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So one of the things that I do often, and get to talk about a bit, is the idea of visual design.
For the record, I am not a very graphically enabled person. I can sketch a bit, I can get a point across, but I don’t make many visuals that anyone would call beautiful. How about you? Are you graphically minded?
Regardless, being visual, or thinking visually is important part of any learning professional.
For one of the presentations I did, I even put together a presentation that starts with some visual thinking – and the power of how visuals can communicate very powerful messages – both in terms of learning and emotion.
Check out this short screencast, as one example:
Also, check out VizThink – lots of interesting material for anyone interested in become more visual. Or looking to enhance your visual thinking. http://www.vizthink.com/blog/
I’ve been reading Wired.com for a few years, usually daily. For awhile now they’ve had a feature called the Wired How-To Wiki. (this one is about getting through airport security)
It’s an interesting experiment in presenting learning content on several different levels.
First off all they have lots of resources and professional writers to make it look good and read it really well.
Second, they understand that the graphics really make a piece. Sometimes the images are truly (which is the positive), 
sometimes they are just fun (at least they give us something). Check out How to survive and Avalanche
Third… it’s a wiki – meaning anyone can make changes, comment on the content, and even see the changes over time.
Although I haven’t dug in to see if readers of wired.com are adding much content or not, it is still an interesting concept. Allowing user generated content and corrections to create learning content.
Think of organizational possibilities – you create a quick procedural write-up on how to do a task, maybe as a job aid for yourself, or for a co-worker learning on the job. Rather than letting it rot on your hard drive, you share it out to the wiki. Perhaps a coworker sees an error or inconsistency, and takes a minute or two to make a change. A third co-worker disagrees, and changes the process. All is lost– no, from the wiki we can see who made what change and when- it can be restored back to its previous state, or changed again.
So not only does it create transparency, it creates an opportunity for each member of the organization to take ownership.
A potential downside might be if and when employees don’t feel like they have time to add anything. Then we’re no better off than we were before the wiki. Also, I’m not saying that this is the strategy for deploying every type and kind of training- I wouldn’t use it for highly regulated topics, or topics that are mission critical to the success of the organization. It can assist, but probably not the primary tool.
Now, can I get my screencasts to play in the wiki?
Okay one more post on the iPod Touch (at least for a little while, since this really isn’t a blog about the iPod touch – its about learning, especially e-learning.)
Today Toolbook announced it has and will be releasing tools to develop specifically for the iPhone and iPod Touch. I am not a Toolbook user – but I think it seems pretty cool. Focused development on e-learning on a very cool tool.
They even made a screencast to preview it, check it out here: http://www.toolbook.com/demos/iphone_howto_demo/1/index.html
If anyone is working with ToolBook and is able to give this a try, I’d love to hear how it works… and even, if possible I’d be willing to test it out.
So in my travels lately I have been keeping an eye out for free Wi-Fi connections so I can use one of the features of the iPod touch that I can’t use at home. In the Denver Airport on Wednesday I was able to connect to the free connection.
A couple things I noticed as I browsed the internet, some of which will be a limiting factor if you are planning to use the iPod touch for mobile learning (m-learning).
One: using the wi-fi feature cuts the battery charge significantly. So if you’re using it with out a charger or a way to plug it into your computer, the actually amount of use you can get out of the touch is limited. I know I went from full to half in an hour or so. For shorter smaller modules this is fine. If its going to be something longer, you may not want to rely on the user going through wifi to access content.
Two: As of right now the actually types of content you can view on the iPod touch through the Safari browser is limited. No flash content. Images of most types seem to work fine. Videos- really I think I’ve only seen YouTube videos that play on YouTube. Even the YouTube video I posted recently only plays on the touch from the YouTube page.
Three: The ability to type and add content quickly from the iPod Touch. While I really like the touch keyboard, I am not yet proficient, and not fast at all. I still make mistakes. Granted I’ve only been using it for two months, I think that the keyboard is going to be ideal at all for writing or entering much information.
Four: At least for now, I don’t have a good application for note taking, organizing, or accessing other documents. I was checking my work e-mail through the web (which is a great and easy way to see wants going on, unless a response is needed ASAP), but I can’t even begin to look at attachments that come in. So again a limit on the formats that can be viewed and accessed.
I’m not trying to be negative, because I do really like my iPod touch – wow screen video looks so nice! I also want to be realistic about what it can and can’t do right now.
So my last post was about Launchy, with a quick video posted to YouTube.
There are two things I wanted to comment about, in conjunction with the last post. First, is the notion that with technology, I need to stop and think about the implications for learning– especially for tools.
Think about it. A tool like this, whether it is Launchy or some other program really has interesting potential in a learning environment. If I was working with a synchronous or a-synchronous group and had multiple websites, documents, etc… that I needed to access on even a semi-regular basis, I would add these to the list that Launchy pulls from. I would also have my student’s use this tool. It simplifies some of the process to quickly accessing materials.
I think it also very cool that it makes it very easy to launch an application. I think with a little become familiar with it, and a bit of regular use, it can make teachers and learners processes a bit smoother and faster.
Second Point
Maybe this is an aside, but after posting the video to YouTube, my first by the way, I was shocked to see that withing an hour there was a comment from someone:
I guess I’m not surprised, Launchy is similar to Quicksilver. Although I admit I was disappointed. I can see how someone entering into this space, trying to do something new, get involved in web 2.0 would be intimidated.
Honestly, who cares – I’m a PC user, I’ve taught classes for students at Indiana University, as grad student for both PC and Mac. Both platforms have pro’s and cons.
I think anyone that is using a forum like YouTube to try passing on educational materials probably needs to develop a thick skin, since you never know what will come your way. The idea of sharing and commenting is truly a powerful concept, but it is also can be scary and down right nasty if your materials is received negatively. In the case of this one video, fortunately, there was no cussing 
So here’s the question, what do you see as the positives and negatives of posting to sites like YouTube for e-learning purposes?
I have been using Launchy for about a year now. I really like it. When I have been using a computer without it, I always miss it.
It really is cool. You can quickly launch it with a hotkey- then you can use it to launch programs, websites, or go to folders, it even can be a calculator.
I put together a 2 minute video to give you a preview. Check it out:
I’m hoping to do more screencasts… let me know what you think….
Today was a good day.
We started off attending the opening session at the ASTD TechKnowledge conference. The open speaker was Joe Miller, Vice-President, Platform and Technology Development Linden Research, Inc — i.e. creators of Second Life.
I don’t want to give the wrong impression, I think the potential future uses on 3-d worlds is interesting and could be very useful. I think that right now for many of the organizations I have talked to the idea of using something like Second Life isn’t an option – for a lot of different reasons. I’ve stated before I am a bit of naysayer – even though I keep many of the Tech trends – but I am trying to critically think of how it can be used. I guess the Second Life bug just hasn’t bit yet. And I’m still struggling to see it’s niche.
I guess its like a lot of things – as instructional designer I try not to get beholden to any one tool. I think like like many other positions the instructional designer needs many tools, so that the right one in the right situation at the right time can be used effectively.
Oh – and I think the presentation would have been more convincing if the avatars in the images used during the presentation weren’t large busted, scantily clad females. I mean, really, are those the only ones they could find. I suppose for some folks that’s the fun right – but when you’re talking to a group of professionals that already have to do a lot of work to justify tools a lot older and more standard than Second Life – couldn’t you help us out a little by at least not making it look like its spring break in Florida on the beach? [sigh.]
On a different note, Ryan Eash (Instructional Designer from TechSmith Corporation) and I presented another session on Camtasia Studio. It went really well. It was funny, I mentioned Second Life and got lots of laughs. I think some of the feelings I have we’re mutual.
The session was really good. We tightened up some of our presentation and felt pretty fluid. Still some more we can do, but teaching Camtasia Studio in 1 hour and 15 minutes is pretty tough.
After the session we received some really nice compliments. In fact, one gentleman mentioned that he has been to the conference for 3 or 4 years and this was the best session he has ever attended. WOW!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! That is quite the compliment, and I feel its safe to say that Ryan deserves most of the credit.
I do have to mention thanks to ASTD for having us — it’s been a lot of fun….
One last note: I showed a few people the Camtasia Studio video I have on my iPod Touch – and everyone is blown away how good it looks. The screen is crystal clear, the text is very readable, it just looks amazing – and I didn’t even add any zoom-n-pan key frames. Man, I love what I do!
I have to admit, I am a naysayer about a lot of technology and the role that it plays in learning. Not because it can’t help people learn, and not because it doesn’t have a role in learning. I am just skeptical, maybe because of training and an understanding of the history of using technology in training.
At one point in the history of distant learning the radio, the television, the internet have all been proclaimed as heralds of education – the tool to bring learning to the masses – great equalizers. While it is true that each has played a role, from one degree to another, and each has helped prepare a foundation for great opportunities to provide more knowledge and information. None of these has actually become the holy grail that we in distance learning are looking for.
Granted I believe that many, many opportunities still exist with the internet, especially as bandwidth becomes cheaper and more available, and as the ability to create materials is easier and faster to do for the the knowledge experts. We still have a long way to go though.
I bring this all up, not because I think the iPod touch is the holy grail– at this point far from it. I do think it points to an interesting entry point, and provide possibilities that are quite amazing. Will it solve all learning problems? No. Will it be an answer for every problem? Not even close.
Here’s what I see: Right now I can carry a device that I can slide into my pants pocket, and from it I can access audio, video, and if I’m in range of a hotspot – internet content. I do not need to have a 4 – 6 pound laptop, I don’t need special keyboard, or anything else. Theoretically I could have interactive learning content available at my fingertips (literally).
Now, there is still a long way to go – the interactivity of the iPod touch is limited (no Adobe Flash content yet…) I can’t watch any video type through the internet. But the current limitations are not the point – the point is that its getting there and soon I we as industry will have a small powerful visual tool that we can deliver content through.
The interface is clear, it looks clean, and if a user has used the internet – its not a difficult step to access content on the Touch. Think about the possibilities.
Scenario 1) I work in a manufacturing plant, I am going through a machine set-up process and need to access a procedure. I click on to the internal wireless network access the printed version and maybe see a interactive Flash version that will take me step-by-step. Maybe there are options, maybe not – but I can make sure I get the answers I need fast.
Scenario 2) I’m learning a graphics program like PhotoShop, Illustrator, or something else. I can’t remember how to make a curved line (or maybe I never knew how) – but I have a subscription to a tutorial site or have been reading a tutorial blog. I bring up the web or have used iTunes to download content that I want to watch. Boom – if it’s designed well, maybe it walks me through the process step by step – maybe it pauses at smart points so I can perform the function. I don’t have to really stop what I am doing on my computer. I have a separate screen and can follow along. Following the tutorial, the generator of the content asks for some instant feedback – whether a star system, or written comments. And because it’s right there, if its easy, I can provide instant feedback about the learning experience, which will hopefully inform the designer to be able to make better choices about content, format, etc…
I’ve never really pursued mobile learning – I know its out there to a small degree, I know its coming and could be huge… I think its less about the mobility (I could take some learning with me for a long time now — it’s called paper), I think its about the features and interactivity, the immediacy of it all. Again, I don’t think the iPod Touch is everything -but wow! I think it’s a good start and opens the doors for a lot of potential!
In this month’s issue of Fast Company, they named Google as the most innovative company.
I have mixed feelings about Google. I think they create a lot of cool software, and I am a frequent user of their products.
Regardless of whether I use the products, or have some thoughts about why they really offer so many benefits (and the type they do). Why I bring this up, and why I can admire Google is something that came out in the Fast Company article.
I think there is something to their willingness to take huge risks. This willingness to take risks has let them to some great innovation and great ideas.
While probably most organizations could benefit from some more risk, probably a lot feel like they can’t afford to risk. And while I think that businesses obviously need make decisions that make sense for them- I think that as learners we all could afford to a few more risks in learning.
How often do we really take a risk to learn something new?
Especially in business settings, are we afraid to try to learn something new — or do we hold back because the settings we’re in dictate that failure, even in learning something is a negative?
Tomorrow I give a presentation about what we can do to be awesome as an organization… and I think I am going to put forth the idea that we need to take more risk… at least in learning.
What do you think? How does your organization do? What areas do you feel would be helpful to take more risk in?
How can we risk more in our processes to Learn?
What effect does play have on the brain?
Well the answer to that question probably depends on who you talk to. The New York Times posted an article a few days ago about play. There’s a lot to it – 10 pages to be exact, but all very interesting and relevant to those of us with children and interested in play for the purpose of learning.
Unfortunately it doesn’t really help those of interested in determining the learning value of play – at least not for adults. It how ever does take a good look at the need for play and some scientific consequences (at least in animals) of not getting enough play.
There were a lot of interesting points, one that is made early on in the articles is the fact that play can quickly become an expendable commodity when things start getting rough. Animals will tend to eliminate play when under stress – whether that is do to drought or lack of food. Yet interestingly enough, in humans, play will continue to arise even in bleak circumstances.
One of the definitive questions that isn’t answered those is this:
So play can be risky. And, under stress, it tends to disappear. What then would justify, in evolutionary terms, the prevalence of play?
Is play for complex learning? Is it a type of motor training for later life? Does it help children determine work through how to interact with a complex and ever shifting world?
I am not a neuro-scientist, I am not an expert on play, my education is in learning though – and as I watch my kids play- heck, even as I watch my colleagues play I see a bit of all these things… I even see the release of working and living in a stressful world… it takes the brain away from those things and allows, if nothing else, a momentary distraction from those things that are stressful and otherwise consume us.
The end of the article I thought put the notion of play into great perspective:
“Watch children at play, and the benefits are so obvious: just look at those ecstatic faces, just listen to those joyful squeals. Stuart Brown alluded to it in his library talk last month. ‘‘Look at life without play, and it’s not much of a life,’’ he told the audience. ‘‘If you think of all the things we do that are play related and erase those, it’s pretty hard to keep going.’’ Without play, he said, ‘‘there’s a sense of dullness, lassitude and pessimism, which doesn’t work well in the world we live in.’’
Then the author concluded:
“In the end, it comes down to a matter of trade-offs. There are only six hours in a school day, only another six or so till bedtime, and adults are forever trying to cram those hours with activities that are productive, educational and (almost as an afterthought) fun. Animal findings about how play influences brain growth suggest that playing, though it might look silly and purposeless, warrants a place in every child’s day. Not too overblown a place, not too sanctimonious a place, but a place that embraces all styles of play and that recognizes play as every bit as essential to healthful neurological development as test-taking drills, Spanish lessons or Suzuki violin.”
So regardless of my kids learning complex interactions and motor movements (or as my wife said – our youngest who is turning two is learning about the properties of gravity — what goes up must come down), I think we’re going to let our kids just play.
Heck, I can’t wait to join them.
