Living in Learning

JANUARY 3, 2011

the role of ISD is not diminishing; it is expanding. It has to. Traditions of learning in a linear manner are not disappearing; but they are becoming secondary. To some who read this, I can see them taking that last statement as a downgrade in importance. Before any ISDs get all raked up in pile, consider this – the role of the ISD is more important than ever.

Instructional Design 150

Instructional Design Agile Roles Change 150

Living in Learning

AUGUST 14, 2011

When we strip away products & services and the marketing glitz & glitter, what is left that sustains [or not] the viability of a business? My vote goes to – the workforce. Even if we do not strip these things away, I still feel strongly that the workforce is at the root of a successful sustainable business. Obviously, there are other external factors like the state of the economy, cost and availability of money, and other environmental drivers and restrainers, but even including them, th

Cost 145

Cost Learning Services Market 145

Living in Learning

JANUARY 4, 2011

EPSS is a proven shortcut to productivity and shorter path to competency. It requires a willingness to turn loose of some training traditions and embedded expectations that are rapidly losing the race with the velocity of business. Moments of learning need are converging with the need for flawless performance and that convergence is happening in the work context – not the classroom and not on-line with e-learning.

Change 145

Change Performance Support Classroom Integrate 145

Living in Learning

SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

The first step out onto the steel cable came with almost no hesitation. The safety harness ensured that I would only plunge about three-feet of the fifty or so I hung above terra firma. The exposed rocks that appeared below me added more weight than I reckoned the safety harness would support. I resolved to never take another glance south of my position on what started to look like an endless shuffle to the next tree and the security of a solid looking wooden platform.

Security 140

Security Track Platform Support 140

Living in Learning

APRIL 1, 2011

Pure and simple, learning at the “edge” is a Performer Support (PS) intervention. What baffles some is that they treat PS as something that happens after training, when in fact, PS serves as a foundation upon which we design and develop formal training assets. The baffling part of that approach is that we cannot base PS on linear design conventions.

Micro-Learning 140

Micro-Learning System Performance Support Methods 140

Living in Learning

MARCH 4, 2011

I fell into a discussion on the Chief Learning Officer network early this morning that asked, “What is the most effective governance model?” The second part of the question was, “How do you ensure the governance meets your performance objectives?” Having been up to my hocks in forming and storming through the birthing pains of several governance efforts, I had to shake off the tremors before I could offer a suggestion.

Network 140

Network Discussion Performance Effectiveness 140

Living in Learning

MARCH 3, 2011

I have been writing for months on the topic of “convergence”, often referring to it as an impending collision between two business-critical moments – learning need and flawless human performance in the work context. My unwavering position on this says that Training [the department] should have a role…make that a KEY role…in either preventing the collision, or instead, choosing to enable it as a seamless integration.

Business 140

Business Training Train Performance Support 140

Living in Learning

JANUARY 13, 2011

What rules are changing in your world. Velocity of work demand is rapidly increasing. The need to perform flawlessly is converging with the need to learn just-in-time. Traditions we hold dear are no longer able to keep pace. What are you doing in your training organization to keep pace?

Change 140

Change Games Business Training 140

Living in Learning

JANUARY 12, 2011

As we ring in the New Year and consider all the resolutions we made, there comes the question, “Which ones are we going to keep, and which ones are we going to cheat on a little here and there?” If diet was in your top three, and it was in mine, I must confess to cheating…and only a few weeks of the year have barely passed. Why diet? For many of us, we attempt to shed extra pounds that slow us down, to fit into the clothes we received as holiday gifts, and ultimately, to avoid adverse impacts to

Training 140

Training Train Knowledge Business 140

Living in Learning

JANUARY 15, 2011

This return on investment (ROI) thing is getting out of hand. There is no question that valid ROI is invaluable in justifying the decision to make [or not] key investments. I have to ask, “So what is actionable about ROI after justifying/verifying an investment decision?” To get there, we seek event-specific evidence to confirm good or bad investment decisions; I cannot see anything else actionable.

ROI 138

ROI Exercise Reference Create 138

Living in Learning

DECEMBER 16, 2011

Having been a Sales Trainer, Sales Training Manager, and Director Sale Training in a couple of previous lives, I nearly jumped out of my chair when I read a blog post by a new networking contact, David Brock. Dave authors a blog, Partners in Excellence, and his post of December 7th “Let’s Put an End to Product Training” triggered a wee bit of a dance…not really, but I did unleash a couple mental fist-pumps.

Productivity 133

Productivity Product Training Train 133

Living in Learning

DECEMBER 9, 2011

C-suite's addiction leads to relentless pursuit of ROI. There's a headline for you! I recognize this affliction is common these days and any attempts to pry fingers off traditions are often seen as more of an assault than an effort to evolve beyond current paradigms. Methinks we ultimately must drive transformational change in the perceived role Training & Development (T&D) plays in the organization.

ROI 133

ROI Agile Suite Roles 133

Living in Learning

OCTOBER 25, 2011

Who among us have resisted the urge to pass a finger through the flame of a candle? I certainly recall warnings that fire equals hot equals burn equals pain. Were you warned? I am sure you were, and yet, we all had to learn what hot meant by taking the risk, ignoring the sincere warning of one who had already made that same mistake. Is that a weakness?

Social Networks 133

Social Networks LinkedIn Learning 133

Living in Learning

JUNE 27, 2011

I believe we [as training professionals] are still looking under the wrong rock for making sustainable impact in our businesses. In many cases, introducing technology, e-learning and rapid development of same has more often than not accomplished one thing – the rendering of crappy training faster and making it much more accessible with million-dollar LMS technology.

Learning 133

Learning LMS Technology Business 133

Living in Learning

JANUARY 15, 2011

This return on investment (ROI) thing is getting out of hand. There is no question that valid ROI is invaluable in justifying the decision to make [or not] key investments. I have to ask, “So what is actionable about ROI after justifying/verifying an investment decision?” To get there, we seek event-specific evidence to confirm good or bad investment decisions; I cannot see anything else actionable.

ROI 124

ROI Exercise Reference Create 124

Living in Learning

DECEMBER 16, 2011

Having been a Sales Trainer, Sales Training Manager, and Director Sale Training in a couple of previous lives, I nearly jumped out of my chair when I read a blog post by a new networking contact, David Brock. Dave authors a blog, Partners in Excellence, and his post of December 7th “Let’s Put an End to Product Training” triggered a wee bit of a dance…not really, but I did unleash a couple mental fist-pumps.

Productivity 113

Productivity Product Training Train 113

Living in Learning

OCTOBER 21, 2011

Is learning always about improving one's self? On the windward side of 50 years of age, I would argue it's not.and.I would argue it is never too late to learn. This post is the first in a new section of Living in Learning. It is dedicated to Learning About Living. For our teenagers' sake, some of us may have almost as much to learn as they do about living.

Learning 113

Learning Social Networks LinkedIn 113

Living in Learning

AUGUST 14, 2011

When we strip away products & services and the marketing glitz & glitter, what is left that sustains [or not] the viability of a business? My vote goes to – the workforce. Even if we do not strip these things away, I still feel strongly that the workforce is at the root of a successful sustainable business. Obviously, there are other external factors like the state of the economy, cost and availability of money, and other environmental drivers and restrainers, but even including them, th

Cost 113

Cost Learning Services Market 113

Living in Learning

JULY 20, 2011

To some, the words “learning ecosystem” may smack of jargon, or at a minimum, offer a veiled attempt to spin an old tale by attaching a new title. Not so. Google “learning ecosystems” and prepare to wade through over 12 million returns. Funny thing – I Googled that phrase a few years ago and found only a fraction of what is there today. The “learning ecosystem” concept is a new reality in corporate America, and in this new reality, we must consider the shrinking role Training plays.

Assessment 113

Assessment Google Learning Roles 113

Living in Learning

JUNE 7, 2011

Craig Bunyea has been nominated as Best eLearning Developer in theMaestroeLearningAwards [[link] dubbed the OSCARS of the eLearning industry. What follows is an interview between Craig and the award’s organizers,MaestroeLearning [[link].

Course 113

Course Best eLearning eLearning Developer eLearning 113

Living in Learning

DECEMBER 16, 2011

Having been a Sales Trainer, Sales Training Manager, and Director Sale Training in a couple of previous lives, I nearly jumped out of my chair when I read a blog post by a new networking contact, David Brock. Dave authors a blog, Partners in Excellence, and his post of December 7th “Let’s Put an End to Product Training” triggered a wee bit of a dance…not really, but I did unleash a couple mental fist-pumps.

Productivity 100

Productivity Product Training Train 100

Living in Learning

DECEMBER 13, 2011

The original question… “What Kind of Learning Is Best Suited to Mobile Technology? …surfaced yesterday in a networking group and included three different learning contexts: – Acquisition of learning – Retention of learning – Application of learning The first thing that popped into my head was… "Yeah, all three are a good fit!" Then the consultant in me kicked in and the answer morphed to what we are all trained to give… “It depends.

Suite 100

Suite Mobile Technology Consulting 100

Living in Learning

DECEMBER 9, 2011

C-suite's addiction leads to relentless pursuit of ROI. There's a headline for you! I recognize this affliction is common these days and any attempts to pry fingers off traditions are often seen as more of an assault than an effort to evolve beyond current paradigms. Methinks we ultimately must drive transformational change in the perceived role Training & Development (T&D) plays in the organization.

ROI 100

ROI Agile Suite Roles 100

Living in Learning

NOVEMBER 23, 2011

If we seek sustained capability in our workforce - If we seek to inject learning agility into the work environment - Do we rely upon instructional design (ISD) best practices or do we focus on architecting learning solutions? I'm convinced the answer is, "Yes, and." This short piece addresses a few key reasons why even the best ISD practices will fall short if we are seeking tangible business results that manifest beyond solid level 1 & 2 evaluations.

Instructional Design 100

Instructional Design Instructional Instruction Design 100

Living in Learning

OCTOBER 27, 2011

Reflecting on this choice of title, I can imagine some rather extreme images springing forth in the minds of long-time sales training purists. I say this with confidence because the topic of facilitating learning at the edges of the ecosystem has freaked out both platform trainers and instructional design professionals before. Yeah, and yours truly was that source of disruption – and more than once.

Sales 100

Sales Training Train Instructional Design 100

Living in Learning

OCTOBER 25, 2011

Who among us have resisted the urge to pass a finger through the flame of a candle? I certainly recall warnings that fire equals hot equals burn equals pain. Were you warned? I am sure you were, and yet, we all had to learn what hot meant by taking the risk, ignoring the sincere warning of one who had already made that same mistake. Is that a weakness?

Social Networks 100

Social Networks LinkedIn Learning 100

Living in Learning

OCTOBER 21, 2011

Is learning always about improving one's self? On the windward side of 50 years of age, I would argue it's not.and.I would argue it is never too late to learn. This post is the first in a new section of Living in Learning. It is dedicated to Learning About Living. For our teenagers' sake, some of us may have almost as much to learn as they do about living.

Learning 100

Learning Social Networks LinkedIn 100

Living in Learning

JULY 20, 2011

To some, the words “learning ecosystem” may smack of jargon, or at a minimum, offer a veiled attempt to spin an old tale by attaching a new title. Not so. Google “learning ecosystems” and prepare to wade through over 12 million returns. Funny thing – I Googled that phrase a few years ago and found only a fraction of what is there today. The “learning ecosystem” concept is a new reality in corporate America, and in this new reality, we must consider the shrinking role Training plays.

Google 100

Google Learning Roles Training 100

Living in Learning

JUNE 27, 2011

I believe we [as training professionals] are still looking under the wrong rock for making sustainable impact in our businesses. In many cases, introducing technology, e-learning and rapid development of same has more often than not accomplished one thing – the rendering of crappy training faster and making it much more accessible with million-dollar LMS technology.

Learning 100

Learning LMS Technology Business 100