Reflections Learning and skills group conference

I attended the learning technologies conference this week in London. Another great conference organised by Don Taylor. (with his tie off!)

Here are some reflections and key points that I have taken away from the session run by Charles Jennings.

When working is learning then learning is working

The seller sets the price but the buyer/stakeholder determines the value. People have different views of what value is.

For L&D, performance consulting yields the greatest value

If HR and L&D strategy are aligned to business objectives then there will be a 250% increase in business performance

When designing, analysis is key

It’s all about trust when working with managers

Understand business challenges and respond quickly. This reminds me of Mark Oelhert‘s quotes from the conference in January. “Think big, start small, move fast”

Workforce development is too important to be left to L&D alone. Engage managers in the journey. Build strong collaborative partnerships and influence strategies and direction

The most significant learning experiences happen outside of the formal environment

L&D professionals need to understand the balance sheet, understand business, understand the technology and use performance consulting skills

Changing mental models from training to learning by Brigitte Jordan

Some food for thought from Brigitte Jordan

“Changing mental models and paradigms from a focus on training to a focus on learning involves a series of moves:

from individual learner		to learners in social settings
from individual skills		to the practices of a team or COP
from process orientation		to practice orientation
from didactic teaching		to activity-based learning
from linear thinking		to systems thinking
from school-based learning		to learning as a life activity
from one-shot learning		to continuous adaptation
from curriculum		to total learning environment
from top-down information dissemination		to lateral networks + peer communication
from product focus		to customer focus
from design from fantasy		to design from work practice
from requirements analysis		to work practice analysis
from implementation as delivery		to implementation as growing the practice
from providing training		to providing learning resources
from what employers want		to what frontline practitioners need”

learning technologies 2010

Really interesting reflections from Mark re learning technologies 2010

I’m still reflecting but an initial  message that has stayed with me;

“Think big, start small, move fast”    Mark Oelhert

A Collaborative Workplace

A great paper here on building a collaborative workplace by Shawn Callahan, Mark Schenk and Nancy White via Harold Jarche

An extract…………….

“Today we face an entirely new environment for innovation and getting things done. The days of the lone genius quietly toiling away in pursuit of that Eureka moment to revolutionise an industry are all but over. We are now in the days of asking and listening to our customers and working with them in our innovation cycles. Innovation demands collaboration. So does production. In the past we could focus on a single task in an assembly-line fashion, handing our completed activity to the next person who would in turn do the same, until the job was finished. Now the jobs change fast, requiring learning new skills rather than merely repeating the old. We have to seek out people who have other pieces of the puzzle and work with them to tackle increasingly complex issues at a much faster pace.”

Meet Charlene-Slideshare

This is from Janet Clareys slideshare & a great illustration between the differences between learning, collaborating, creating & communicating at work and at home

Learning Technologies 2008 First Thoughts

I have attended the learning technologies conference in London over the last couple of days & thought I’d post a few initial thoughts.

I was working at a rapporteur at the conference on  track 2 that concentrated on the theme of ‘effective learning’. Speakers included; Patrick Dunn & Clive Shepherd along with a number of representatives from organisations  (Sky, Argos, Ikea, Cable & Wireless, B&Q, Kaplan Financial, General Dynamics & the British Army) It was good to see how organisations had implemented various learning technology related initiatives and to hear the openness with which they were willing to share lessons learnt with others.

Areas covered were; design of learning, roll out, infrastructure, creating e-learning using what you have and deploying content that works for the business.

It was great to meet and speak with people who I’ve been blogging with over the last few months including Karyn Romeis, Donald Taylor, Jane Hart, Jay Cross & Clive Shepherd. Their enthusiasm was so refreshing.

After reflecting properly, I’ll post my perspective on each session, look forward to reading others thoughts too…………

Learning Technologies 2008

Looking forward to attending the conference at Learning Technologies 08 in London next week. Dates of the conference & exhibition are 30th & 31st January.

See you there!

Corporate learning; Trends & Innovations

Organised by George Siemens, here’s a great opportunity to participate in a free on-line conference on Corporate learning; Trends and Innovations

Register here

The conference takes place between 15th-20th November and will give the opportunity for attendees to engage in dialogue, exchange ideas and discuss the direction & innovations in corporate learning.

Speakers include; George Siemens, Tony Karrer, Jay Cross, David Snowden, Donald H. Taylor and Janet Clarey.

See you there.