Holiday Greetings!

In this Issue:

• The Spirit of e-Learning Future
• The Spirit of e-Learning Past
• Reserve Your Copy of PowerPoint 4 Web-Based Training

Through the years I have made a wide range of predictions such as the collapse of instructional design cycles time (1999), the rise of educational outsourcing (2000) and increasing industry consolidations (1999).  For this article, I will discuss social computing and take a somewhat long term view of how bio-engineering will impact memory and learning. Social Computing will be slow going in organizations:  Social Computing is perhaps the most interesting phenomenon of late.  Many writers are calling this Web 2.0 or the next step in the evolution of the Internet.  The human desire to share has given rise to well known websites such as YouTube and My Space as well as popular technologies such as collaboration tools, blogs, WIKIs and podcasts. Technology leaders such as Microsoft and IBM have established dedicated research teams to examine ways to commercialize social computing.  Forester Research has recently published an entire study addressing this topic. However, the openness, flexibility and individual expression that social computing supports, flies in the face of an organization’s need for consistency... Learn more

Way back in 1999 I made several predictions about the future of e-Learning.  I am reprinting my predictions made in 1999 to give us a six year perspective.  I was 90% spot on with a few that still appear to be in the emerging stages.  An excerpt from my article in 1999…A Master of Arts in Distance Learning completed via distance learning will be the hottest degree for entry into these new positions. Think about it. The individual completing the distance learning degree demonstrates many highly desirable skills, including self-discipline, motivation, technology facilitation skills, teamwork, an ability to learn using distance learning, and communication skills using new technologies. I see a growing demand in many technology fields for graduates with Distance Learning degrees instead of conventional degrees. I believe that we will soon see specific job requirements targeting graduates of these programs: 'Wanted: Instructional Design Specialist. Must have BA or MS in Distance Learning via distance learning.' Just wait and see… Learn more

I am preparing a workbook for instructional designers, trainers, subject matter experts and developers interested in implementing PowerPoint for web-based training.  Its publication in PDF format and/or print will be available in the 1st quarter 2007.  The workbook will be a spiral bound, 8-1/2” by 11” format with approximately 250 pages.  It will include ready to implement PowerPoint templates including a wide range of games, role based simulations and interactive exercises.  Why did I write this workbook? My interest is two fold. Foremost, cycle time to design, develop, test and deploy online learning is too long for most organizations.  Most corporate web-based training projects take months yet organizations need to publish learning content online in weeks.  Secondly, the major cost of online learning isn’t in design and development but in managing the life cycle (maintenance).  My experience with over 200 Fortune 1000 companies is that content updating impacts approximately 25% of WBT published pages.  In addition, content growth can be as much as 60% per year.  As a consequence, the cost of e-Learning is hidden in the burden of updating and adding new content to courses. PowerPoint development for web-based training makes this major challenge easier to manage. Reserve your copy and get 25% off the list price by emailing info@askintl.com and requesting to be placed on the reservation list.… Learn more