I've convinced my Director that we need to dedicate some of my time to be more concentrated soley on the LMS implementation and development. Now that the big projects for the year have either happened or are well under way, my time now is a little more free for flexibility.
The question came up though, once we do decide how much time to dedicate, what do we take away to release some time. So I was asked, "What does my day consist of?" Ever try to answer a question like that when you have a job that would give most butterflies a nervous breakdown. My work day consists of 3 minutes on this task, 2 on this one, 10 on this one, 3 on this one....etc, etc, etc. I don't really remember ever in 8 years having a solid half day, let alone hour to work on something. It just never seems to be that way.
So today I found a simple online timer that I am using to track my tasks. I'm using Work Timer. It has the ability for me to create multiple projects and clock in and out for each of them. There is then an archive button that will record all the in's and out's for a day for the various projects. There is also a task's lists and Today's Projects functions as well. All items can have a cost per hour calculated for them as well.
Here's an example of a piece of my day:
Intranet maintenance -> 0:29:10
Helping with excel, -> 0:24:05
Misc Brenda help -> 0:14:09
Answering phone call -> 0:06:44
AV Trouble Shooting -> 0:02:19
Answering Emails -> 0:02:01
Misc. Walk Ins -> 0:01:16
It's a neat tool for a very nasty task - the dreaded time tracking.
Tuesday, 29 April 2008
Monday, 28 April 2008
Understanding Generational Differences
I attended a session today on understanding our own generational biases and in turn being able to better relate to working and integrating with other generations. Here are some of the notes I took today.
There are often 5-6 different generations working in any given environment. By the time many of us (30s-40s years old) retire there will be 7 generations.
You can never change your generation, but understanding yours can help you to communicate with the others.
Boomers came to be 9mths after WW2, some say a year after.
- changed health care
- maternity wards needed to be created
- then school systems were changed to cope with the number of children
- universities were created when they were ready to go to grad school
- jobs were created when they were ready to work
- RRSPs are being restructured for when they want to retire
* everything has always been there for them waiting so they expect the world to unfold for them
1 person turns 60 every 7 seconds
Trailing boomers came after wards (got mostly nothing)
Gen X & Y as big as Boomers group
Gen I or Z as big if not bigger than Boomers
2 largest issues always in politics - health care and education
now environmental is eclipsing as top issue because of Gen X, Nexus
185,000 Centenarians in the world - most women
by 2020 there will be 2.2 million - 1/3 will be men - W.H.O stats
Soviet Union has a stat holiday called Conception Day to improve fertility rates - but we are only 7 months out from this initiative
Some see 20 somethings as cocky and arrogant, this is often because they have been a generation that is over praised by parents
Each generation thinks it is the best and knows more than the previous. They also assume the next generation will want to be just like them.
Deloitte is marketing for Gen I's using the new "txt language", ie: Dbriefs U - new tax course at university - making it fun and exciting,
-even marketing to younger generations by having pre-college outreach programs to grades 6 and 7
Most US research is say that Boombers are staying in the work force longer to pay for incurred health care costs or expected costs.
Canada's average age to retire 58-63.
People who use their bodies constantly more like 55-58.
Women are retiring in huge numbers and earlier then men. Many women Boomers are married to men 3 years older. As the man retires at 63, the women is retiring at 60.
Women tend to work longer because it took longer to get their careers started. They also often took 10 years off for raising children and now need to earn back pension money.
30 years and under we need to take great care of because they are the ones to replace our Boomers.
40s are over worked, over looked, ignored, stretched thin and disgruntle.
They continue to work because they were taught "hard work gets you ahead, don't get ahead, work harder, still don't get ahead, work longer".
Generations can be grouped together by those things that bond them, parenting styles, historic moments, pop culture, mass media, and technological advances.
50s+ think younger generations have not respect, not on time, argue, talk back
30s- think they get no respect, bosses don't think they have a life outside of work, think you need to earn your title every day, you don't get respect just because you have a title
US Canada Age
Traditionalists Traditionalists 60s
Boomers Boomers 50s
Trailing Boomers 40s
X Nexus, X 30s
Y, Millennials Y, Millennials, Net, Velos 20s
Z I 10 - late teens
? Wee under 10
X's are adaptive to change and have had to be. They have grown up with 50% their families ending in divorce. They saw that no work was gender specific (laundry, lawn cutting). They lived through co-parenting. Were often the Latch-Key kids. One consistent was always friends. They spent lots of time communicating with their friends by phone because they were latch-key kids (come home, use key, get dinner ready, have no friends over, wait for parent to come home). They are often more comfortable communicating by phone or email (not face to face). We then tried to through them into work environments full of team work and they have grown up more being alone then in groups.
Boomers often came home and then were sent out to play until dark came. They learned to negotiate with one another, life isn't fair, we settle our own differences, more self-sufficient.
Y - some times refer ed to as "why" because people stereotype that they ask this.
Feel they are all unique, all individuals, fast, adaptive, smart.
Velos - they grew up in classes with many different ethnicity in them and often take the best word from many different languages to come up with the word that suits them best. This comes from Velocity.
Y, I, Wee are all working after school on skill development. After school programs (music, sports, etc), then dinner, then internet. We have told them to "use their words", "tell us how you feel", "don't hit". Can you imagine a Gen Y asking a Traditionalist CEO how they feel?
To understand the generations we need to understand:
-demographics (not the same N. America, S. America, to Europe)
-social, political (abundance vs scarcity)
-social and historical perspectives
-human development
(where you fit in a family of 5 siblings may determine where in a generation you feel you fall)
To understand adults we need to examine their childhoods, specifically at age 10 when our minds our at their pique.
-shared significant experiences
-parenting styles
-key messages
-cultural norms and behaviours
-trends and fads
-social values, structures
-roles, responsibilities
At 10 we:
-create filing systems for our thoughts and memories
-what you want to be develops
-more independent (wash, feed, dress your self, can have full conversations)
-important state for them to combing observations with abstract thoughts
Generation X will quit when not being treated fairly.
Generation Y will quite when friends, family, clients, vendors are not treated fairly. Often work in groups and if one quits they all will.
Phrases to Sum up:
in the.....
50s - save now, pay cash
60s - buy now, pay later
70s - spend cautiously, save for retirement
80s - buy now, pay much later, recycle, reduce, reuse
90s - spend fast, spend lots
2000s - first to see stress management introduced in schools (kindergarten deep breathing exercises), info overload, global knowledge, "war against everything" - don't' think this will have big impact though, will be more tolerant of difference (culturally)
Gen I - won't trust big companies, only buy local, eat local (ie: because of toxins in foreign goods, toys, etc.) Will be large germaphobes.
notes taken during a presentation by worklifeharmony.ca
There are often 5-6 different generations working in any given environment. By the time many of us (30s-40s years old) retire there will be 7 generations.
You can never change your generation, but understanding yours can help you to communicate with the others.
Boomers came to be 9mths after WW2, some say a year after.
- changed health care
- maternity wards needed to be created
- then school systems were changed to cope with the number of children
- universities were created when they were ready to go to grad school
- jobs were created when they were ready to work
- RRSPs are being restructured for when they want to retire
* everything has always been there for them waiting so they expect the world to unfold for them
1 person turns 60 every 7 seconds
Trailing boomers came after wards (got mostly nothing)
Gen X & Y as big as Boomers group
Gen I or Z as big if not bigger than Boomers
2 largest issues always in politics - health care and education
now environmental is eclipsing as top issue because of Gen X, Nexus
185,000 Centenarians in the world - most women
by 2020 there will be 2.2 million - 1/3 will be men - W.H.O stats
Soviet Union has a stat holiday called Conception Day to improve fertility rates - but we are only 7 months out from this initiative
Some see 20 somethings as cocky and arrogant, this is often because they have been a generation that is over praised by parents
Each generation thinks it is the best and knows more than the previous. They also assume the next generation will want to be just like them.
Deloitte is marketing for Gen I's using the new "txt language", ie: Dbriefs U - new tax course at university - making it fun and exciting,
-even marketing to younger generations by having pre-college outreach programs to grades 6 and 7
Most US research is say that Boombers are staying in the work force longer to pay for incurred health care costs or expected costs.
Canada's average age to retire 58-63.
People who use their bodies constantly more like 55-58.
Women are retiring in huge numbers and earlier then men. Many women Boomers are married to men 3 years older. As the man retires at 63, the women is retiring at 60.
Women tend to work longer because it took longer to get their careers started. They also often took 10 years off for raising children and now need to earn back pension money.
30 years and under we need to take great care of because they are the ones to replace our Boomers.
40s are over worked, over looked, ignored, stretched thin and disgruntle.
They continue to work because they were taught "hard work gets you ahead, don't get ahead, work harder, still don't get ahead, work longer".
Generations can be grouped together by those things that bond them, parenting styles, historic moments, pop culture, mass media, and technological advances.
50s+ think younger generations have not respect, not on time, argue, talk back
30s- think they get no respect, bosses don't think they have a life outside of work, think you need to earn your title every day, you don't get respect just because you have a title
US Canada Age
Traditionalists Traditionalists 60s
Boomers Boomers 50s
Trailing Boomers 40s
X Nexus, X 30s
Y, Millennials Y, Millennials, Net, Velos 20s
Z I 10 - late teens
? Wee under 10
X's are adaptive to change and have had to be. They have grown up with 50% their families ending in divorce. They saw that no work was gender specific (laundry, lawn cutting). They lived through co-parenting. Were often the Latch-Key kids. One consistent was always friends. They spent lots of time communicating with their friends by phone because they were latch-key kids (come home, use key, get dinner ready, have no friends over, wait for parent to come home). They are often more comfortable communicating by phone or email (not face to face). We then tried to through them into work environments full of team work and they have grown up more being alone then in groups.
Boomers often came home and then were sent out to play until dark came. They learned to negotiate with one another, life isn't fair, we settle our own differences, more self-sufficient.
Y - some times refer ed to as "why" because people stereotype that they ask this.
Feel they are all unique, all individuals, fast, adaptive, smart.
Velos - they grew up in classes with many different ethnicity in them and often take the best word from many different languages to come up with the word that suits them best. This comes from Velocity.
Y, I, Wee are all working after school on skill development. After school programs (music, sports, etc), then dinner, then internet. We have told them to "use their words", "tell us how you feel", "don't hit". Can you imagine a Gen Y asking a Traditionalist CEO how they feel?
To understand the generations we need to understand:
-demographics (not the same N. America, S. America, to Europe)
-social, political (abundance vs scarcity)
-social and historical perspectives
-human development
(where you fit in a family of 5 siblings may determine where in a generation you feel you fall)
To understand adults we need to examine their childhoods, specifically at age 10 when our minds our at their pique.
-shared significant experiences
-parenting styles
-key messages
-cultural norms and behaviours
-trends and fads
-social values, structures
-roles, responsibilities
At 10 we:
-create filing systems for our thoughts and memories
-what you want to be develops
-more independent (wash, feed, dress your self, can have full conversations)
-important state for them to combing observations with abstract thoughts
Generation X will quit when not being treated fairly.
Generation Y will quite when friends, family, clients, vendors are not treated fairly. Often work in groups and if one quits they all will.
Phrases to Sum up:
in the.....
50s - save now, pay cash
60s - buy now, pay later
70s - spend cautiously, save for retirement
80s - buy now, pay much later, recycle, reduce, reuse
90s - spend fast, spend lots
2000s - first to see stress management introduced in schools (kindergarten deep breathing exercises), info overload, global knowledge, "war against everything" - don't' think this will have big impact though, will be more tolerant of difference (culturally)
Gen I - won't trust big companies, only buy local, eat local (ie: because of toxins in foreign goods, toys, etc.) Will be large germaphobes.
notes taken during a presentation by worklifeharmony.ca
Friday, 25 April 2008
Pangea Day is 14 Days Away
I'm really excited about Panega Day which is happening on May 10th. If you haven't heard of it yet...
"Starting at 18:00 GMT on May 10, 2008, locations in Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, and Rio de Janeiro will be linked for a live program of powerful films, live music, and visionary speakers. The entire program will be broadcast
– in seven languages – to millions of people worldwide through the internet, television, and mobile phones.The 24 short films to be featured have been selected from an international competition that generated more than 2,500 submissions from over one hundred countries. The films were chosen based on their ability to inspire, transform, and allow us see the world through another person's eyes. Details on the Pangea Day films can be viewed here.
The program will also include a number of exceptional speakers and musical performers. Queen Noor of Jordan, CNN's Christiane Amanpour, musician/activist Bob Geldof, and Iranian rock phenom Hypernova are among those taking part."
Just as an update the Event Guide is now located here. I also received a link today to get a free t-shirt (+shipping) from this site. Tickets for various live events Rwanda, Brazil, India, Egypt, LA) can be found by clicking each of the links.
I signed up to host an event, however, unfortunately I don't believe I'm going to be able to pull it off. My brother is having his 30th birthday the same day. He has cerebral palsy and would not understand if I did not come to his birthday party because a world event that I also don't want to miss. However, because it means the world to him; it means the world to me. He's also been counting down the days to his birthday since December 26th - he was a little pre-occupied up until the 25th and I bet you can guess why.
At the least if I still can not find a way to attend both, I will wear my shirt proudly (I hope I get it in time) and I will advertise out to my organization to watch it on their internet, tvs, mobiles. Where ever and how ever they can. I really hope you will too.
Tuesday, 22 April 2008
Have you searched Simple Spark today?
I'm not sure how often you may have looked through this catalogue of web applications, but I think that about once a month I'm looking for something new for one project or another. Simple Spark has updated their look and features in what appears to be a great new format.
They offer over 8500 different applications that are themed by Date, Category, Subcategory, Devices and Icons. A neat feature I think is the ability to organize your favourite apps into groups as well. I've found a few I've like and then struggled to find them again (if I didn't' think to blog them). Drop by and look at some of the other new updates they have added.
They offer over 8500 different applications that are themed by Date, Category, Subcategory, Devices and Icons. A neat feature I think is the ability to organize your favourite apps into groups as well. I've found a few I've like and then struggled to find them again (if I didn't' think to blog them). Drop by and look at some of the other new updates they have added.
Monday, 21 April 2008
Second Try at Second Life
So I was convinced by my friend Angela and by a presentation that I went to by Alan Levine ("I'm busy enough...What do I need Second Life for?") that I should maybe give this Second Life thing a second chance.
I found it hysterical that Angela and Alan had both said that they love to dance in SL. Alan describe that just creating your avatar can take hours to prefect if you really want to test it all out. Creating an object like a coffee cup can apparently take just as long. A good real life reference to this is that I couldn't just go into my kitchen and make a mug. It would take me hours as well to get the clay and mold it and fire it, glaze it, etc., etc. So why would we expect it to take minutes in SL.
One of the issues I had mentioned to Angela and in a previous post was my propensity to get motion sick when game screen spin around a lot. After the presentation and the fun notion of dancing when no one is looking or when I don't have that half-a-drink too many in me, made it all sound a little more intriguing. So I've given it another try and I hope to Angela's much happiness I capture myself dancing. I have no idea where I (Sessifet Fittinger) am, but I figured out how to do it.
I'm not completely happy yet with my appearance, but it's getting there, and no it's not the pink hair I'm unhappy about. It's the silly flip-flops.
I am hoping to walk around more and explore some of the more intriguing learning aspects that Second Life has to offer. However, for my first trip of Orientation Island I'm happy to wander and dance.
I found it hysterical that Angela and Alan had both said that they love to dance in SL. Alan describe that just creating your avatar can take hours to prefect if you really want to test it all out. Creating an object like a coffee cup can apparently take just as long. A good real life reference to this is that I couldn't just go into my kitchen and make a mug. It would take me hours as well to get the clay and mold it and fire it, glaze it, etc., etc. So why would we expect it to take minutes in SL.
One of the issues I had mentioned to Angela and in a previous post was my propensity to get motion sick when game screen spin around a lot. After the presentation and the fun notion of dancing when no one is looking or when I don't have that half-a-drink too many in me, made it all sound a little more intriguing. So I've given it another try and I hope to Angela's much happiness I capture myself dancing. I have no idea where I (Sessifet Fittinger) am, but I figured out how to do it.
I'm not completely happy yet with my appearance, but it's getting there, and no it's not the pink hair I'm unhappy about. It's the silly flip-flops.
I am hoping to walk around more and explore some of the more intriguing learning aspects that Second Life has to offer. However, for my first trip of Orientation Island I'm happy to wander and dance.
Friday, 18 April 2008
One year later and I'm at 275 posts...oh this makes it 276
I was really hoping that by the end of the AG08 I would be at 275 posts and this I achieved. I started blogging when I returned from last year's conference (my first) and since then I've tried to keep most of my posts about elearning. Occasionally I throw in some items that are just interesting to me that I've read about or learned.
I tried to make a "cloud" for what I've posted about over the last year, but the various ones I tried were really messy. So, tip for me to learn from and try for in the next year - be more concise in my tagging. I'm at the airport, passing time, and my battery is about to die so I'll leave this as my last post of year 1.
I tried to make a "cloud" for what I've posted about over the last year, but the various ones I tried were really messy. So, tip for me to learn from and try for in the next year - be more concise in my tagging. I'm at the airport, passing time, and my battery is about to die so I'll leave this as my last post of year 1.
Thursday, 17 April 2008
AGO8 - Wrap UP (Wow Moments, and more)
My Moments
- edit videos into chunks, make interactive with questions (for classroom, but like an elearning course)
- check out udutu, BJs LMS , PLEs, VLEs
- get over SL motion sickness, learn to dance, learn to fly with jet pack
- use QR codes some where at work and see if anyone know what they are
BJ's Moments
-Mlearning
-courses - not everything has to be a course
-scorm is heavy for everyone
Luis Moments
-many still not moving into elearning
-social networking concepts still hard
Angela's Moments
-Education sites in SL
-moving more into elearning
Learner Creation of Content - give points to learners to create more content that they can then use towards other things
Heidi tip
come in one day early to read an article, email a colleague, share some info with someone
2009 Elearing Gathering - back in Orlando March 10
- edit videos into chunks, make interactive with questions (for classroom, but like an elearning course)
- check out udutu, BJs LMS , PLEs, VLEs
- get over SL motion sickness, learn to dance, learn to fly with jet pack
- use QR codes some where at work and see if anyone know what they are
BJ's Moments
-Mlearning
-courses - not everything has to be a course
-scorm is heavy for everyone
Luis Moments
-many still not moving into elearning
-social networking concepts still hard
Angela's Moments
-Education sites in SL
-moving more into elearning
Learner Creation of Content - give points to learners to create more content that they can then use towards other things
Heidi tip
come in one day early to read an article, email a colleague, share some info with someone
2009 Elearing Gathering - back in Orlando March 10
Things I've Learned in My Life So Far - Stefan Sagmeister
Stefan's involvement - design for music, socially responsible design, corporate design, authors
Design for music:
Casa da Musica (sp?) - building is a logo itself, looking at it from various angles. Using software to capture the colour from any image they use these colours plotted on to one of the "various angle shots" and use these as logos for the music, the corp, the president, etc. From Chopin concerts to clubing events to parking garage designs.
Socially responsible design
A group wanting to cut defence budget to education budget. Group is run by corporate presidents.
-inflatable bar charts
-commercial TrueMajortiy.org - pen is mightier than the sword
- cars looking like piggy banks - largest one is the military budget, smallest trailer being towed is education, cost the same as one page add in paper
-"topsy-turvy" bus, similar to the budget
-blimp shopping - still in the works
Corporate design
-heated molded cover that allowed them to show the "power of light" - shot under various lighting conditions
Things I've learned so far.....
- a different quality to ideas that you explore with no pressure
- this must apply to many different roles where creativity exists and needs to exist
(9-3 is client work - the rest is experimental work [ie: google])
- realization that all that a design studio does is about promoting and developing, but that ratio is not right
- clients were willing to allow them to "just be creative", some sense of unlimited freedom. Given the task to design anything for a 6 page spread in magazine.
Designers can just solve a problem from more subjective views, but more and more is becoming boring.
Keeping a diary since he was 12, all of these statements he scribed and took out of it. Then used many of these to create powerful images, billboards, and videos that various places/industries have acquired that match the statements they need to express.
He shared these statements and accompanying images with us:
"Everything I do comes back to me" - other designers tool this and redesigned it as well for other functions.
- second task was a billboard that they could do anything with
"Trying to look good limits my life."
"Everybody thinks they are right." - magazine cover (dueling men peeing into the air to write these words....yes you read that right"
Bali - after the bombing in the night club where 200 people lost their lives, was more than that because most people lost their jobs as well because the tourism was completely stopped and gone. Their response was no retaliation, however all responsible for the act have been arrested.
"Helping other people helps me"
"Over time I get used to everything and start taking it for granted."
"Complaining is silly. Either act or forget." - as billboard faded and there was nothing left, No more complaining.
"Worrying solves nothing"
"Everybody who is honest is interesting."
"Keeping a diary supports personal development"
"If I want to explore a new direction professionally it is helpful to try it out for myself first." - a year of discovery without clients
"Assuming is stifling"
"Material luxuries are best enjoyed in small doses"
"Thinking life will be better in the future is stupid I have to live now"
"Starting a charity is surprisingly easy"
"Being not truthful works against me" - spider web
"Low expectations are a good strategy" - Miami beach
"Money does not make me happy" - wrapped a casino linz with this,
"Self confidence produces fine results"
Website - Things I've Learned in my Life .com
"Having guts always works out for me." - I always have to talk my self into having the never to do stuff.
Design for music:
Casa da Musica (sp?) - building is a logo itself, looking at it from various angles. Using software to capture the colour from any image they use these colours plotted on to one of the "various angle shots" and use these as logos for the music, the corp, the president, etc. From Chopin concerts to clubing events to parking garage designs.
Socially responsible design
A group wanting to cut defence budget to education budget. Group is run by corporate presidents.
-inflatable bar charts
-commercial TrueMajortiy.org - pen is mightier than the sword
- cars looking like piggy banks - largest one is the military budget, smallest trailer being towed is education, cost the same as one page add in paper
-"topsy-turvy" bus, similar to the budget
-blimp shopping - still in the works
Corporate design
-heated molded cover that allowed them to show the "power of light" - shot under various lighting conditions
Things I've learned so far.....
- a different quality to ideas that you explore with no pressure
- this must apply to many different roles where creativity exists and needs to exist
(9-3 is client work - the rest is experimental work [ie: google])
- realization that all that a design studio does is about promoting and developing, but that ratio is not right
- clients were willing to allow them to "just be creative", some sense of unlimited freedom. Given the task to design anything for a 6 page spread in magazine.
Designers can just solve a problem from more subjective views, but more and more is becoming boring.
Keeping a diary since he was 12, all of these statements he scribed and took out of it. Then used many of these to create powerful images, billboards, and videos that various places/industries have acquired that match the statements they need to express.
He shared these statements and accompanying images with us:
"Everything I do comes back to me" - other designers tool this and redesigned it as well for other functions.
- second task was a billboard that they could do anything with
"Trying to look good limits my life."
"Everybody thinks they are right." - magazine cover (dueling men peeing into the air to write these words....yes you read that right"
Bali - after the bombing in the night club where 200 people lost their lives, was more than that because most people lost their jobs as well because the tourism was completely stopped and gone. Their response was no retaliation, however all responsible for the act have been arrested.
"Helping other people helps me"
"Over time I get used to everything and start taking it for granted."
"Complaining is silly. Either act or forget." - as billboard faded and there was nothing left, No more complaining.
"Worrying solves nothing"
"Everybody who is honest is interesting."
"Keeping a diary supports personal development"
"If I want to explore a new direction professionally it is helpful to try it out for myself first." - a year of discovery without clients
"Assuming is stifling"
"Material luxuries are best enjoyed in small doses"
"Thinking life will be better in the future is stupid I have to live now"
"Starting a charity is surprisingly easy"
"Being not truthful works against me" - spider web
"Low expectations are a good strategy" - Miami beach
"Money does not make me happy" - wrapped a casino linz with this,
"Self confidence produces fine results"
Website - Things I've Learned in my Life .com
"Having guts always works out for me." - I always have to talk my self into having the never to do stuff.
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
My Favourite Part of the AG08
Okay...go on....guess....
For a bunch of people immersed in doing everything and all online, digitally, and virtually the one thing I kept hearing over and over (and reading on blogs) was how great it was to meet face-to-face. This too was my favourite part of the whole experience.
The conference generates a billion ideas. Some to implement right away. Some that will take a while. Some that will never see the light of day. A few that will remain dreams for many of us to attain. It's amazing to wonder what the collective genius of the 700 (or so) participants will dream up and create within the next year.
However, as I said above, there is still something unique and special about connect with people one-on-one. It's different then reading their thoughts on blogs. I also find it solidifies and brings greater trust and meaning into the words you read from their posts.
I met a few new people this year, but more so connected with people I have been reading, following, and e-connecting. Some great people I suggest you too tap into for knowledge, guidance, and wisdom are B.J. Shone (eLearning Weekly), Gary Hegenbart (eLearning Development News), Angela White (A Nice Cup of Lizard), Melissa Chiaramonti (elearningguild-ru), and as always Brent Schlenker (Corporate eLearning Strategies and Development). As I said before, with 700 participants here I'd love to list them all, but these are these people I interacted with the most.
Brent's last presentation today started off interesting in that he "knew" everyone in the room (mostly virtually). He joked that he didn't need to do the presentation because we all already new about his topic. Funny thing is for as much as we all know; we continue to learn from one another even on topics in which we are quite skilled. This is the beauty of these conferences and the virtual networking that we do outside of the conference. We feed each other's knowledge continuously and thereby grow and develop our collective genius. How fun is that?!?
I'm here until the end of the conference, but wanted to take this time to thank all the people (Bob Wood, Sandra Sousa, Richard Wilkinson, and the other Bob [sorry I missed your card during the exchange]) that took the time to teach me more this year. It's been another invaluable experience. Hope to see you all again online and in the future at more conferences.
For a bunch of people immersed in doing everything and all online, digitally, and virtually the one thing I kept hearing over and over (and reading on blogs) was how great it was to meet face-to-face. This too was my favourite part of the whole experience.
The conference generates a billion ideas. Some to implement right away. Some that will take a while. Some that will never see the light of day. A few that will remain dreams for many of us to attain. It's amazing to wonder what the collective genius of the 700 (or so) participants will dream up and create within the next year.
However, as I said above, there is still something unique and special about connect with people one-on-one. It's different then reading their thoughts on blogs. I also find it solidifies and brings greater trust and meaning into the words you read from their posts.
I met a few new people this year, but more so connected with people I have been reading, following, and e-connecting. Some great people I suggest you too tap into for knowledge, guidance, and wisdom are B.J. Shone (eLearning Weekly), Gary Hegenbart (eLearning Development News), Angela White (A Nice Cup of Lizard), Melissa Chiaramonti (elearningguild-ru), and as always Brent Schlenker (Corporate eLearning Strategies and Development). As I said before, with 700 participants here I'd love to list them all, but these are these people I interacted with the most.
Brent's last presentation today started off interesting in that he "knew" everyone in the room (mostly virtually). He joked that he didn't need to do the presentation because we all already new about his topic. Funny thing is for as much as we all know; we continue to learn from one another even on topics in which we are quite skilled. This is the beauty of these conferences and the virtual networking that we do outside of the conference. We feed each other's knowledge continuously and thereby grow and develop our collective genius. How fun is that?!?
I'm here until the end of the conference, but wanted to take this time to thank all the people (Bob Wood, Sandra Sousa, Richard Wilkinson, and the other Bob [sorry I missed your card during the exchange]) that took the time to teach me more this year. It's been another invaluable experience. Hope to see you all again online and in the future at more conferences.
Scanning the Globe, Connecting your Digital World to the World Around You - Brent Schlenker
Using QR Codes, semacode, shotcode, colorcode
Will take off in North America more so once we have more apps & phones using them - but still waiting to learn applications for elearning. This is new, up & coming. There are many different types of codes and not one yet is the fore runner to what will come forward as the best or most useful one.
These codes are quite prevalent in Japan.
QR - Quick Respone Codes
cellphone uses the camera that is has built in. Any size. Centre within screen. The QR code may take you to a web site, send you a text message, many different things.
The QRcode holds much more information because it is 2D
Here is a QR code for my site:
Here is a data code (Nokia) for my site:
Scanlife - is a free download application or Kawya.
Something else in the cluster of tools that we can begin to utilize more and more often for elearning or for further information. (wine labels, food wrappers - contests, nutritional information)
Qrcode.org - standards on how to create, original intent was for shipping and handling in that they can be partially destroyed (on labels for example) yet the data will still come through as opposed to bar codes.
Also called 2d codes, QRcodes are one example of these standards.
Brent's 2d Barcode Manifesto
2d barcodes potential limited only by imagination
mobile devices will define the game
readers integrated into the device
free barcode generators
avoiding fragmentation: emergence of global de-fracto standards
avoiding patent wars
avoiding the "tragedy of anticommons" (too many out there becomes too much of a good thing)
Data Matrix & QR Code emerge as standars (so far..)
unleashing user-driven innovation
enabling 3rd party innovation
Sometimes you should be able to hold up a code to your webcam and scan the code as well.
Wanting eLearning to be more on the fore front of many of these technologies and this could possibly be one of these tools that we need to explore and start learning and developing.
These can greatly lower the barriers to gathering more information - (having to type urls on phones, small buttons, double pressing, everyone all ready has a phone - no need to buy more equipment)
Will take off in North America more so once we have more apps & phones using them - but still waiting to learn applications for elearning. This is new, up & coming. There are many different types of codes and not one yet is the fore runner to what will come forward as the best or most useful one.
These codes are quite prevalent in Japan.
QR - Quick Respone Codes
cellphone uses the camera that is has built in. Any size. Centre within screen. The QR code may take you to a web site, send you a text message, many different things.
The QRcode holds much more information because it is 2D
Here is a QR code for my site:
Here is a data code (Nokia) for my site:
Scanlife - is a free download application or Kawya.
Something else in the cluster of tools that we can begin to utilize more and more often for elearning or for further information. (wine labels, food wrappers - contests, nutritional information)
Qrcode.org - standards on how to create, original intent was for shipping and handling in that they can be partially destroyed (on labels for example) yet the data will still come through as opposed to bar codes.
Also called 2d codes, QRcodes are one example of these standards.
Brent's 2d Barcode Manifesto
2d barcodes potential limited only by imagination
mobile devices will define the game
readers integrated into the device
free barcode generators
avoiding fragmentation: emergence of global de-fracto standards
avoiding patent wars
avoiding the "tragedy of anticommons" (too many out there becomes too much of a good thing)
Data Matrix & QR Code emerge as standars (so far..)
unleashing user-driven innovation
enabling 3rd party innovation
Sometimes you should be able to hold up a code to your webcam and scan the code as well.
Wanting eLearning to be more on the fore front of many of these technologies and this could possibly be one of these tools that we need to explore and start learning and developing.
These can greatly lower the barriers to gathering more information - (having to type urls on phones, small buttons, double pressing, everyone all ready has a phone - no need to buy more equipment)
Second Life - Alan Levine
hetemeel.com - Einstein image with any text on chalk board behind him
Presentation will be in slideshare
Virtual worlds - been around for a while, graphics better, virtual worlds are international, video better, computer better, critical mass of people now doing it more and more, more games, more collaboration
Habbo Hotel - Had 7.5 million active users in 2000, Second Life 500,000 in 2003
Many more now in based on tons of children products.
Federation of American Scientists are trying to learn, track, list features of these various virtual wolds
Gartner Groups - says by 2011 80 percent of active internet users will have a Second Life
Levine's Law
START WITH THE &*#& DEMO
Demo:
his org. built on a 64x64 land, a virtual class room. Query in SL do we build real life items or fantasy. Hold a class on a cloud.
You can walk around for hours in SL and not actual run into anyone.
People spend much time and money setting up their avatars. Important though in that it identifies you and what you like.
250 Lindens = 1 real dollar
Use your Lindens to buy real things. Creates a virtual economy as well. Those that can build well can sell their items.
3d shapes are primitive shapes. Apply graphics to these to make them look like other items. All building tools are within the world. Their are free class to learn how to build and scripts that you can apply to them so they become interactive when you interact with them.
10% of people tend to represent them selves as a different gender. Lots of non-human avatars are created. Appreciate it more by getting in, trying, and learning.
"Get a First Life" - parody on this
FoDS - Field of Dream Syndrome - building something nice doesn't' necessarily mean people will access it. It is more then just creating. You can have rich interactions/learning/social interactions without owning any land/items.
Where do people have the time to interact/do this?
Henry Jenkins - South By SouthWest Conference 2008
- what's wrong with America? Bright articulate people are going in creating this content. What can we do to harness the creative & talent energy that these people have. As we grow into greater knowledge collectives we need to grow and adapt to these more. You don't get a user's manual in SL, you need to go in learn on your own, get feedback from a community. They don't get this opportunity at work, but use work so that they can afford to be creative outside in their private lives.
The Skeptics
The Gamer - the graphics suck (okay, but not like new PS3 kind of games), there's nothing to do (no goals, no tasks, the things that happen in SL are because of what you find around to do)
The Fearful - there are strange things that happen in there, you need a good computer, a good internet connection, you need to learn how to walk, talk, dress. It took you 18 years to really become a person in real life, but want it to happen in 18 seconds online
The Boss - How do I make money? - not the place for every type of training, but maybe for simulations and virtual collaboration.
The Traditionalist - I can do that in a chat room? - need to find out more what their interests are
http://www.nmc.org/horizon - looking at 1-2 year horizon, 3-4 years, 5 an beyond (2006 report) Launched and exploration into SL. http://sl.nmc.org/2006/06/12/seriously-engaging-movie
http://sl.mmc.org/2006/07/04/third-time-charm (NASA - lift over, people in room you are now sharing the experience with, remembering old launches, learning from one another, being in a social environment with other people that share a similar interest)
NMC Campus Observer
- have hosted 4 conferences in the virtual world.
You can hire people to go out to design your islands/areas for your space that you wish to design. NMC Virtual Worlds creates these for others. Professional networks can go through this.
"Second Life for Dummies"
Behind every avatar is a real person. During a survey of educators - there is a real feel of embarrassment. People have real reactions to cartoon images of themselves.
couple thousand to invest in you own island. Some places will rent out their space to you.
It is a cartoon world, but in the same sense we react to what we seen within the SL in a very real way (ie: fear snakes).
There is a voice client within SL with no lag time or delay.
Landmarks act as book marks.
Do you need to go to specific places at specific times to get to educational opportunities out of it?
-currently yes, but is is growing and becoming more and more diverse each month.
Many activities are scheduled and are rescheduled to explore. It is all still relatively "Brand New".
Virtual Hallucinations - designed to give you the sense of what it is like to have a mental illness
How do you find out what events are happening and occuring? - Second Life.com has an events calendar.
in the eduation realm - secondlife educator listserv
ie: Daden.co.uk (shows real planes coming into LAX) NOAA
interactive weather maps
second earth - explore earth
Rumsey map collection
You can set up you islands to limit you can come in to your island. You can not really set them up to leave your islands.
Note - I still got motion sick watching the presentation (the spinning of the screen gets to me).
Presentation will be in slideshare
Virtual worlds - been around for a while, graphics better, virtual worlds are international, video better, computer better, critical mass of people now doing it more and more, more games, more collaboration
Habbo Hotel - Had 7.5 million active users in 2000, Second Life 500,000 in 2003
Many more now in based on tons of children products.
Federation of American Scientists are trying to learn, track, list features of these various virtual wolds
Gartner Groups - says by 2011 80 percent of active internet users will have a Second Life
Levine's Law
START WITH THE &*#& DEMO
Demo:
his org. built on a 64x64 land, a virtual class room. Query in SL do we build real life items or fantasy. Hold a class on a cloud.
You can walk around for hours in SL and not actual run into anyone.
People spend much time and money setting up their avatars. Important though in that it identifies you and what you like.
250 Lindens = 1 real dollar
Use your Lindens to buy real things. Creates a virtual economy as well. Those that can build well can sell their items.
3d shapes are primitive shapes. Apply graphics to these to make them look like other items. All building tools are within the world. Their are free class to learn how to build and scripts that you can apply to them so they become interactive when you interact with them.
10% of people tend to represent them selves as a different gender. Lots of non-human avatars are created. Appreciate it more by getting in, trying, and learning.
"Get a First Life" - parody on this
FoDS - Field of Dream Syndrome - building something nice doesn't' necessarily mean people will access it. It is more then just creating. You can have rich interactions/learning/social interactions without owning any land/items.
Where do people have the time to interact/do this?
Henry Jenkins - South By SouthWest Conference 2008
- what's wrong with America? Bright articulate people are going in creating this content. What can we do to harness the creative & talent energy that these people have. As we grow into greater knowledge collectives we need to grow and adapt to these more. You don't get a user's manual in SL, you need to go in learn on your own, get feedback from a community. They don't get this opportunity at work, but use work so that they can afford to be creative outside in their private lives.
The Skeptics
The Gamer - the graphics suck (okay, but not like new PS3 kind of games), there's nothing to do (no goals, no tasks, the things that happen in SL are because of what you find around to do)
The Fearful - there are strange things that happen in there, you need a good computer, a good internet connection, you need to learn how to walk, talk, dress. It took you 18 years to really become a person in real life, but want it to happen in 18 seconds online
The Boss - How do I make money? - not the place for every type of training, but maybe for simulations and virtual collaboration.
The Traditionalist - I can do that in a chat room? - need to find out more what their interests are
http://www.nmc.org/horizon - looking at 1-2 year horizon, 3-4 years, 5 an beyond (2006 report) Launched and exploration into SL. http://sl.nmc.org/2006/06/12/seriously-engaging-movie
http://sl.mmc.org/2006/07/04/third-time-charm (NASA - lift over, people in room you are now sharing the experience with, remembering old launches, learning from one another, being in a social environment with other people that share a similar interest)
NMC Campus Observer
- have hosted 4 conferences in the virtual world.
You can hire people to go out to design your islands/areas for your space that you wish to design. NMC Virtual Worlds creates these for others. Professional networks can go through this.
"Second Life for Dummies"
Behind every avatar is a real person. During a survey of educators - there is a real feel of embarrassment. People have real reactions to cartoon images of themselves.
couple thousand to invest in you own island. Some places will rent out their space to you.
It is a cartoon world, but in the same sense we react to what we seen within the SL in a very real way (ie: fear snakes).
There is a voice client within SL with no lag time or delay.
Landmarks act as book marks.
Do you need to go to specific places at specific times to get to educational opportunities out of it?
-currently yes, but is is growing and becoming more and more diverse each month.
Many activities are scheduled and are rescheduled to explore. It is all still relatively "Brand New".
Virtual Hallucinations - designed to give you the sense of what it is like to have a mental illness
How do you find out what events are happening and occuring? - Second Life.com has an events calendar.
in the eduation realm - secondlife educator listserv
ie: Daden.co.uk (shows real planes coming into LAX) NOAA
interactive weather maps
second earth - explore earth
Rumsey map collection
You can set up you islands to limit you can come in to your island. You can not really set them up to leave your islands.
Note - I still got motion sick watching the presentation (the spinning of the screen gets to me).
Moodle Goes Corporate: Leveraging Open Source - Michelle Moore
I do not use Moodle, but am interested in finding out more about it, especially with my LMS issues that are currently happening.
Scorm issue - udutu - what they builds works in moodle.
Ease of use, number of features, help community all makes Moodle an excellent tool. Current version 1.9.
Has a new gradebook, more functionality.
Is opensource - anyone can work on it (a developer who works on it), it is free, your developments are requested to be shared if they are not specific to your org., code is open for programmers, full flexibility, full power, development - volunteer work often, many are just passionate in continuing to develop and make it better (programming, documenting, suggestions, needs, etc).
-free redistribution
-access to source code
-allows modifications
-no discrimination
-no warranties
Disadvantages/Myths
-reputation
-ongoing efforts, been around for a while (2001)
-standards, scorm others
-support (commercial/community)
-version (still changing)
-documentation
http://wwwoss-watc.ac.uk/resoruces/tips.xml
Used in 41,902 sites and 196 countries
420,000 community members
http://moodle.org/stas
moodle.com - commercial support
moodle.org - community support (people are very helpful, supportive, and kind)
download.moodle.org (latest version) - including laptop version
docs:
docs.moodle.org (wiki - including practical advice)
tracker.moodle.org (tracking bugs and feature requests - developers keep track of and fix
google manuals
moodle books - William Rice - 2008, Jason Cole 2007
docs.moodle.org/en/Case_for_Moodle /Top_10_Moodle_myths
300+ extra plugins out there
Features:
Explore - moodle19.remote-learner.net
click teach and trainer development
click exploring moodle modules
Tools (default)
text page template - single page
web page - uses html editor - single page (can use Dreamweaver and import in or copy in)
book module (multipage creator)
link to a file - any electronic file
link to a website - any url
display a directory - collection of files
SCORM - learning content packages
Communication tools (default)
(people learn best when they can interact - many tools built in for this)
chat - synchronous, transcription
forum - asynchronous (Suburu is using this for sales discussions) - not threads
blog - attached to profiles, but no comments
messaging - one-to-one across site (IM within framework of moodle) (can only attach multiple files by zipping them)
Can these items be turned on and off - yes is Blogs, messaging, chats (not forums). - on a course by course bases
email within courses - no but messaging yes, stays with site, not course specific. Only use their chat if the user is deleted from the site.
Assessment tools (default)
-assignments - learners submit work or files (1.7 version - multiple files)
- choice - multiple choice questions/poll
- survey - research-based; prepared questions (prepopulated with questions, very few use these) - there is a plug in see lower in post
- lesson - present and assess simultaneously (questions, flash cards)
- quiz - online quiz tool (most popular module, t/f, multiple choice, essay, short answer, calculated questions - nice stat knowledge on how students answered and if right), limits (not heard of yet, but not many test over 100 questions, yes will let you import from a variety of question banks)
(anywhere you have access to the html editor you can put in flash, video, etc)
-workshop - facilitates peer review (can be sent around and shared with other students) - perhaps useful for 360 evaluations
(supports single sign-on - Activity Directory, keep up-to-date? as long as a database gets set up this can be done - Jonathan look to for help)
Open University in UK 100,000+ users
-database - record collection tool
- glossary - dictionary, faq, encyclopedia - automatically linked to the word when it shows up within your course, - does not have to be soley teacher created - students can help develop as well (approval process by teacher can be turned on)
- wiki (ie: history of company)
***instruction tends to be more flat. Everything is laid out on the 1st page. You can hide an reveal items (ie: week by week - 1 intro, 2 - module one)
LMS or CMS or LCMS
can dump content in, can get tracking, can get reports (lcms - tags, authoring, etc)
Can you tag what you build in moodle? - no
Integration with Alfresco - you can tag and version control with it. One tool does not often do everything.
Customizing Moodle (from small to large this occurs)
-themes, language pack changes
-modules and plugins, integrations
-significant, individualized modifications
1.9 has a transcript feature - but moodle does not email out to the student it's time to take a course
learner centric and course centric
themes
demo.moodle.org (default)
communication.wcupa.net
speclass.org
moodle.org.mod/data/view.php?d=13&rid=319
and
certificate
=614
integrations
Drupal.com
Alfresco.com
more on handouts from the eLearning Guild.
Open University
www.open.ac.uk/openlearn/home.lphp
www.excelhighschool.com
Michelle Moore - michelle@remote-learner.net
Scorm issue - udutu - what they builds works in moodle.
Ease of use, number of features, help community all makes Moodle an excellent tool. Current version 1.9.
Has a new gradebook, more functionality.
Is opensource - anyone can work on it (a developer who works on it), it is free, your developments are requested to be shared if they are not specific to your org., code is open for programmers, full flexibility, full power, development - volunteer work often, many are just passionate in continuing to develop and make it better (programming, documenting, suggestions, needs, etc).
-free redistribution
-access to source code
-allows modifications
-no discrimination
-no warranties
Disadvantages/Myths
- there's no support - their are partners around the world
- it's totally free - if you are going to implement it and implement it well you will need to pay for hosting, training, support, commitment to making it work, save on no licencing fees - but outsourcing support
- low band width - functions well (depends on file sizes, but developed out of Australia)
- not secure - depends on the module you use, security by design - lots of users are looking at it and keeping it updated
- poor documentation -
- no guarantees of continued development - you own what version you have. If it shuts down you don't lose what you have, the large community of developers will continue to build it
- no guarantees of quality - again based on the community
Advantages
- software free
- allows modifications
- community development
- community support - working with every other user helps you to connect with lots of people for help
- escape vendor lock-in
- development not dependent on marketing
-reputation
-ongoing efforts, been around for a while (2001)
-standards, scorm others
-support (commercial/community)
-version (still changing)
-documentation
http://wwwoss-watc.ac.uk/resoruces/tips.xml
Used in 41,902 sites and 196 countries
420,000 community members
http://moodle.org/stas
moodle.com - commercial support
moodle.org - community support (people are very helpful, supportive, and kind)
download.moodle.org (latest version) - including laptop version
docs:
docs.moodle.org (wiki - including practical advice)
tracker.moodle.org (tracking bugs and feature requests - developers keep track of and fix
google manuals
moodle books - William Rice - 2008, Jason Cole 2007
docs.moodle.org/en/Case_for_Moodle /Top_10_Moodle_myths
300+ extra plugins out there
Features:
Explore - moodle19.remote-learner.net
click teach and trainer development
click exploring moodle modules
Tools (default)
text page template - single page
web page - uses html editor - single page (can use Dreamweaver and import in or copy in)
book module (multipage creator)
link to a file - any electronic file
link to a website - any url
display a directory - collection of files
SCORM - learning content packages
Communication tools (default)
(people learn best when they can interact - many tools built in for this)
chat - synchronous, transcription
forum - asynchronous (Suburu is using this for sales discussions) - not threads
blog - attached to profiles, but no comments
messaging - one-to-one across site (IM within framework of moodle) (can only attach multiple files by zipping them)
Can these items be turned on and off - yes is Blogs, messaging, chats (not forums). - on a course by course bases
email within courses - no but messaging yes, stays with site, not course specific. Only use their chat if the user is deleted from the site.
Assessment tools (default)
-assignments - learners submit work or files (1.7 version - multiple files)
- choice - multiple choice questions/poll
- survey - research-based; prepared questions (prepopulated with questions, very few use these) - there is a plug in see lower in post
- lesson - present and assess simultaneously (questions, flash cards)
- quiz - online quiz tool (most popular module, t/f, multiple choice, essay, short answer, calculated questions - nice stat knowledge on how students answered and if right), limits (not heard of yet, but not many test over 100 questions, yes will let you import from a variety of question banks)
(anywhere you have access to the html editor you can put in flash, video, etc)
-workshop - facilitates peer review (can be sent around and shared with other students) - perhaps useful for 360 evaluations
(supports single sign-on - Activity Directory, keep up-to-date? as long as a database gets set up this can be done - Jonathan look to for help)
Open University in UK 100,000+ users
-database - record collection tool
- glossary - dictionary, faq, encyclopedia - automatically linked to the word when it shows up within your course, - does not have to be soley teacher created - students can help develop as well (approval process by teacher can be turned on)
- wiki (ie: history of company)
***instruction tends to be more flat. Everything is laid out on the 1st page. You can hide an reveal items (ie: week by week - 1 intro, 2 - module one)
LMS or CMS or LCMS
can dump content in, can get tracking, can get reports (lcms - tags, authoring, etc)
Can you tag what you build in moodle? - no
Integration with Alfresco - you can tag and version control with it. One tool does not often do everything.
Customizing Moodle (from small to large this occurs)
-themes, language pack changes
-modules and plugins, integrations
-significant, individualized modifications
1.9 has a transcript feature - but moodle does not email out to the student it's time to take a course
learner centric and course centric
themes
demo.moodle.org (default)
communication.wcupa.net
speclass.org
moodle.org.mod/data/view.php?d=13&rid=319
and
certificate
=614
integrations
Drupal.com
Alfresco.com
more on handouts from the eLearning Guild.
Open University
www.open.ac.uk/openlearn/home.lphp
www.excelhighschool.com
Michelle Moore - michelle@remote-learner.net
Future of the Internet - John Patrick
Here are some brief notes that I took during this keynote:
In theory there is one device that does everything, however more and more we are seeing a ton of devices that are each quite specialized, yet all connected to the internet.
Power of the Click
With this we determine what we want and when we want it.
As with ebay - there is not one click for this and that, but every aspect of selling items from one person to another, in turn they have created a large database of selling reputations.
Website is not for you! It's for the Customer! It must empower the student not the teacher. Internet should not be a tool for collecting data to market better to us.
There is never a downtime for internet now. People are relocated all over the world, yet using local sites.
Compliance should be implied, it is so easy to say no. Challenge what the security problems may be and an item, software, system is turned down. Shift the burden of proof to the compliance/security officer.
Killer application - email
However most emails to companies get unanswered. (you can't call many 1-800 numbers around the world)
Many great points about things that should be simple and obvious to the creators of internet sites that change their focus to that of serving the customer first and fore most.
Schools and libraries will change more and more. More children are being home schooled and the internet will be a large component of this learning. Libraries will grow in size for more space for collaboration of families and authors to meet readers.
Are we going to accommodate the internet or give more and more choice to customers and in turn empower all of those people that we deal with daily.
Bubble 2001-2002 (people lost jobs, investments) - not an internet bubble and had not much to do with it. People got carried away with the thought that investments were profits. People were using internet ideas to solve problems that didn't truly exist.
7 characteristics of opportunities in front of us:
fast
In theory there is one device that does everything, however more and more we are seeing a ton of devices that are each quite specialized, yet all connected to the internet.
Power of the Click
With this we determine what we want and when we want it.
As with ebay - there is not one click for this and that, but every aspect of selling items from one person to another, in turn they have created a large database of selling reputations.
Website is not for you! It's for the Customer! It must empower the student not the teacher. Internet should not be a tool for collecting data to market better to us.
There is never a downtime for internet now. People are relocated all over the world, yet using local sites.
Compliance should be implied, it is so easy to say no. Challenge what the security problems may be and an item, software, system is turned down. Shift the burden of proof to the compliance/security officer.
Killer application - email
However most emails to companies get unanswered. (you can't call many 1-800 numbers around the world)
Many great points about things that should be simple and obvious to the creators of internet sites that change their focus to that of serving the customer first and fore most.
Schools and libraries will change more and more. More children are being home schooled and the internet will be a large component of this learning. Libraries will grow in size for more space for collaboration of families and authors to meet readers.
Are we going to accommodate the internet or give more and more choice to customers and in turn empower all of those people that we deal with daily.
Bubble 2001-2002 (people lost jobs, investments) - not an internet bubble and had not much to do with it. People got carried away with the thought that investments were profits. People were using internet ideas to solve problems that didn't truly exist.
7 characteristics of opportunities in front of us:
fast
- major carriers are the largest threat to the internet, they don't really want the competition
- japan has yahoo broadband, 10x faster then US and less cost - no break through they just deregulated the components that support the internet
- BPL - broadband power line - gets electricity and internet through
- can the internet handle all this - yes, because it is highly distributed.
- torrents of bits - protocol for downloading huge files (games, movies, software)
- dial is almost all gone, except in some remote areas
- IP everything , all connect to the internet (many appliances)
- WiFi vs WiMax - deliver broadband into a community and then wirelessly deliver to homes. - It would be nice to be connected to internet no matter where you are, that wireless connections exist everywhere. Operators of internet areas (ie: Verizon) do not want this. They want to limit this to protect themselves.
- US ranked 14th in how much broadband is available
- France now is partnering with power companies to ensure everyone has wireless
- *cantenna, largest distance to get WIFI 75 miles (in desert)
- where is the internet anyway? PC is synonymous with internet, but the internet should be where ever we are (iPhone, PDA, mobile, etc)
- Opera (Norway) - make browsers for things. Best browser for mobile devices - free. Move the internet off the desktop and onto your "belt" (skyfire, android)
- iPhone has put down the gauntlet - but the technology they use is not proprietary
- cost to actually send data over the internet is pennies, but we are charged a great deal for "long distance"
- Voice 2.0 (1800free411, jingle networks, cellspinsoft, pcmobilizer, tuktumi, ribbit, maxroam, sms services)
- sms - not texting one another, but increasing business applications ie: every charge on you credit card goes through your mobile
- social networking is not just social - business, jobs, networks
- facebook is no longer just gaming applications, but many business and learning applications
- How many profiles do we need all over the net? One profile that other applications access.
- Blogging/podcasting - still early in development, still growing - empowers people (here's what I learned today, here's what I want to share)
- gaming - key skills in elearning - knowing how to collaborate, communicate, get big jobs done with limited resources
- semantic web - a name means something, a location, a history. Clicking on one item gives you more information about it
- increasing tags
trust
- security - there are great tools out there, they do cost but they will help you feel more secure
- we don't need more laws - they don't work because of exceptions
We need to think outside in with the internet.
Think big, act bold, start simple, iterate fast
Build a framework for choice and services
Get a taste of net attitude: talk to kids
AG08 Dinner Gathering - Depts of 1
I created a dinner group for Depts of 1 last night which turned out to be quite a wonderful experience. I was able to meet and connect with 9 new individuals that I may not have met any other way. There was quite a wide variety of experience and knowledge at the table. Some were tackling the teaching of large groups, some smaller groups. Everyone was using different tools and lms's so it was really a great opportunity to hear what the pros and cons of so many different items in one setting.
Dinner was quite fun and jovial at Wolfgang Pucks although it took us several tries wandering around the restaurant to find where we were to be seated. However, we joked about turning it into a simulation....."Wrong, Try Again."
I highly recommend attending one of the dinner events or creating one of your own, posting it up and creating a new mini network. A big thanks to my new collection of colleagues.
Dinner was quite fun and jovial at Wolfgang Pucks although it took us several tries wandering around the restaurant to find where we were to be seated. However, we joked about turning it into a simulation....."Wrong, Try Again."
I highly recommend attending one of the dinner events or creating one of your own, posting it up and creating a new mini network. A big thanks to my new collection of colleagues.
Tuesday, 15 April 2008
Feeding Your Inner Power Learner! Learning to Leverage RSS - Brent Schlenker
Feeding - has to do with bringing in content into your rss feeds - learning
Learning 2.0 - shifting from only a consumer to a content creator as well. This happens in classroom based learning as well when you need to prove what you have learned, discuss what you have learned.
In the web world it can be as simple as an email you send to one person looking to build on information you know. If you send this out to a million people (rss feed) then think of how much additional information you can gather back from all those people.
You can create and publish simple info (text) through mobile devices.
Posting pictures on flickr and storing to your blog as well. Similar with YouTube.
Then with an RSS feed from you blog many people around the web can now access your text, photo, video, etc.
RSS is a form of publication with little to no barriers. Anyone who has access can produce this type of content.
RSS - Real Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary (less popular defn)
The Basics of what an RSS is:
Stephen Downes - An Introduction to RSS for Educational Designers
Common Craft - RSS in Plain English
Once you more thoroughly understand how can learn and utilize these tools better you will then be better able to develop the content yourself.
When choosing technology you might want to speak with your IT dept about what product might work best with your system/bandwidth.
5 THINGS that every type of content should be:
searchable
editable
linkable
taggable
feedable
RSS is one way you can off load a lot of information that you are gathering and place them into a different form. Ie: instead of getting emailed newsletters, you can have feeds populate into your RSS reader.
A great tip is to set aside time to look at your feeds daily. This will help you to manage your feeds and continue to learn from them and in turn probably find the need to find more and more feeds to learn from.
***Brent's side tangent - the more you learn the more you desire to learn
Use the feeder's search field to narrow down what you might be looking for.
Use folders to sort the RSS feeds into topics.
Use date sort to look at what is current and what is right now.
Use flags to remember and go back to.
Use Googles' ZXing Decoder.
Use Shared Items.
Use email features to send feeds to friends that might be interested to the content item.
Filter posts from a RSS feed (ie: De.lico.us can send just a topic)
*Some blogs allow authors to categorize their posts and you only subscribe to the feeds of that category. This based on the blog publishing tool selected though.
Different systems show, display, filter, and organized these feeds in different ways. You may want to try a few different ones to find the one that you like and suits your needs.
Homework from Brent:
Learning 2.0 - shifting from only a consumer to a content creator as well. This happens in classroom based learning as well when you need to prove what you have learned, discuss what you have learned.
In the web world it can be as simple as an email you send to one person looking to build on information you know. If you send this out to a million people (rss feed) then think of how much additional information you can gather back from all those people.
You can create and publish simple info (text) through mobile devices.
Posting pictures on flickr and storing to your blog as well. Similar with YouTube.
Then with an RSS feed from you blog many people around the web can now access your text, photo, video, etc.
RSS is a form of publication with little to no barriers. Anyone who has access can produce this type of content.
RSS - Real Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary (less popular defn)
The Basics of what an RSS is:
Stephen Downes - An Introduction to RSS for Educational Designers
Common Craft - RSS in Plain English
Once you more thoroughly understand how can learn and utilize these tools better you will then be better able to develop the content yourself.
When choosing technology you might want to speak with your IT dept about what product might work best with your system/bandwidth.
5 THINGS that every type of content should be:
searchable
editable
linkable
taggable
feedable
RSS is one way you can off load a lot of information that you are gathering and place them into a different form. Ie: instead of getting emailed newsletters, you can have feeds populate into your RSS reader.
A great tip is to set aside time to look at your feeds daily. This will help you to manage your feeds and continue to learn from them and in turn probably find the need to find more and more feeds to learn from.
***Brent's side tangent - the more you learn the more you desire to learn
Use the feeder's search field to narrow down what you might be looking for.
Use folders to sort the RSS feeds into topics.
Use date sort to look at what is current and what is right now.
Use flags to remember and go back to.
Use Googles' ZXing Decoder.
Use Shared Items.
Use email features to send feeds to friends that might be interested to the content item.
Filter posts from a RSS feed (ie: De.lico.us can send just a topic)
*Some blogs allow authors to categorize their posts and you only subscribe to the feeds of that category. This based on the blog publishing tool selected though.
Different systems show, display, filter, and organized these feeds in different ways. You may want to try a few different ones to find the one that you like and suits your needs.
Homework from Brent:
- find the content creator location that you want to get content from, find it's rss feed location (blogs, wikis, website, etc)
- set up a google reader account (many people use this one and there is a lot of help out there if you need it for use - ie: Brent, myself, others
- subscribe (THIS IS CRITICAL) to the feed (podcasts are RSS feeds - ie: itunes podcasts) so that you can being your learning from this feed
Created a dinner group for elearning depts of 1. Meet at 630 by registration desk.
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Do you believe in life long learning? Does your org promote and support it to your staff?
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How many staff are already using facebook? How many have set up, belong to a corp group they set up that you didn't? Are you a member?
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Engaging and Assessing the Web Generation - Mundell
Presented within Facebook using udutu (online courses authoring). COOL & FREE
Web 2.0 vs web 1.0
new generations communicate with new tools that are often out of your control
IM, Facebook, RSS, Blogs, Skype
We need to learn these tools or we will be left behind these users.
Started as a research group at Royal Roads University.
When building a learning organization only a small part of what we develop is what they learn. A great deal comes from peers, family, hands-on, etc.
3 types of elearning that effects elearning.
1. Explicit learning - structured & Basic Information
- cd rom, cbt, web sites, books, articles, wikis, google, podcasts, videos ( Aware - Conceptual)
2. Applied Learning - Applying techniques & strategies
- case studies, simulations, practicums, assessment, games (Functional)
3. Tacit Learning - Action & Applied Learning
- learn, solve, mentoring, collaborate, blogging, forums, social networks (Competent - Expert)
Build what we are teaching into their everyday lives.
- compliance training & certifications
- measurable results
- timely
- more knowledge
- easier to access
Challenges of elearning
-implementation process painfully slow (IT, $, etc)
-SME - where to start, who maintains control, animators, IDs, web developers.
-bring everyone together so they can be simultaneously involved then everyone is access the authoring tool at the same time, and feedback becomes more timely
-when everyone believes it is ready; it most likely is
-costs and budgets - can get derailed quickly with other projects, issues, etc.
-infrastructure can limit what projects you can try/use
-learning curve can we quite difficult not only for the students but for the administrators as well
-SME might also think that by putting their material online you are devaluing what they bring to the organization
If you can engage all these people you will have a better end product.
needs: good story, real challenges, ability to learn what they want to learn
(ie: choose your own adventure)
-try using video clips cut with questions/activities in between relative to the content
-or use graphics if you don't have access to video
-if no access to flash tools or designers - udutu has built in scenario templates (choices branch you to various answers)
Web 2.0 vs web 1.0
new generations communicate with new tools that are often out of your control
IM, Facebook, RSS, Blogs, Skype
We need to learn these tools or we will be left behind these users.
Started as a research group at Royal Roads University.
When building a learning organization only a small part of what we develop is what they learn. A great deal comes from peers, family, hands-on, etc.
3 types of elearning that effects elearning.
1. Explicit learning - structured & Basic Information
- cd rom, cbt, web sites, books, articles, wikis, google, podcasts, videos ( Aware - Conceptual)
2. Applied Learning - Applying techniques & strategies
- case studies, simulations, practicums, assessment, games (Functional)
3. Tacit Learning - Action & Applied Learning
- learn, solve, mentoring, collaborate, blogging, forums, social networks (Competent - Expert)
Build what we are teaching into their everyday lives.
- compliance training & certifications
- measurable results
- timely
- more knowledge
- easier to access
Challenges of elearning
-implementation process painfully slow (IT, $, etc)
-SME - where to start, who maintains control, animators, IDs, web developers.
-bring everyone together so they can be simultaneously involved then everyone is access the authoring tool at the same time, and feedback becomes more timely
-when everyone believes it is ready; it most likely is
-costs and budgets - can get derailed quickly with other projects, issues, etc.
-infrastructure can limit what projects you can try/use
-learning curve can we quite difficult not only for the students but for the administrators as well
-SME might also think that by putting their material online you are devaluing what they bring to the organization
If you can engage all these people you will have a better end product.
needs: good story, real challenges, ability to learn what they want to learn
(ie: choose your own adventure)
-try using video clips cut with questions/activities in between relative to the content
-or use graphics if you don't have access to video
-if no access to flash tools or designers - udutu has built in scenario templates (choices branch you to various answers)
Generation Y? Designing Learning to Engage Your Workforce - Dr. James E. Guilkey
Who are they?:
Born between 1980-1992
70.4 million (US)
80% have computers 7.5 hrs of media a day
shorter attention spans
resistant to lecture
prefer action
low threshold for print sources
more comfortable sharing info
Prefer:
graphic expression
creative thinking
- go in get what they need, get out, don't like being locked in learning loops
large variety of activities
game-like
engaging
Case Study with Valvoline:
mainly males
like cars
like games
Contents are "races:
Modules are "laps"
Given scores for completion
Activities "pit stops"
Ever present coach didn't work, but the ability to pull up a coach when needed was more effective
Cartoon/graphic of how something works, but text/voice over that goes over how it is working.
Get points for each correct answer.
Give them a clue to what you want them to find, click the diagram for the right answer, get points and sound gratification for right answers.
Clues in different order each time.
Always give them something - points, feedback, reinforcement, less points for each try.
Feedback tool: always there so that the modules can be constantly updated, not only during prototype trials.
Somethings still need to be taught in person or hands-on. But those items within a class or book can be turned into engaging games.
Timing sometimes is not great unless it is important to the skill being developed. Can cause a little greater anxiety.
Levels can be taken in any particular order. Gen Y hates this, but it maybe necessary when it is pre-requisite knowledge. Try to avoid if possible.
Case Study with Biomet Orthopedics:
large number of Gen Y (sales and OR work)
Need to know anatomy, other complex knowledge
We having low retention rates after 90 days from large manual and 18 day class, there was no tracking. Large array of knowledge did not have everyone on the same playing field.
18 Day course.
Used Blended Approach:
competency model
behavioral interview guide
structured field experience
web-based training
web-based testing and certificate
performance support components
Audio CDs
Classroom
Results:
Retention went for 60-80%
test scores 83-92%
18days to 10days of classroom
save $700000 over 3 years
sales increase
used globally and translated into Japanese and Spanish (only language based, not cultural)
Learning Content Contains:
Detailed Graphics
Animations
Interactive Exercises
Glossary
Games for learning included various forms of media. Knowledge here was number one thing needed. Many, many terms that then were included in the learning. Works within the program were included in a click-able glossary and also were linked to an audio file that pronounced them. Nest terms this way for Just-in-Time learning.
Gen Y do not mind - wrong try again, this is a great opportunity to feed them more information (text, graphics, animations, audio)
Does not need to be FLASHY, just needs to look like it is not bullet points, needs layers of information - they can dig a deep as they want into a topic, or if they know it - then they can just move on to the next topic. Any gaming tools - ie: matching games, drag and drop, click here, crosswords, etc
Humour - Gen Y's appreciate, need, and still can learn from humorous learning activities.
Keep it problem based - most adult learners all like this type of learning.
Newer Gen Y learning techniques are good for other generations as well as they get just as excited and engaged in this learning. Some techniques they may not be comfortable with to start with, but tend to appreciate it quite quickly.
Use the testing very much as another section of the teaching. Old mind set is that they shouldn't go back to look at information, but in doing so learners are relooking/relearning information 2-3 times and therefore increasing retention.
Case Study Huntington Bank:
Instead of a large facilitator guide, large manuals, took online materials to create blended learning.
Exercises done online before coming to class we brought back into the class for the facilitator to use instead as learning activities.
Use video segments to learning. Ask questions after, what went well, what didn't, what should have been said. Some in reiteration of pre-learning online, some is new to the classroom.
Be thoughtful of bandwidth though.
Born between 1980-1992
70.4 million (US)
80% have computers 7.5 hrs of media a day
shorter attention spans
resistant to lecture
prefer action
low threshold for print sources
more comfortable sharing info
Prefer:
graphic expression
creative thinking
- go in get what they need, get out, don't like being locked in learning loops
large variety of activities
game-like
engaging
Case Study with Valvoline:
mainly males
like cars
like games
Contents are "races:
Modules are "laps"
Given scores for completion
Activities "pit stops"
Ever present coach didn't work, but the ability to pull up a coach when needed was more effective
Cartoon/graphic of how something works, but text/voice over that goes over how it is working.
Get points for each correct answer.
Give them a clue to what you want them to find, click the diagram for the right answer, get points and sound gratification for right answers.
Clues in different order each time.
Always give them something - points, feedback, reinforcement, less points for each try.
Feedback tool: always there so that the modules can be constantly updated, not only during prototype trials.
Somethings still need to be taught in person or hands-on. But those items within a class or book can be turned into engaging games.
Timing sometimes is not great unless it is important to the skill being developed. Can cause a little greater anxiety.
Levels can be taken in any particular order. Gen Y hates this, but it maybe necessary when it is pre-requisite knowledge. Try to avoid if possible.
Case Study with Biomet Orthopedics:
large number of Gen Y (sales and OR work)
Need to know anatomy, other complex knowledge
We having low retention rates after 90 days from large manual and 18 day class, there was no tracking. Large array of knowledge did not have everyone on the same playing field.
18 Day course.
Used Blended Approach:
competency model
behavioral interview guide
structured field experience
web-based training
web-based testing and certificate
performance support components
Audio CDs
Classroom
Results:
Retention went for 60-80%
test scores 83-92%
18days to 10days of classroom
save $700000 over 3 years
sales increase
used globally and translated into Japanese and Spanish (only language based, not cultural)
Learning Content Contains:
Detailed Graphics
Animations
Interactive Exercises
Glossary
Games for learning included various forms of media. Knowledge here was number one thing needed. Many, many terms that then were included in the learning. Works within the program were included in a click-able glossary and also were linked to an audio file that pronounced them. Nest terms this way for Just-in-Time learning.
Gen Y do not mind - wrong try again, this is a great opportunity to feed them more information (text, graphics, animations, audio)
Does not need to be FLASHY, just needs to look like it is not bullet points, needs layers of information - they can dig a deep as they want into a topic, or if they know it - then they can just move on to the next topic. Any gaming tools - ie: matching games, drag and drop, click here, crosswords, etc
Humour - Gen Y's appreciate, need, and still can learn from humorous learning activities.
Keep it problem based - most adult learners all like this type of learning.
Newer Gen Y learning techniques are good for other generations as well as they get just as excited and engaged in this learning. Some techniques they may not be comfortable with to start with, but tend to appreciate it quite quickly.
Use the testing very much as another section of the teaching. Old mind set is that they shouldn't go back to look at information, but in doing so learners are relooking/relearning information 2-3 times and therefore increasing retention.
Case Study Huntington Bank:
Instead of a large facilitator guide, large manuals, took online materials to create blended learning.
Exercises done online before coming to class we brought back into the class for the facilitator to use instead as learning activities.
Use video segments to learning. Ask questions after, what went well, what didn't, what should have been said. Some in reiteration of pre-learning online, some is new to the classroom.
Be thoughtful of bandwidth though.
If you were to get your staff to spend 10% of thier time on a project of thier own design, what do you think they would come up with?
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Brent and Heidi just did a great pres turning housekeeping items into a quest story with translations. Great example. Email me 4detail
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Breakfast bytes- great way to teach, using real life problems. Let learner learn by finding out how to solve the problem.
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So the conf begins with everyone milling around quietly. Finding coffee, pastries, and trying to find thier bearing for the next 3days
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Sunday, 13 April 2008
I'm in Orlando and Ready for the AG08 Conference
So I flew in today on a fairly smooth flight. A little turbulence, but nothing to get to motion sick over. I love that the Air Canada flights have been upgraded so that you have on demand tv to watch on the flights. I chose "A Death at a Funeral"...really funny, I recommend it to anyone on the trip back home.
I little wondering around to get a few essentials I didn't want to pack, a little looking around Downtown Disney, and a little something to eat...I was then off to register. Finally got to meet Brent Schlenker face-to-face. I'm looking forward to meeting a few other people that I've connected with over the last year in person.
For the conference my first look at sessions I've picked:
Tuesday
10:45 Generation Y? Designing Learning to Engage your Workforce - James Guilkey
1:00 Engaging and Assessing the Web Generation - Roger Mundell
2:30 Learning 2.0 - Dynamic, Web-based Technologies Enable Personalized Learning on Demand - Steven Shaw
4:00 Feeding your Inner Power Learner! Learning to Leverage RSS - Brent Schlenker
Wednesday
10:45 Whole Brain Design: Enage and Retain you Learners - Ann Hermann
1:15 Instructional Design Techniques for Creating Effective e-Learning - Sighle Brackman
2:45 Scanning the Globe: Connecting your Digital World to the World Around You - Brent Schlenker
Thursday
10:00 Best Practices and Lessons Learning in Driving a Complex LMS Implementation - Brian Elmore
11:15 Structuring Interactive Exercises and Tests -- What's the Difference - Kevin Brown
Of course this is just rough. One of the things I love about this conference is the freedom to get up and move to another session if the one you have picked isn't quite right for you. I had this feeling a few times last year and have come quite prepared this year with 2nd, 3rd, and sometimes 4th choices. There's just a lot of good content to be seen, heard, and learned.
I look forward to participating in it all over the coming week.
I little wondering around to get a few essentials I didn't want to pack, a little looking around Downtown Disney, and a little something to eat...I was then off to register. Finally got to meet Brent Schlenker face-to-face. I'm looking forward to meeting a few other people that I've connected with over the last year in person.
For the conference my first look at sessions I've picked:
Tuesday
10:45 Generation Y? Designing Learning to Engage your Workforce - James Guilkey
1:00 Engaging and Assessing the Web Generation - Roger Mundell
2:30 Learning 2.0 - Dynamic, Web-based Technologies Enable Personalized Learning on Demand - Steven Shaw
4:00 Feeding your Inner Power Learner! Learning to Leverage RSS - Brent Schlenker
Wednesday
10:45 Whole Brain Design: Enage and Retain you Learners - Ann Hermann
1:15 Instructional Design Techniques for Creating Effective e-Learning - Sighle Brackman
2:45 Scanning the Globe: Connecting your Digital World to the World Around You - Brent Schlenker
Thursday
10:00 Best Practices and Lessons Learning in Driving a Complex LMS Implementation - Brian Elmore
11:15 Structuring Interactive Exercises and Tests -- What's the Difference - Kevin Brown
Of course this is just rough. One of the things I love about this conference is the freedom to get up and move to another session if the one you have picked isn't quite right for you. I had this feeling a few times last year and have come quite prepared this year with 2nd, 3rd, and sometimes 4th choices. There's just a lot of good content to be seen, heard, and learned.
I look forward to participating in it all over the coming week.
So I've arrived for the AG08. Hotel looks great. Location is good. Room not quite ready. Disney shopping it is then!
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Waiting at Pearson airport for my flight to take me to the AG08 in Orlando. Can't wait to learn what's up and coming in elearning.
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Thursday, 10 April 2008
Test Posting
This is a test posting from my cellphone. I am limited to 134 characters and don't know how to do the short form msg lingo.
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Blearning at a Conference
Well today was a bit of a test run for next week's AG08 conference. I'm wondering how I am going to capture my info for posts during the sessions. I've thought about a few options.
One is to take notes (paper based) and write them up at the end of the day.
I tried using my pda today to take notes at a conference on the fly, but using one of those little pens to write with proved more annoying then anything. Dear Santa, I would like a new pda (blackberry, iphone, whatever is great!). Although it was a fast way to transfer the notes to my computer/blog, it was a pain to capture.
Another method I will have available to me at the AG08 is being able to use my laptop and the wireless network. I use this method quite frequently while do online webinars so I know I've practiced this method, but will the battery of the laptop last.
I know I could use my cellphone to access Google Docs but I only seem to be be able to see my documents not create new ones. Even if I could this would required me to use bandwith and being out of country for me - this is going to cost.
I can however text message as much as I want. Perhaps I will try this method for some short posts through out the event. But use the note taking and late night posting for the rest of the information I want to capture and share.
Stay tuned.
One is to take notes (paper based) and write them up at the end of the day.
I tried using my pda today to take notes at a conference on the fly, but using one of those little pens to write with proved more annoying then anything. Dear Santa, I would like a new pda (blackberry, iphone, whatever is great!). Although it was a fast way to transfer the notes to my computer/blog, it was a pain to capture.
Another method I will have available to me at the AG08 is being able to use my laptop and the wireless network. I use this method quite frequently while do online webinars so I know I've practiced this method, but will the battery of the laptop last.
I know I could use my cellphone to access Google Docs but I only seem to be be able to see my documents not create new ones. Even if I could this would required me to use bandwith and being out of country for me - this is going to cost.
I can however text message as much as I want. Perhaps I will try this method for some short posts through out the event. But use the note taking and late night posting for the rest of the information I want to capture and share.
Stay tuned.
Southlake - Professional Practice Conference 7th annual
Technology and Practice : do you want to be on the cutting edge?
Some notes from today's conference.
Keynote: Dr. Joseph Cafazzo,
The Evolving Role of Technology in Health Care
Centre for Global eHealth Innovation
-promote & use more technology in health care
-right in middle of Toronto General Campus
Human Factors
-learn how people actually use technology in real situations
-need to understand these systems better
We need to concentrate more on the user and in turn the safety of users and patients (or anyone we care for).
-Users cannot be fixed we need to make or systems work for them not against them
-we must not put the blame on the user we need to make sure the tech design goes with human behaviour in mind
-need to improve adoption of technology
-improve efficency
-decrease training
-improve patient safety
-need to consider labels, diagrams, overall design
3 parodoxs
-paradox of expertise (just because someone l.s brilliant doesn't mean they can teach it)
-don't design by focus group alone
-choice - too much choice can lead to no choice at all (ie yahoo, aol, google)
Google-simple plain interface
How do we prevent errors ?
1. forcing functions and constraints
2. Automation/computerization
3. Simplifications/standardization
4. Reminders, checklists, double checks
5. Rules and policies
6. Training and education
Will lose millions of dollars testing but this will generate huge advertising
Humans will always make errors. We need to keep this in mind when designing.
Friday, 4 April 2008
AG08 - eLearning Guild Annual Gathering Momentum is Building
Well I'm not sure what is exciting me more the AG08 or the fact that I'm away from the office for a few precious days. I can feel the momentum building for this year's event being held in Orlando. I couldn't have picked a better place if I was in charge.
I'm excited as well to be trying out all the neat tools being collected by Brent Schlenker to participate in some live blogging "blearning" at the conference. I'm looking very forward to incorporating more of these tools into my repertoire.
I'm excited as well to be trying out all the neat tools being collected by Brent Schlenker to participate in some live blogging "blearning" at the conference. I'm looking very forward to incorporating more of these tools into my repertoire.
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
Siegfried Woldhek: The true face of Leonardo Da Vinci?
Ever wonder what Leonardo Da Vinci really looked like. Take a few minutes to view this presentation from this year's TED. Segfried Woldhek has remarkably and quite easily discovered his true face.
Kid Friendly Search Engine
I came across this nice search engine for kids today, GoGooligans.com. It seems like a nice educational tool for kids to use when researching their next school project, pet, or anything else of interest to them.
What's neat is the results that get returned are more geared to kids as well. As an example I tried "fish" I got returns such as:
US Fish and Wildlife Service: Kids Corner
Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Department
Kids Konnect - Fish
Flip the Fish - Kids crafts, games, recipes, activities and more!
What's neat is the results that get returned are more geared to kids as well. As an example I tried "fish" I got returns such as:
US Fish and Wildlife Service: Kids Corner
Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Department
Kids Konnect - Fish
Flip the Fish - Kids crafts, games, recipes, activities and more!
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