What to do while attending a boring online learning event: stealth learning
By Janet Clarey | July 22, 2008
So there I was having a Skype chat when I’m pretty sure the receiver of my whiny drivel was playing the world’s smallest violin for me. Or poking himself in the eye. Or doing something else entirely. Yea, that last one there. That’s probably it.
Me, I always “play” when I’m bored and online. Hmm…what’s this emoticon? What does the options tab have under it? Wow…I can custom name the chat conversation. Cool I can change languages (not recommended in the live environment). I can call forward to my cell? (BTW, Skype rules)
This is when I have had some of my best learning experiences. While I would never make time to learn how to thoroughly use a tool, I’m fine with exploring it while someone else is boring me to the point of poking myself and I just can’t get away. Stealth learning I call it. Not too much to distract from the conversation like say, reading all updates in your reader or going to get coffee.
So…if you find yourself in an incredibly unfortunate webinar or chat and don’t want to make keyboard clacking noises in the background, at least take time to learn.
Proof again that I am uncool. Because frankly, I need a pedicure and could have taken care of that instead. But I am the wiser!
Photo: Rebecca Ellis
Topics: shenanigans | 10 Comments »
How hard is it for you to balance innovation and execution?
By Janet Clarey | July 18, 2008
I’m watching my son mow the lawn methodically in straight lines. He does the same thing every week. He executes his work. He waits until the grass is dry enough, decides whether or not he is going to use the bagger, moves stuff out of the way, uses the push mower first then the rider, etc. Plan. Execute. Admire.
My lawn mowing technique is more crop circle-like. Innovative. Different every time. Messy. Soccer ball in my path? No problem. I’ll just go around it (otherwise I’d have to put down my beer). Sometimes, I won’t even mow the entire lawn on the same day. That way, it’s never done. I often work that way too. Spontaneous. Sporadic. Messy.
I rebooted my innovative self two weeks ago by going on vacation and seem to have started up in the “execute” mode. Which is good because too much time spent on innovation means nothing gets done. And nobody wants to pay the laborer who makes crop circles in the yard.
Of course too much time executing means lack of vision. No creating little walking paths off to the side of the main lawn. You’re too busy admiring the lawn.
How do you balance all the innovative discoveries that present themselves with the need to execute?
Photo: Matthew Rambo
Topics: Brandon Hall | 8 Comments »
New Distributed 3D Virtual Environment w/ Instructional Potential: Google Lively
By Janet Clarey | July 9, 2008
Noticed a boatload of comments on Google Lively this morning (it was released yesterday). Since I don’t have time to play with it right now, here’s a round-up of what others are saying:
you can pipe in content hosted elsewhere on the Internet, including photos or videos. For another, you can embed your Lively area into your blog or, using widgets Google has written, on MySpace and Facebook Web pages. And you can e-mail your friends a normal Web address to get them to join. You can set up you own online spaces–rooms, grassy meadows, desert islands, and you can change the clothing or form of your avatar.
it runs within the browser on the Windows machine very well and does not seem to take a super-machine to work it.
The avatars in the pictures look really interesting, kind of Tim-Burton-Esc”. It is taking a little time for the “room” to materialize, but still pretty cool. There is a lot going on.
I just started playing around with it, so it’s a bit early to say exactly what its role will be in the world of emerging technologies. A quick initial reaction: it’s Second Life distributed.We should be able to experience it in our environments (such as blogs, wikis, or even LMS’). At first glance, Google seems to be trying something similar with virtual worlds - namely, have the world available where you want it, rather than forcing you to go to a certain space.
The Lively team wants to help people experience another dimension of the web. We hope you will use the product to express yourself with and without words, and to do this in the places you already visit on the web.
If you enter a Lively room embedded on your favorite blog or website, you can immediately get a sense of the room creator’s interests, just by looking at the furniture and environment they chose. You can also express your own personality by customizing your avatar’s look, showing people who you are without having to say a word. Of course, you can chat with each other, and you can also interact through animated actions. In our user research, we’ve been amazed at how much more poignant it is to receive an animated hug than seeing the text “[[hug]]”.
Prior to this release, we worked closely with Arizona State University. Based on feedback from ASU students and with help from the Google Desktop team, we added support for playing YouTube videos in virtual TVs and showing photos in virtual picture frames inside our rooms. Better yet, the gadgets you have in your Lively rooms can also run on your desktop.
Well, this sucks for Second Life
Lively runs completely in the browser and you use your Google account to log in and create your own avatars. Within the world, you can interact with other users, very much like you would do in Second Life. You can also watch YouTube clips on virtual TVs and share your own photos.
See more here at Google Lively. And, here’s a video.
Topics: Brandon Hall | 1 Comment »
When training is not the solution and chips are cakes.
By Janet Clarey | July 9, 2008
Soon to be sticking out like a sore thumb in the potato chip section of a grocery store near you is Pringles, recently determined not to be a chip (crisp) at all but a cake. Thanks UK! Apparently the UK courts don’t know that I try to avoid cake. A cake that conveniently fits in the cup holder of my car. Did you know we eat one billion dollars of Pringles each year? I know right?
I’m sure you have (or have had at some time) some ‘pringle-like’ content in your training. You know the one…the course/class that is actually training for something that does/did not require training.
Remember the mandatory ILT for a group because one person has crappy customer service skills? (And they didn’t think the training applied to them anyway). Remember the off-the-shelf soft skill e-learning to address morale-type issues that are actually the result of a bad manager (yet no training for the manager…waahhh?).
Although you won’t be the most popular kid on the block this is probably one ‘fight’ worth fighting. At least I’ve always thought it was. Why? Because your training solution will fail - that’s what people will see. And you’re employees won’t be happy with you. Training that didn’t work. Yuk. No one wants that. You want to be helpful. You want to improve the performance of the work force. No time to be a yes man/woman. But being a realist, if you must provide training, at least don’t cave without stating your position. “I’m not confident it’s the right solution because…blah blah blah…I’m just sayin’.”
A process for handling (and rejecting) incoming requests should be part of your trainer DNA. Here are some suggestions for triaging those incoming requests.
- is it a learning strategy item? (if not, why? is it new? should it be discussed? should it be politely turned down because of other strategy-linked priorities?)
- is it tied to the organization’s business plan? (if not, why? is it new? should it be discussed? should it be politely turned down because of other strategy-link priorities?)
- is it a problem that requires training intervention? (ask five “why” questions…Q: why do you think you need this? A: because we have complaints from the customers. Q: why? tell me about it. What prompted it? A: well, we received a complaint that was elevated to the C-level so I got a call to get some customer service training in here. Q:(thinking…aah, now we’re getting to it)…hmmm…one complaint? that doesn’t sound like much of a problem given the fact your employees are on the phone all day. why do you think you need this again? A: basically, I don’t. but I do have to address this promptly. Q: Why not a discussion with the one person that the complaint is against? Is it a pattern? If so, will training help this person or is it a performance issue or are they in the wrong job? A: I’m not sure that customer service is right for this person but she’s been coming along. Q: Why don’t you think about it - and the money that can be saved - by not making everyone attend training they may not need. A: OK. I’ll call you back.
- is it funded or can funding be obtained? (the greatest solution in the world won’t fly if there’s no funding for it.)
- if it’s not a strategy item…don’t turn it down right away. Is it something that can save the company money and be done quickly and inexpensively? (flexibility, value is a must)
I do hope you enjoyed the cheesy tie-in (or should I say Pizzalicious because that’s my fave) of Pringles and training. Proof that I am way uncool and always thinking about training. Sigh.
Topics: Brandon Hall | 9 Comments »
YouTube - CorpUtv’s Channel
By Janet Clarey | June 25, 2008
A new find for me, maybe for you too. This is the YouTube - CorpUtv’s Channel which provides “lessons in learning for business leaders.” Searching “social media” brings me a range from…
…funny..(Social Media Addiction Rap)
…to ’serious’ (Social Media WordPress Theme - Wicket Pixie
It’s not just for social media. You should consider subscribing to this channel if you don’t already.
Topics: Brandon Hall | No Comments »