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.

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.

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.

2008 Annual Gathering 3 Weeks Away

Need I say more.....hope to see some of you there.

2008 Annual Gathering - looking for attendees

Angela White put out a nice comment today on how much last year's event meant to her and how much it enspired her personally and in a career capacity. I feel very much the same and feel quite privledge to be given the opportunity to be going again this year (BIG thanks to my boss).

Last year was quite exciting from the keynote speakers to the concurrent sessions, to the many new friendships I've acquired through blogging. Blogging was the most wonderful tool that I have ever learn in my life. I have learned so much though my own blogging and much more so through the reading of other's blogs.

I hope to meeting many fellow bloggers at this spring's gathering. Angela and I would both like to hear who else may be attending.

WebStats 2007 - MEME

Tony Karrer started a meme on 2007 webstats on blogs. I started blogging mid April 2007 and began using Google Analytics in October. I certainly don't have the same number of visitors as anyone else I read, but I like to look every so often to see how my blog is received. Here are my stats from G.A. from Oct. on wards.

My stats from Blogcounter.com have me at 4647 hits since June 2007 and I've had visitors from at least 24 different countries. I love how easy blogging globally connects people.

2008 eLearning Guild Annual Gathering Announced

Okay, call me excited. I received a wonderful email last night in my inbox....

"Annual Gathering 2008 Registration Now Open! "

So immediately I start wondering..."hmmmm, is my boss actually going to approve me attending in April? Just how to I get her to understand this is a good idea (again)?" So I started this morning printing off everything I could, registration costs, flight, hotel, agendas, etc. I took all my papers into her office and said guess what I just got in the mail?

Well, much to my surprise she was almost more excited then me. So now I need to thank the Guild for putting this info out right near my birthday and Christmas time. I think this time of year puts bosses in the more giving and sharing mood.

So I'll see you there!!!!!
Love you Mickey Mouse!