This post continues my commentary to the Learning Insights 2012 Report produced by Kineo for e.learning age magazine. The fifth of ten 'insights' is that ‘E-learning design is changing'. For at least ten years I have been trying to broaden the use of the term 'e-learning' to include any use of technology to assist the process of learning, whether that's synchronous or asynchronous, interactive or linear, collaborative or self-study. have now just about given up on this. I'm beginning to accept this narrow definition and use the term 'learning technologies' for the broader perspective. insight MORE >>

I went into Starbucks this morning. It was packed, yet all the drink orders came out correct; a really low error rate. On each cup is a simple checklist job aid, completed when the order is made that tells the barista how to make the drink. Performance support. had always been confounded when completing my tax retun. But now, Turbo Tax hides the complexity and, after asking me a variety of simple questions, a miracle (at least to me) happens: my tax return comes out of my printer without me having to know anything about the pretzel logic of the tax code. Performance support again MORE >>

I’ve read some really fantastic books and some not-so-wonderful books. When it comes to e-learning, Dr. Susan Weinschenk has put together a fantastic list of 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People. She’s combined the industry research on how people learn with her personal experiences to create a book that’s easy to follow, and easy to pick up and put down as needed. Here are a few of the things that I found most useful to e-learning developers. People can Miss Changes in Their Visual Fields. Take a moment to watch it. Did you? People Have to Use Information to Make it Stick. MORE >>

As mentioned in a previous blog post , I recently attended Day 1 of a 2-day Virtual Learning Show. thought I’d take the opportunity to post some reflections on Day 1 and in particular each session, with a particular focus on: A key ‘take-away’ from the sessions content itself. The way in which it was facilitated (in part or in whole) with a view to what can I re-use/build upon for myself. Overall view on undertaking essentially a day’s worth of webinar/virtual classrooms. Keynote:  Presented by Colin Steed. 10.30 – 11.00 GMT (UK time). My key content take-away. MORE >>

Open Learning Design Studio , a free and open course on learning design (how learning can be designed, how a curriculum can be build.)! That is something I cannot resist. Admittedly, the organizers are still getting all the locations and spaces ready, but there is a lot to be seen already. Starting on 10 January 2013 (and lasts for 9 weeks, clocking off on 13 March 2013) a set of UK based learning institutes are rolling out a MOOC on learning design. Although the course is free, you do need to register. and I can just relax and learn, not having to worry about anything else. MORE >>