Stephen Downes on A Gathering of Ideas

This is really worth reading by Stephen Downes, he talks about the meaning of the internet. Some extracts……..

“an explosion of capacity thrust into the hands of people worldwide, the instrument not only for the greatest outburst of creativity and self-expression ever seen, but also of the greatest autonomy and self-determination, and as well on top of that an unparalleled mechanism for cooperation and cohesion”

“the meaning of the internet boils down to a simple utility. One person, one voice. The freedom of each of us to form and to have and to share our own thoughts, created by us, contributed freely to the world, and a society built, not on the basis of a propagation of ideas, but rather, on the basis of a gathering of them.”

The Big Question: What will Workplace Learning Technology Look Like in 2015?

The May big question is; What will workplace learning technology look like in 2015?

As much as I’d like things to move faster, I’ve found that leading change in the real world takes lots of time, empathy  and patience.  The following list is a combination of pragmatic suggestions (perhaps some are wishes!) based on my reality of working in organisations over a number of years.

There is a mainstreaming of much of the under the wire activity that is happening at the moment

Mobile learning is becoming the norm in line with increasing flexible working

Performance and outcomes become even bigger drivers in L&D and OD

More L&D professionals and departments merge with OD and rebrand themselves as business partners, performance specialists and business consultants.

The LMS is dying (but not dead!)

There is more acceptance in organisations of the need to offer flexibility and choice to learners. The pressure of PULL is taking hold

More value is placed on user generated content and awarding bodies enable this to be included in qualification routes

Social media is embedded and widely used in many organisation

There is a rise in shared HR services and this helps to drive the wider use of technology to enhance learning and performance

Face to face workshops are still offered as part of a blended solution

Wider organisational talent is harnessed and there is more collaborative working between managers and L&D business partners to find innovative solutions to business challenges

The sunshine comes out from behind the clouds but data security is still a big issue

Online performance coaching is the norm

Coaches and coachees embrace the use of informal mentors (via social media) to enhance the coaching experience

Wot no social media!! Learning and Talent development 2010

CIPD have recently published their annual survey report.

Some highlights for me  include;

E-learning is the practice that has increased the most with 62% of organisations saying they use it more than in 2009.

Only 17% of organisations expect learners to be mainly responsible for their own learning

The biggest change anticipated over the next 5 years is a greater integration between coaching, OD and performance management to drive organisational change and a greater resonsibility devolved to line managers

CIPD comment in the final section ‘implications and insights’ about their concerns of ‘hibernation’ as professionals lock themselves in their own organisations. They also point out that external conferences and events are declining and suggest that this could affect the ‘ideas sharing and collaboration necessary to drive learning and talent development insights’

Surely CIPD are aware of the increasing opportunities that are available to everyone to share ideas, collaborate, discuss and learn via social media. Surely they recognise the scale and value of informal learning too???

Unless I’ve missed it no mention of either social media or informal learning in their survey.

An oversight??

Goodbye Butts in Chairs

Love this!

 

Did you know 4.0 latest update

Handbook of emerging technologies for learning

A handbook written by  George Siemens and Peter Tittenberger as well as a wiki that will continue to be updated is now available.

“This Handbook of Emerging Technologies for Learning (HETL) has been designed as a resource for educators planning to incorporate technologies in their teaching and learning activities.”

Really worth reading.

Professional Knowledge

Some interesting predictions here including this one;

“Professional knowledge will become obsolete almost as quickly as it’s acquired. An individual’s professional knowledge is becoming outdated at a much faster rate than ever before.

Most professions will require continuous instruction and retraining. Rapid changes in the job market and work-related technologies will necessitate job education for almost every worker. At any given moment, a substantial portion of the labor force will be in job retraining programs. -Marvin J. Cetron and Owen Davies, “Trends Shaping Tomorrow’s World, Part Two,” May-June 2008, p 41″

Corporate Learning: Trends and Innovations

Great opportunity to participate in an on-line conference organised by George Siemens, Jay Cross and Tony Karrer. It takes place between November 17th-21st and is free. You can sign up here

Pay Attention (Did you Know)

Thanks Joan for the link

Pay Attention (Did You Know)

Top 10 Tools

Here’s an opportunity to contribute to the top 10 tools list compiled by Jane Hart. Jane has some great resources on her site that are freely available.