Training 2.0 Trends
Archive for August, 2007
by:
David Fionda
August 30, 2007 at 6:23 pm · Filed under Instant Messaging
If any of you have teenagers in the house ( and I do) you can certainly agree that instant messaging is huge.
According to TechWatch, a survey by Media Metrix shows that there were 339 million visits to Instant Messaging Services like MSN, Yahoo, and AIM in May 2006 alone. It is estimated these users will send billions of IM messages
Well, for teens trying to communicate, it makes sense ( although frankly I tell my daughter that picking up the phone is a lot easier…oh well, at least it doesn’t tie up the phone line!) , does it have an impact on the future of training?
Absolutely
 For the next generation learners, using IM is as automatic as the baby boomers picking up a telephone. They communicate and share information over IM. Although it might not always be productive, it is a clear part of their culture.
How can we apply a collaborative technology like IM to driving training results and effectiveness… we can.Â
- In traditional training, learners generally only get to interact with a instructor (subject matter expert) during the program. You can use IM technology to host a pre-class exchange of ideas, a post-class follow up or an on-demand exchange when learners have follow up questionsÂ
- You can also setup instant messaging rooms that focus on a particular topic ( like training 2.o) and that could have more than one expert.
One of the drawbacks of instant messaging is access. Many business users dont have IM accounts, or have difficulty in using the technology.
On this blog, you can see an instant messaging widget, provided by a company called meebo. With meebo, you can conduct a chat session with a subject matter expert with anyone who visits the web page. You don’t need to have an account with MSN, Yahoo to take advantage of this important collaborative technology. We expect to extend this capability to everyone who contributes to our bog and to host regular chat sessions with these experts.
So go ahead…if I’m online, send me a message and we can chat. Experience training 2.0 technologies for yourself.
Best,
Dave
by:
David Fionda
August 30, 2007 at 5:38 pm · Filed under Collaborative Technologies
Many years ago, the training world first experienced e-learning. Like many new technologies, it was going to set the world on fire. Many predicted that it would completely replace traditional training….that all training would be done over the web.
Of course, a lot of companies made a lot of money as they rode this wave. Hundreds of companies, from content companies, consulting companies, learning management system companies were founded, went public, made their shareholders lots of money.
Like any new trend, reality starts to set in. The technology recession in 2003 - 2005 forced a lot of these companies to consolidate. More importantly, they came to realize one startling fact.
Almost 70% of people who took e learning courses…never completed them.
That folks is the dirty little secret about e-learning. While the savings and possibilities are endless the reality was that e learning, as a replacement for stand-up training…just didn’t work well. In the heyday, to convert an 8 hour course would cost around $140,000. Now if you can save thousands of hours of trainer, travel, hotel, meals costs, that can quickly be recovered.
If the training is not as effective, then that money is wasted. Something had to change..
 And it did.
Blended learning arrived. Blended learning, according to Wikipedia, ” is the combination of multiple approaches to learning. Blended learning can be accomplished through the use of ‘blended’ virtual and physical resources. A typical example of this would be a combination of technology-based materials and face-to-face sessions used together to deliver instruction.”
This approach rejects the e-learning notion that all training needs to be done on line and embraces the fact that nothing can replace face-to-face instructor contact and that technology should be used not to replace, but enhance the experience.
Some of the collaborative learning technologies that we will cover here in the Training 2.0 blog are an important critical component of blended learning.  In order to engage and develop the next generation of leaders, we can’t rely only on traditional training. The generations that grew up with Instant and Text Messaging, Video Games, Discussion Forums, MySpace, Facebook have too short of an attention span and are used to on demand access to knowledge. They want to be able to learn when they want and where they want. They want to be able to access information from subject matter experts and each other immediately. Traditional classroom training does not provide them with these opportunities.
Blended learning, uses key collaborative learning technologies, does.
Since the requirement is for on demand and now, the technologies that were used to develop traditional e-learning also experienced a shift. Learners could no longer wait the 6 - 8 months that it typically require to develop an e-learning course. Technologies had to allow for the rapid development of these blended learning content.Â
These technologies have arrived and are allowing learning organizations to develop blended learning content quicker, cheaper and faster.
Our company has embraced these tools, with outstanding results. The example we have provided below was developed as an introduction to a training session for a client. Using these new technologies, we were able to design, develop, test and deploy this presentation in less that 48 hours.
As always, I welcome your comments.
Regards,
 Dave
Blended Learning Example
Blended Learning Example 2
by:
David Fionda
August 28, 2007 at 9:39 pm · Filed under Trends
Facebook is one of the most successful “social networking” site in the world today. Although it was launched only 3 years ago, it now support more than, according to Wikipedia, Â 34 million members.
For many years, Facebook was primarily focused on college and university students. With it’s explosive growth, leader in business are starting to embrace Facebook.
I believe that to foster and advance the dialog about Training 2.0, the future of training and collaborative learning, there must be a place where all of us who are involved in this space can connect and collaborate. I took a serious look at the more popular business networking sites - Linked In. I found it difficult to use. On the other hand, I logged into Facebook and was immediately hooked as a great way to collaborate and keep in touch.
I hope you will consider joining our Training 2.0 Group. To join, simply click on this link. If you are already a Facebook member, you will be brought to the group page. If you are not, you can register in just a couple of minutes and then join the group.
You can click on this link to join:
Join our Facebook Training 2.0 Group
Thanks!
Dave
by:
David Fionda
August 28, 2007 at 9:00 pm · Filed under Podcasts
Using Social Networking to Train our Future Leaders
In this podcast, we welcome Todd van Hoosear, from the public relations firm Topaz Partners.  Todd will discuss:
 1.) What is Social Networking and How is it Different than Traditional Networking
      2.) A Comparison of Social Networking Sites: MySpace, FaceBook and LinkedIn and Others
      3.) Using Simulations like Second Life in Training
      4.) The Importance of Social Networking in Developing our Next Generation of Business Leaders.
Todd has developed an extensive knowledge of social networking through his leadership of the electronic public relations practice at Topaz Partners. He is an active member of the Boston Chapter of the Social Media Club.
Technorati Tags: Social Networking, Podcasts, Social Media, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Collaborative Learning, Blended Learning, Wikis
Using Social Networking to Train Our Future Leaders [25:57m]:
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