TechLearn '98 from 20,000 feet
"The digital promise is extending, not supplanting, human relationships." (Elliott's mom videoconferences her way into our group. Email has totally changed nature of mother/son relationship.)
"We've been broadcasting knowledge."
Kids are more accepting and adept with technology than their parents. They're a lap ahead. They see themselves as "investors of intellectual capital" rather than loyal employees. (Don Tapscott)
Knowledge is a perspective, held by a community, that makes one more effective. It's a point of view which leads to competence valued by the community. (Eric Vogt) See PointPoint notes for more.
"Senior management's most popular reading is:
· Fortune
· Forbes
· Harvard Business Review
· Golf Digest
Golf Digest is the only one that describes the ROI of training." (Lance Dublin)
Some executives read only PowerPoint slides. (Lance Dublin)
"Training must move up the food chain." Expect small chunks, re-engineered instructional development, universal assessment, short-term focus, wrap service around the product itself. (Tom Kelly)
"Get out of thinking that the learning environment includes only instructors and students." (Mike Parmentier)
On-line facilitation requires different skills than the classroom. (Elliott)
Unlike classroom instructors, on-line trainers don't need to be adept at classroom management, presentation skills, good physical self image, subject matter expertise, or charisma. Many will have little or no instructional background.
On-line instructors need to make sure technology doesn't interfere with delivering content, to set expectations/norms for learning behavior (no flames, please), to monitor learner performance (because you can't see the light going on. ah ha!), and to build learning teams (because people learn best by mouthing the words with their peers). Watch out, because learners expect a higher level of intimacy (1 to 1). Also, the learner is only one click away from leaving.
Popular themes:
· build learning communities
· learning objects, separate content from process
· platform independence
· content, content, content
· blend human & on-line seamlessly
· performance is more important than how you get there
We must help adults relearn how to learn. (Diane Hessan)
Detail
Monday, November 16, 1998
Drove back to Kissimmee. took an airboat ride. slow, but that’s okay if you’re touring cypress trees covered with Spanish moss, as reflected by the bayou. then a swim. and back to Elliott’s show. I was anointed a coach, got a spiffy tech learn jacket, and found that this “is not a three-day event, but the start of a digital relationship.” we coaches are expected to be scribes and facilitators of on-going email groups of some sort.
Elliott said that the measure of success of the problem/solution sessions is not “body count” as much as learning, now or later.
At the keynote, “Internet Time” is when there is no time. 2 PM, “I’m done.” And they all moved away from me on the group w bench.
Out of the box, learn what you can, experiment, respect & trust, go for it. so I’m rethinking tomorrow’s presentation, er, collaboration.
Tuesday, November 17, 1998
how does the $32/night red carpet inn west compare to the Coronado Springs resort in Disney World? at the Coronado, Mickey Mouse delivers your wake-up call; at the red carpet, they forget to call you altogether.
Today was a good day. I delivered my presentation and seemed to connect with some of the audience. Going in, I’d decided that my role was to share, not to present, and that made everything a bit more personal. I made eye contact with everyone in the room, often multiple times. I talked with one person at a time. I think I went too fast but I’d forewarned people this was a once-over-lightly presentation.
Conference highlights. Elliott brought his mother up on the big screens in a video conference. “the digital promise is extending, not supplanting, human relationships.”
Don Tapscott talked of n-gen lapping its parents. These kids will be “investors of intellectual capital.” Later; Eric Vogt gave a brilliant session on a new paradigm for learning.
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Tuesday, November 17, 1998
just returned from the conference party at Tomorrowland.
Tomorrowland looks like what it is -- an early 70s vision of the future. Throw in some sleekness and it comes out looking like the 50s.
· I took the buzz lightyear ride – shooting laser beams at targets as you’re carted along a short track.
· Next I entered a “time machine” with nine-eye, a robot. Ended up in a room surrounded by eight movie screens, 360o. We traveled to prehistoric times, to the ice age, to the renaissance, etc. This was the same sort of thing Disney put together for the ’58 Brussels worlds fair.
· I bailed on Space Mountain, the roller coaster, and wandered through the video arcade. Shoot ‘em ups, race cars, martial arts, pinball, motorcycles, tank races. I was both bewildered and bored.
· Then I went to “alien encounter.” lots of b.s. up front about teleportation. Then, into a theater with bucket-seat chairs. As we get into it, a horse collar descends over each person’s head. Then the “experiment” goes awry. Boom. feel it in the chair. Gnash! Splatter with water. grrrrrr. Air blows on my head. und so weider. An imitation feelie.
In sum, Tomorrowland is very retro. On to main street. Quaint. quintessential Victorian street, Small town America circa 1890. Except clean and outlined in lights. We watched a great fireworks show. I’d forgotten how beautiful fireworks could be! The party began and I soon got back on the bus to return to the Coronado and then to Kissimmee. It’s late. Time to pack. And to think about the optimal way to spend a few free hours in Orlando mañana.
Disney : culture as McDonalds : food.
Wednesday, November 18, 1998
I rolled out of bed at seven and headed for the conference. Got Elliott’s take on on-line instructors, Bob Pike via video, and Wayne Hodgins on all manner of things. went to Gatorland. I counted more than fifty gators in one spot.