberg will host the Music Paradigm experience at Learning 2015.  On Monday afternoon’s Learning 2015 General Session, you will have a very unique, powerful experience, focusing on organizational dynamics, leadership and the role of "performance". We are honored to present Maestro Roger Nierenberg’s Music Paradigm.  The Learning 2015 participants will be seated within a live professional orchestra where they can observe highly trained musicians as they perform. The participants’ attention will be drawn to fascinating and unexpected organizational dynamics within the orchestra. Maestro will be our teacher, conductor, coach and facilitator as the room fills with music and learnings about the dynamics of organizations and leadership. Details at: http://www.learning2015.com/index.php/item/maestro-roger-neir.html 3. 1,000th Learning Colleague Registers for Learning 2015: We just took the 1,000th registration for Learning 2015 (Nov 1 to 4, Orlando, FL, USA).  We are delighted that Bee Ng, Vice President, Tech L&D with Visa, Inc from California is participant #1,000 this year. I look forward to greeting Bee with a special surprise gift when she arrives in Orlando this fall! Yours in learning, Elliott MasieHost, Learning 2015 MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM- Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4th - Orlando, Florida. Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie  

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 8, 2015.#888 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.57,025 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.Host: Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4 - 1,097 Colleagues Now Registered! 1. Letter to Your Boss - From Elliott Masie.2. Curating Clips from Webinars.3. Moonshine Cate - A First Race Experience. 1. Letter to Your Boss - From Elliott Masie: I just finished writing my annual Letter to Your Boss, asking your manager for support to have you and your colleagues attend Learning 2015 (Nov 1st to 4th, Orlando). Gaining approval for attending a conference often involves educating your management about your need as a learning professional to be a learner, too!  The letter, which was downloaded last year by over 1,400 colleagues, is meant to spur a conversation about our development as learning colleagues. Access the note at: http://tinyurl.com/lettertonboss 2. Curating Clips from Webinars: One of the great hopes (and often disappointments) is that learners will go back and stream a stored webinar. Many times, our schedules make it impossible to attend an hour-long session or class. The the ease of recording, storing and streaming these sessions raises great hope for re-use. But, the numbers are startling. Very few learners, even with the best of intentions, actually access and view an entire session. One hour (the default length of most webinars) is too long for many and there is often a lack of desire to view the entire session. Part of the answer is to Curate smaller clips from a webinar - often as short as 3 to 5 minutes - on a specific issue or topic. Offer the learners options: * The ability to view individual clips - indicating the content (in detail) and time length. Give them the ability to view them in sequence or jump around.* The ability to watch the entire webinar in sequence.* Add chapter tabs to the captured video - marking each segment accordingly. These choices will take some time and skill in video curation, but will be much appreciated by your learners.  And, watch the consumption pattern of the clips, which can help you refine and reshape future production.  I would even suggest adding a rating for the clips, based on their frequency of use.  Finally, add a second or two between topics or questions to make the curation process easier. 3. Moonshine Cate - A First Race Experience: MASIE Stable had a horse with her first race on Labor Day, the last day of the Saratoga Meet. Her name is Moonshine Cate and she was bred from our mare Miss Matzo. Moonshine Cate is 2 years old and, as with any new learner, experience and practice is key. After many months of daily exercise, running and practice, her first race was Monday. It was a delight to watch her race 6 1/2 furlongs - halfway around the grass track. For the first 1/2 of the race, she was in last place. According to the jockey, she was having a great time. "She was running on grass, which was new. She was loving the nice air and the feel of running behind some cool horses." But, as she turned the corner for the last half, the jockey said she figured out the game was to get to the front. She suddenly raced faster, passing horse 6 horses, and came in 4th (almost 3rd). The track timer said she ran the fastest of all the horses for the last half, and she came out happy and proud. The vet said she was sound, healthy and ready to race again (at a longer pace) soon in Belmont. As an owner and designer, it is fascinating to watch the developmental cycle of the horse. If you want to see a video, Moonshine Cate is horse #2 with the jockey wearing The MASIE Stable colors - in pink with the outline of a house. Enjoy it at: http://tinyurl.com/moonshinecate2 Yours in learning, Elliott MasieHost, Learning 2015Email: emasie@masie.comTwitter: emasie MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM- Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4th - Orlando, Florida. Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com  

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 16, 2015.#889 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.57,032 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.Host: Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4 - 1,237 Colleagues Now Registered! Special Note: The complete Learning 2015 Program Guide is now online for viewing, printing or downloading. There are over 200 learning activities, sessions and conversations described in the 120 page Program Guide. Learning 2015 Program Guide:http://www.learning2015.com/guide  . Learning 2015 will take place from Nov 1 to 4 in Orlando, Florida - with Steve Wozniak and Sal Khan as Featured Keynoters. Yours in learning, Elliott MasieHost, Learning 2015Email: emasie@masie.comTwitter: emasie MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM- Learning 2015 - Nov 1 to 4th - Orlando, Florida. Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com