Many of the typical methods of learning in the workplace make the learner a passive recipient of knowledge and skills. Employees are asked to read, watch, or listen to information being dispensed. The method might be entertaining, interactive, and of their own choosing, but fundamentally these methods are passive for the learner. Another approach is to make the learner an active creator of knowledge and skills. Jane Hart has provided us with an excellent list of “passive” ways in which people learn in their workplaces. She includes: Company training  (face-to-face workshops and e-learning). MORE >>

We need to examine the proliferation of Web-based education before it gets out of hand (It may be too late.). Online college courses are being promoted as the panacea for producing more college graduates and strengthening the workforce. The Obama administration has been touting the educational value of online courses since coming into office over three years ago, and many colleges, especially community colleges, have adopted that mantra. Many companies are also convinced that “elearning” is the answer to their employee training and development needs. Nobody wants to be left behind. MORE >>

As we come out of the recession and companies prepare for hiring and growth, the level of trust in a company’s culture will have a lot to say about whether that organization will be successful or not. Without trust, employees become what Judy Bardwick, in her article titled "The High Cost of Mistrust," calls actively disengaged. She writes:  The absence of trust is not simply passive—that something is missing. Instead, in the vacuum of trust, mistrust rushes in and fills the void. Mistrust is dangerous and expensive. It means people expect the worst and behave in line with that. MORE >>

Recently, I was asked a very thought-provoking question by the director of HRD for a large organization. was explaining the “5As Framework” to her and she asked, “What are the implications for what we do here?” I immediately launched into my usual speech about getting managers of learners involved in actively supporting the learning process. This led to a discussion of all the excuses she hears from managers to explain their lack of involvement in employee learning. have no doubt that her department delivers excellent, world-class courses and programs. What do you think? MORE >>

Having viewed many TED presentations, I had the mistaken belief that leaders were finally learning how to use PowerPoint (and other presentation tools) effectively. Recently, however, I’ve attended presentations by very smart people (doctors, lawyers, CPAs, professors, etc.), who are leaders in their organizations, who insist on putting as many words and numbers on a slide as possible. Because I want to hear what they have to say, I don’t read the slides. And, besides, I can’t read and understand that fast. It would be better if they didn’t use PowerPoint at all. Use very little text. MORE >>