Technology in Learning - Right Before Your Very Eyes

This week I spent some time in our nation's capital.  While in awe of all there is to see there and the significance of it all, I witnessed the utilization of technology to enhance learning in several different places!  I have to preface this by admitting my amateur mistake.  I left home without my cell phone.  While I had intended to "unplug", I had not really intended to unplug that much!  I was amazed at how lost I felt at first, but, then slowly got used to the disconnected feeling.  I guess I have not officially lost my tech challenged status.

Back to my experience.  The first stop on our itinerary was the American History Museum.  Guess what one of the first things we saw was, well, after I noticed the mouse that we used in 1986, which looked like a box with a little clicker on it.  Very funny!  Oh and C3PO, could not miss him!  We ran into a group of kids all armed with digital cameras snapping photos while on a scavenger hunt in the Smithsonian.  How cool is that? 

So, it's cool on a number of different levels, right?  Let's admit it, living close enough to take a field trip to the Smithsonian is a top level experience.  Just seeing the exhibits is enough to take your breath away.  But, being able to utilize technology to enhance the learning experience is way up there.  I was reminded of my museum experience in 6th grade.  We went, we looked, we came home, we wrote a report about it.  Yawn.  These kids went, recorded what was important to them, in the way that was important to them, probably went back to class and used Animoto to create a video about what they say and what it meant  to them. I bet they even set it to music and maybe added some audio. 

I saw this over and over again throughout our visit.  Weeks ago I viewed a youtube video in which teachers were commenting on utilizing technology in the classroom.  One teacher mentioned that the students of today and tomorrow are so adept at finding content within their own world that there is little need for textbooks or formal education and curriculum.  Her point was that the outside world in which we live our daily lives is chock full of exactly what we need to learn.  Why put it all in a textbook, why not go out there and grab it!  It's certainly there for the taking.  And, maybe we don't have to have physical access to the Smithsonian to do it.  We just need to think creatively about our surroundings and think of different ways to incorporate it into the design of our learning experience.

Tips For The Overwhelmed Techy Want-To-Be

Feeling overwhelmed?  Wasn’t all this technology supposed to make life easier and less hectic?  Has it really done that for you, or do you find yourself trying to manage all the new goodies and gadgets?  I had to laugh this morning as I was reading a post from a friend of mine frantically looking for advice on how to dry out her 9 year olds iTouch after it presumably “fell” into the toilet.  And, wouldn’t you know, there were several comments about just how to do it!  Now that's collaboration!  No doubt there were some of us that may have been tempted to flush it and be done with for good!

But, that’s not really an option is it?  Technological advancement is here to stay.  But, we certainly struggle finding a balance with the cool factor and implementation into the normal rhythm of life.  Steven Anderson provides some sage advice that, although targeted at first year teachers, can help us to think this technology thing through and begin to develop our own strategies to deal with it. 

1.    Don’t try to do everything at once.  Pick one or two things and do them well so they become ingrained into your routine.  Then add something else.  Thinking we can do 5-6 things at the same time is not realistic.  Something will eventually have to give.

2.   If you are a techy and use these tools in a learning environment (or just at home), remember your audience.  Sometimes, less is more.  Just because you think it’s cool and very helpful, not everyone will.  Also, just because you can handle ten new ideas at one time, does not mean everyone can.  Look up, check out the faces of the people around you, are their eyes rolling into the back of their heads?  Time to stop and see how they are doing.  That means they are on overload.

3.   Everyone is overwhelmed.  You are not alone.  But, when you do, it’s your responsibility to step back and re-evaluate.  What is important to you, what are your priorities and how does technology fit into them.  Not how do I fit my priorities around technology.  It’s supposed to support us, not take us away from that which we deem to be important.

So, let’s all take number three to heart.  A break is good, focusing on what’s right for us is good.  Figuring out how to use technology to support that is good.  To get the most out of it, we have to figure out what we’re going to put into it and let it unfold from there.

Reflections of Reformed Late Adaptor (aka Tech Challenged Colleague)

I took yesterday off, well, not really, as I found myself reflecting on many of the topics we covered in class.  I loved video editing and am quite surprised with myself that I can do it, but more importantly that I am understanding how the concept works.  Which, for me, is much more critical than what button to push.  If I understand the concept, I can figure out the right buttons. 

So, that was cool.  But what really stuck in my mind was the discussion, or question we had about why we seem to be so willing to collaborate socially, but see very little of this carried over into the work world.  I've got a couple of things noodling around in my head.  I'll try not to get too deep, but I think some of this just might be.

Photo courtesy of momentscaptured 1.

I'm wondering if social media allows us to do things that we would never give ourselves the leeway to do face to face or with those that ultimately judge us in terms of performance reviews.  Sort of the 'dance when no one is watching, sing when no one is listening' approach to life.  As I write that, it makes me feel rather sad.  But, I think that it is exactly how many of us feel in our work lives.  And, honestly, it is something I subscribe to and I think many of us have as we've chatted about the challenges of blogging.  How many of us have thought, "I don't have anything to write about that anyone else would find interesting."  How many of us have found ourselves nervous before hitting that darn publish post button.  So, maybe it's a natural human phenomenon. 

Then we find someone like Ze Frank who is asking us to be a part of something new and different, something that is, on the surface, carefree and whimsical.  We are interested and get involved.  But, it's involvement without any strings attached, isn't it?  No one will be copying it down and using it in our performance review.  No one will be tucking it away and making a perception that might be pulled out in a job interview down the line.  No one even knows it's you.  It's safe, it's fun and it's free.  How many of us work in a climate we could describe as that?  Even the most positive organizational climates probably don't have those words attached.  Although it would be cool, wouldn't it?

So, I'm wondering if we are wiling to let ourselves go behind the curtain of our screen name in the pursuit of individual fulfillment.  But, when we walk through the doors of work, we assume a different armour, one which fits nicely into the corporate structure, but might not fit the real us very well.  But we make due until we can go home and fill our bucket again. 

The trick from a personal perspective is to marry the two, right?  The trick, from an organizational perspective, is to figure out how to find that passion that we are beginning to realize is sitting right in front of us and direct it towards solving some of the rather challenging issues that face us in the work world.  The problem is, none of them are really as exciting as taking a walk down an old path on Google Earth or writing a Haiku about a dog that was recently neutered. 

What Was Life Like Before Reader?

Photo courtesy of Michael Cornelius

How in the world was anyone able to manage reading blogs before Google Reader?  I’ve been reflecting over the past week about how much more information I know thanks to this program.  Would I have found interesting blogs to read before, yes.  Would I have found as many, absolutely not.   Would I have checked my favorite blogs every once in awhile for new posts, yes.  Would I have done it as frequently as Reader allows me to, no way!

So, I thought, what is it really that I’ve learned or been exposed to because of my new found relationship with Reader.  I thought I’d make a short little list.  This is in addition to all the cool sites we’ve found as a group.

Helpful information:

•  Google 411 is going away.  Very sad for me as I used this frequently.  But, seems Google has what they want from it and they are done offering the free service.  Get over it, it was free, nothing lasts forever.
• Wii streaming to Netflix no longer needs the disc.  How cool is that?  I must mention that I learned that I could stream through the Wii in class, so that really doesn’t count.
•  PowerPoint is really, really bad, unless you use it really, really well.
• There are thousands of Twitter tips that, in my elementary usage of Twitter, I have not employed.

The list could go on and on and on!

Nice to know:

• Google has a TV, what is next?  Oh, yeah, self driving cars.  I can't wait for the hover craft!
• iPads are now sold at Target!
• Face book is creating a phone, no they’re not, yes they are, no they’re not.
• How to make my own Storm Trooper helmet.
• Oh, yeah, Verizon might get the iPhone – again.

Bottom line, what a fabulous resource to manage the amount of great and not so great information that is available to us.  You never know what you don't know, do you.

**On another note, my recorded PowerPoint expedition went over very well.  There is definite interest in doing it again and sharing it with other leaders. Woo Hoo!

Forced Learning - Can You Really?

Photo courtesy of markhillary

How many times have you found yourself in front of a room full of hostages, forced to be in your training session or on your conference call because of a mandatory requirement disguised as a training event?  Is it possible for learning to occur in this environment?  Is the participant even ready or willing to receive new information or have they come in with a road block the size of Mount Everest? 

If this is the case, why do organizations continue to force learning?  Study after study has shown that it does not work, but we continue to try to prove the research wrong.  I find myself embroiled in this exact situation.  We have created an "experience" to help our leaders focus on the improvement of technical skills via a mandatory live meeting every Friday morning.  While the intent is well founded, the participants, as you can imagine, are less than thrilled.  I suppose they might just think there are other things they'd love to be doing on Friday morning. 

In her blog, If You Force Them, They Won't Learn, Jane Bozarth explains that this effort to require training does not serve the intended purpose of making the training event important, but in fact has the opposite effect of making the event a chore.  Something we must complete, thus stifling any sort of collaborative, peer to peer learning.   Which is probably what we would all love to see happen.

Here's the deal, I am not so sure that collaboration and learning can be engineered.  It seems to be something that comes about naturally.  However, in an environment in which one wants to control that collaboration occurring so you can see it and measure it, we tend to try to create ways to engineer it.  So many times this backfires damaging your organizational climate. 

So, when we do get folks together, it's important to follow some basic rules that apply across many lines.  Let's remember to be clear about our purpose, be efficient, let the learner take ownership, do things the learners are competent at and make it look appealing.  Because, at the end of the day, it's about creating an experience for the learner, not the organization, leader or facilitator.  Learning or collaboration is not something that can be checked off, it's just not something that can be forced.

Podcasts - What Role Do They Play In The Learning Plan?

I branched out this weekend and enjoyed a new podcast (while doing  a bit of landscaping).  I spent some time listening to Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy.  This podcast is really a broadcast of his weekly radio/video show so it was a little bit different experience.   His focus is anything techy, bringing his audience up to speed on hew software and hardware, trends within the industry and answering caller questions.

First of all, it was much more commercial which was a reminder of how “free” is actually marketable and can generate revenue.  He talked a lot about the wisdom of the crowd.  In fact, he uses a wiki for his show notes and encourages his listeners to create them.  I found this to be interesting and a great time saver for him.  He did admit that they are certainly not comprehensive!

Secondly, I found the format to be enjoyable.  I liked the fact that he took listener questions as it made me feel very comfortable, some folks have some of the same questions I have.  What I found myself enjoying the most was that I could consume this information on my time table when it was important to me.  I’ve always listened to talk radio, but now I have the opportunity to catch the program when I have the time or the patience to really listen to it (albeit when I’m planning numerous, I say again, numerous shrubs).  So it’s my learning, my way, when I demand it or maybe better said, when I may be in the right state to learn.

In terms of learning and technology, that seems to be the piece that is resonating with me the most as of late.   The advances in technology have increased opportunities for us to utilize it within the design of the intervention.  This makes our content more interesting and user friendly, which is great. It has also increased the opportunity to build a better developed learning plan rather than an event based plan, regardless of what your event is.  We also have the opportunity to incorporate other schools of thought, or not just our own voices, but applications from the real world or examples of others working with the same content.  Podcasts allow just that, what are other people saying about some of the ideas we are discussing?  Learners and designers can now search for it, find it, listen to it on their terms and apply as necessary to their own situation. 

Yes, Virgina, There is a Santa Clause or Another Real World Application

I'm reflecting over my day and just had to share what happened (as I sit on the deck enjoying the lovely evening.  I know, a pattern, and again, if I start to wander I just want you all to realize it is happy hour).  Where was I, oh yes, sharing what happened today.

We are in the midst of making a rather bold strategic move in one of our states we do business in.  Yesterday, my leader asked my colleague and I to draft a business case to our executive office outlining why we want to move forward with this strategy.  We needed to be in a position to send it in today, that's just how we roll.  As we proceeded to put the written case together, I just couldn't help but think that there must be some way to enhance this.  Again, it is a rather bold move.  I found myself wondering if there was any way that a written, one page document could ever communicate the passion we feel behind the direction we feel we need to go. 

This morning I tested the waters.  "Would anyone be interested in doing a recorded PowerPoint to accompany the written document?  It would really help us to support the message we are trying to convey and let our leaders process the information through different mediums."  My leader was all in, the rest of my team was a bit apprehensive.  You know how you just don't really understand how something could work until you see it - that's how they felt.  So, I "whipped up" a ppt based on the exhibits we had in the written doc, wrote a script (that was not followed) and my leader had it recorded by early afternoon.  I have to say, he was amazing.  He jumped right in and really enjoyed being able to add his voice in more ways than one.  And, once my peers saw the level of quality we could generate pretty quickly, they were on board as well.



Photo courtesy of xtheowl

 I was on cloud nine.  We had a little issue figuring out how to share the larger file within company guidelines, but we got it out at 3.  A sure win in our eyes!  I sure wish we could use some of the programs we've discussed like Audacity and Jing, but we have what we have.  Maybe if more of us start to use this type of technology, it will encourage more programs to be available.

All in all, a win for us in utilizing the concepts!  I'm so proud of my team in their willingness to take a chance and try something new in a communication that is so critical to our business.  Jeez, I hope it opens up when they try to access it . . .

More Free Tools (and one not so free, but really cool)!

I just got home from class  and am relaxing on the deck (enough said, but if this blog starts to wander, you may know why).  Anyway, I wanted to share a couple of tools I learned about this weekend. 

We are working with Weebly to create our own website in which we are working through a case study applying several models we are working with.  I've been brutally honest about my tech abilities from the beginning, never in my life did I think I would be creating a web site.  Honestly, this program is SLICK and FREE!  Two of our requirements, right?  From a learning perspective, it's a really interesting way to process and play around with the content we are learning.  From a tech perspective, it's a really nice, easy to use program.  It would be fine to use with all levels of technological ability.  Just remember to advise folks to do their content work in Word, save it and copy over.  Enough said.

Here's a site for free PowerPoint games.  We used a few of them and they really are quite good.
Easy to use and engaging.  Give it a look and think about how it might enhance your next presentation.  I'm going to share it with our leaders as they are currently in the process of designing their fall planning meetings.  Maybe a little bit of fun in this challenging economic environment might just free up some creative thinking.

Oh and by the way, we got to play around with the iPad to conduct some research on a few exercises we were doing.  First of all, what a cool tool.  Secondly, what a great way to bring technology into the classroom, just bring the whole darn mobile device in and let people play around with it.  It was interesting to watch it unfold from the perspective of our emerging technologies class.  We had the entire spectrum of expereince levels represented in the class.  It was amazing to watch those more expereinced help those less experienced.  At the end, everyone loved them!  Note to self, hands on learning is not over rated.

Just a couple of ways that we might be able to enhance the learner's experience!

Ahhh, PowerPoint - Do I Have To?

Death by PowerPoint.  PowerPoint stinks.  )(@*#%)($& PowerPoint.  PowerPoint is not effective.  PowerPoint has been overused!  Do not use PowerPoint. 

The saga seems to go on and on.  In fact, we have heard so much about it that most of us are saying enough with the dissing of PowerPoint.  What if it really is what you have to work with?  I mean, really, what if it is the program that your corporation has and it is all you've got.  Well, that is the situation that I am in and so, I am faced with the decision to put up or shut up, aren't I?  I've done a little bit of research and it seems it's not entirely PowerPoint's fault, although it is so nice to blame the technology, isn't it?  It could just be operator error, whether it's not learning all there is to learn, not being creative or just not having any idea of what could be done to make a presentation more meaningful for the audience.  That was not a typo, I really did say the audience. 

This video takes us back to the basics of developing a presentation.  It's so important that we remember the presentation is not for the presenter, but it is a tool to help deliver the meaning of our presentation.  Five Rules for Creating Great Presentations utilizes PowerPoint to create a very engaging reminder of five guidelines we should all keep in mind the next time we rev up PowerPoint for a new presentation:

1.  Treat your audience as king.
2. Spared ideas and move people.
3.  Help them see what you are saying.
4.  Practice design, not decoration.
5.  Cultivate healthy relationships. 

These guidelines can help us to move the PowerPoint portion of our presentation (because that's what it is, a part of the entire package) to the background so it is supporting the message, not the vehicle delivering the message.  You see, the person presenting the message is still the most important part of delivering the true meaning of the message.  So, maybe it is time to get back on the horse and learn something new about an old mainstay.  Give it a chance, with the right operator, PowerPoint can be an effective tool in your tool belt!

Finally - Real World Application

I've not really been at a loss for ideas about how I might be able to apply some of the technologies we are learning about at work, but today I actually got the opportunity!  I was talking with one of our leaders about podcasts (I know you are surprised about that) and how they might be a great way to do some quick messages out to his team.  Also a great way to invoke the auditory sense and enhance communication, right?  "Well how would I do that?" he said.  Secretly, I thought, jeez, I don't know, I just like talking about this stuff.  Because I really don't know how to pull it off within the walls of the organization as there are uber strict rules about outside programs, etc., etc.

So, I thought the easiest way to give it a shot was a recorded PowerPoint.  We have that technology and know it works, so let's try it and we'll cross other bridges when we come to them.  "Well", he said, "I'd like to get together with you and maybe you can show me how to do that."  So, I came home and thought, really?  We need to talk about how to do that?  He's perfectly capable of pulling this off himself.  So, I sat right down and created a little Jing video for him.  Take a look:

Narrated PowerPoint Tutorial

Just to provide the appropriate update for you so you don't think this is all working for me, I did upload this to box.net and tried to add it here, but that did not work.  Not quite sure what I'm doing wrong as I'm sure I followed the directions.  I'll keep trying. But, on a nother note, I did get my netflix streaming issue resolved.  I"ll not be sharing the details of that, just that it is done.  There may have been a significant amount of operator error.

The Power of Repetition

A recent conversation I was involved in went something like this:

"How many times to I really have to tell them why?" said the leader.  "They are highly paid business people, shouldn't I just be able to tell them once and be done with it?  Seriously, do I really have to tell them again?" 

"Yes."

"But, for how long?"

"As long as it takes."

"Really?"

"Yes.  No joking."

"Are you sure."

"Pretty much."

Why is it that 2+2 does not always equal 4?  How much does the fact that humans are involved factor into the equation?  Significantly, in fact, especially when we find ourselves in uncertain times, times of change and evolution and times of great opportunity.  Many of us miss the true essence of leadership, the responsibility to be the "sensemaker" for those whom we lead.   (Anderson, 1971)  It is providing the why behind the why behind the why, then providing the why again.  It requires creating meaning from data and establishing a clear direction, oh yeah, then telling them why again. 

Intellectually, most leaders know this, but actually carrying out the communication strategy is extremely challenging.  Hence the frustration laced throughout the conversation above.  It is the old knowing/doing gap, isn't it.  I know what I should do, but darn it, doing it is really hard.  Or, in my core, I do not really want to do it to the level that I need to, it doesn't really jazz me. 

How can embracing technological advancements assist in "doing" it?  If we, as leaders, resist the temptation to lead via email and really create a communication strategy, the impact can be great.  We have to realize that communication does not always have to be one on one or via email.  Also, just because we wrote it, does not mean they understand it.  When left to our own interpretation, it is human nature to interpret what is written or said to my advantage.  So repetition and clarity are key.  It is time to put some thought into different ways to augment email communication.  Try to engage as many senses as we can through different mediums of communication.  Think about the frequency of the message and the fact that we have to hear something 7-14 times before we learn it.  The fact is podcasts, flip video, texting, social media, phone calls (not a type) and conversations offer great opportunities for leaders to engage with their teams and continue to build common understanding.

It's time to begin to use what is available to us!    What if you came in tomorrow and had a recorded message in your inbox from your boss, just wondering how it was going and don't forget what we talked about in the meeting last week.  How likely would you be to try to actually remember what that was?  Bottom line, varying your communication mediums works and with the daily noise we all face, it's critical to figure out what you are going to do.  Why is that, let me direct your attention to the first line . . .

Learning - It Really Is About The Journey or Podcasts Part 2



Photo by thms.nl

 More to share from the podcast experience.  Apparently, it's my week to focus on this dimension of technology.  If you read my last post, you may recall a particular reaction I had to some suggestions about what you might do while listening to a podcast.  Today, however, I found myself doing some of those exact things!  Truly, I am making progress.  Really, it was ever so simple.  Sort of like having folks in my kitchen with me, only I didn't have to entertain them.  Perfect!  I also took in a 'cast while driving. Much like my exercise experience, I had to drive around my neighborhood to finish.  Funny, I did not find this as bothersome as continuing my walk. 

I checked out some shorter podcasts by subscribing to Robin's Top 5.  Just about enough to get me to the grocery store and back!  I would particularly suggest this weeks podcast, Top Five Tips For Using Google Search.  While we learned a great deal of this in class, I found the review to be particularly helpful.  Maybe there really is something to that reinforcement of learning, and look, I just used a podcast to do it.  Fabulous!  Most importantly, I'd like to draw your attention to tip #1, setting up Google Alerts.   While the alert function is great, Robin walks us through setting up an alert in Google Scholar.  This was on my list of things to figure out as I wanted to set an alert for a particular subject matter that I am interested in for my research project next semester.  So, I went right in and set up that alert.  Scholarly articles will soon be flooding my inbox!  Let the lit review begin.

You might want to consider listening to this podcast in front of your computer.  Clicking along with Robin as she goes through the tips would be very helpful.  Especially if you are new to Google and all it has to offer.  It was very good in the car and of course, you can always check out the notes on the website.

I also listened to TLW 015:  You Have Poppy Seeds In Your Teeth while messing around.  Great discussion on feedback and the importance of it, potential new technologies and the relevance of the training department.  Very enlightening and a great way to stay in up with what is going on in our industry.

So, the journey continues.  What I thought I would never do, in fact I am doing and finding it quite enjoyable.  Now, to find some content that I like on my own.  Anyone finding any podcasts that they are enjoying?  Let me know, I've got some dishes to do!