Social Learning Systems

Marc My Words: Back to Basics – When Training Is Not the Answer by Marc J. Rosenberg : Learning Solutions Magazine

 Fourteen reasons why people don’t perform, and what you might be able to do about it.

Read the entire article here.

via www.learningsolutionsmag.com

Marc My Words: Back to Basics – When Training Is the Answer by Marc J. Rosenberg : Learning Solutions Magazine

To be sure, learning is more complex than I can discuss here. But, assuming we’ve done our due-diligence to confirm that a learning strategy is appropriate, and assuring that the training will work whether we are developing a classroom course (including virtual classrooms) or an online (eLearning) program requires, at a minimum, that we make sure it reflects eight fundamental characteristics:

1. The right content — Of course, this is a primary concern. But the right content for the instructor or the training department may not be the right content for the learner or the sponsoring organization. Content should be more than just accurate; learners should see it as relevant and authentic as well. Take the time to find out exactly what you need to teach; no more and no less. Learners usually perceive courses that get the content wrong to be a waste of time.
   
   Read the full article here.

via www.learningsolutionsmag.com

Beginning Instructional Authoring: Why C.R.A.P. Is Exactly What's Needed (Part 1) by Patti Shank : Learning Solutions Magazine

A lot of eLearning would look better if it looked like C.R.A.P. Really. No, I’m not making a scatological reference – I mean the four overarching principles of visual design: Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, and Proximity.

People form opinions about what they see very quickly, and that goes for eLearning visual design as well. If your eLearning looks like something that belongs on a pathology slide, consider using the C.R.A.P. principles to help learners form a better opinion of your eLearning.

Robin Williams described these four visual design principles in her terrific book, The Non-Designer’s Design Book. After discussing alignment in last month’s article, I received a few e-mails asking me to explain these principles and how they relate to eLearning screens. Yep, I can take direction, and that’s a good idea.

Read the entire article here.

via www.learningsolutionsmag.com

Don’t you hope your surgeon had real-world training?: Instructional Design and eLearning: Tips, Advice and Reviews

When your airplane is about to take off or when a dentist’s drill is aimed at your mouth, don’t you truly hope the pilot or dentist had training that transfers to the real world? With that same passion, we should try to ensure the training we design and develop is transferable to the real world.

Learning transfer refers to acquiring knowledge or skills in one context that enhances a person’s performance in another context. This is known as positive transfer.

Read the entire article here.

via theelearningcoach.com

Evidence-Based Training: Debunking the Myth of Learning Styles « Workplace Psychology

In “Evidence-Based Training Methods: A Guide for Training Professionals,” Ruth Clark (2010) states that one of the biggest myths perpetuated by training professionals is accommodating different learning styles.

“The learning style myth leads to some very unproductive training approaches that are counter to modern evidence of what works…The time and energy spent perpetuating the various learning style myths can be more wisely invested in supporting individual differences that are proven to make a difference—namely, prior knowledge of the learner.” (Clark, 2010, p. 10)

Read more of this review of Ruth Clark's book here.

Clark, R.C. (2010). Evidence-Based Training Methods: A Guide for Training Professionals. Alexandria, VA: ASTD Press.

via workplacepsychology.net

Training Secrets From Inside The Googleplex | Fast Company

Anyone who’s tried to keep up with the online ad business, especially lately, knows it’s a turbulent tumble of ever-changing products--search, display, video, mobile--with vastly different sets of advantages and potential payoffs. So imagine being one of the poor Google sales agents tasked with keeping up with the company’s dozens of offerings.

Its thousands of agents don’t have to master one or two products, but every single one. That’s why the company has tossed out the old-school, classroom-style of teaching.

Every other Friday, the company hosts a “Product Spotlight,” a dial-in conference call which Learning and Development Manager Debbie Newhouse tells Fast Company is run like a Jon Stewart-style “talk show" (well, minus any adult toy-themed spinning wheels). A moderator interviews a product manager about a particular new feature, as sales agents across the country, and around the world, listen in. Sometimes there are also slides or video to follow along with online, and the agents get to ask questions via chat. Maybe it's more like Leno.

Read the complete article here.

via www.fastcompany.com

The Client Knows Best - Chief Learning Officer, Solutions for Enterprise Productivity

Increasingly, IBM is leveraging social learning to meet this first element of learning strategy. Rather than develop centrally related content, experts throughout the company find, build, publish, share and comment on assets to enhance skills development and productivity. IBM has created tools such as online learning communities and socially generated tags on key knowledge assets to make relevant knowledge more searchable.

Read the complete article here.

via clomedia.com

Advice from the Virtual Trenches | trainingmag.com

Great tips for virtual presenters from Training Magazine

Take the phones/microphones off of "MUTE," especially when learners are paying for the class. Learners, by and large, want to be actively engaged in the learning process. If you are going to mute them, just e-mail a URL to the recording--I promise they won't watch it.

Focus on the chat and feedback indicators (hand raises, emoticons, etc.). Ignore them once, just once, and learners will probably ignore you for the rest of the session--AND share their feelings with everyone else in the class. Remember, learners have e-mail, private chat, Skype, and Twitter to come up and slap you around (even DURING the session)--without you seeing it coming.

Eliminate your verbal crutches. (Cool, gotcha, you know, umm, aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh). They make you sound less intelligent than you probably are.

via www.trainingmag.com

Read the entire article here.

Yes, The Khan Academy IS the Future of Education (video) | Singularity Hub

I’m just going to come out and say it: the Khan Academy is the best thing that has happened to education since Socrates. The brainchild of Salman Khan, the Khan Academy became famous by teaching simple math lessons for free through over 2000 YouTube videos. Now, after millions in donations and an expansion of the company, the academy is so much more. The website for the Khan Academy already had exercises you could use to test your understanding of the videos you just watched, but in the past few weeks the website has exploded with wonderful new features. You can create a profile for the site simply by logging in through Google or Facebook. You can track your progress with some wonderful metrics. Teachers (or ‘coaches’) can monitor student progress in groups. Students can earn badges to keep them interested. The list goes on and on and it’s all free. Free, I tell you!

Read the entire article here.

via singularityhub.com

2010 in Review Part 2: My 10 favourite resources in 2010

AND here is Part 2 from Jane Hart.

In this the second part of my Review of 2010 I am going to present my 10 favourite resources that I have posted on my Pick of the Day (JPOD) and Social Media for Working and Learning (SMWL) blogs this year. 

It was a difficult choice, but here they are in chronological order of posting. Follow the links to the original postings to find out more.

Read the full article here.

 

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via janeknight.typepad.com