by Amy Rondinel
March 14th, 2011
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Have you checked out the critical thinking university application on iTunes? If you have an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, download the “Think-o-meter” for free today.
The ‘Think-O-Meter’ app challenges your thinking and helps you develop a Sherlock Holmes-like attention to the evidence at hand. Think through dozens of scenarios and test your ability to separate reliable facts from assumptions, focus on the relevant information, and think critically to get the right answer.
If you’re interested in learning more about critical thinking assessments and services, be sure to check out ThinkWatson.com and Critical-Thinkers.com for some outstanding analysis and content offered by Pearson TalentLens.
Tags: Critical Thinking, Mobile Learning, Online Learning, Pearson Products, Social Learning
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by Amy Rondinel
March 10th, 2011
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‘A Closer Look’ interview series is a candid one-on-one chat with experts from recent webinars, articles and conference presentations diving further into hot topics or Q&A discussed. This series focuses on issues impacting professional training & development specifically executive development, online learning and certification.
In this interview, we take a closer look at some of the key issues corporations are dealing with today on how, when and where to utilize virtual worlds within their L&D efforts.
‘A Closer Look’ Interview with Rupalli Thacker
on Leveraging Social Worlds in L&D
(Click on the link above to listen to the recording or right click to download the mp3 file)
Rupalli Thacker is a Digital Products and Solutions Manager at Pearson Learning Solutions (PLS), working closely with corporate and association clients. Rupalli specializes in learning design, and new learning technologies. In her role as a products and solutions manager, Rupalli manages end-to-end learning solutions; and product design, and delivery. Her previous experience includes ten years in leadership skills development and four years in the elearning industry as a program manager.
Rupalli holds a MA in Learning Sciences from Northwestern University and an MBA from NMIMS, India.
The inspiration behind our podcast was Rupalli’s recent presentation at ASTD TechKnowledge conference in February 2011. Be sure to check out Rupalli’s posts on virtual worlds beginning this week with “Avatar?” Learning in a 3D Virtual World.
Tags: Corporate, Innovation, Learning 2.0, Learning Technologies, Media Solutions, Program Development
Posted in A Closer Look Interview Series, Online Learning | No Comments »
by Rupalli Thacker
March 8th, 2011
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Have you ever considered virtual worlds such as Second Life as learning environments? They offer unique and compelling advantages, and therefore merit your consideration.
Virtual worlds are 3D, multi-user online environments where you can simulate or represent real world issues in ways that would otherwise be difficult or impossible. They offer a richer, more collaborative online experience than “conventional” e-learning, including new opportunities for participants to co-design their experiences. They’re persistent: once constructed, they can stay in place as long as needed. They can also host time-specific events to bring learners together without travel costs.
Each learner is represented by an avatar that navigates the 3D space and participates in the activities you’ve provided. The sense of “presence” is palpable – and research demonstrates that presence makes learning far more effective.
Virtual world simulations are perfect for team-based, individual or collaborative learning where the “real” alternative is too costly or dangerous – for example, giving manufacturing or power plant technicians hands-on experience with critical safety processes. But their applications are far wider than this.
For example, consider team-building through a virtual scavenger hunt. With the right learning design and integration, you can track participants – seeing who’s taken initiative, made decisions, or offered help. Virtual world role-plays can help you teach brainstorming, train for diversity, and solve many other learning problems.
We’ll return to virtual worlds in learning in future posts – first, to discuss their strong foundation in learning theory, and then to offer practical tips on getting started.
Author: Rupalli Thacker is a Digital Products and Solutions Manager for Pearson Learning Solutions, working closely with corporate and association clients. Rupalli specializes in learning design, and new learning technologies. In her role as a products and solutions manager, Rupalli manages end-to-end learning solutions; and product design, and delivery. Her previous experience includes ten years in leadership skills development and four years in the elearning industry as a program manager.
Rupalli holds a MA in Learning Sciences from Northwestern University and an MBA from NMIMS, India.
Tags: Corporate, Innovation, Learning 2.0, Learning Technologies, Program Development, Web 2.0
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by Todd Hitchcock
March 3rd, 2011
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Recently, my colleague Bill wrote about our “safari” through Apple’s App Store. We bagged some prescient insights about the current state of mobile learning for the Apple ecosystem. As Bill mentioned, we developed our thinking and stated that we believe mobile learning will extend the online learning model exponentially. Four reasons we cite in an article we co-authored, Learning On The Run are paramount:
1. Connectivity/Access. Mobile devices are driving near-universal access via Wi-Fi, 3G/4G, et al. As connectivity issues fade, “everywhere learning” becomes real for users, instructors, and institutions alike.
2. Immediacy. iPads turn on fast, giving learners instant “quick twitch” gratification. Less latency: more engagement.
3. Learning Modalities. Mobile apps can support all kinds of learners: visual, spatial, auditory, tactile/kinesthetic, interpersonal… and with new inputs (multitouch, GPS, even altimeters), today’s platforms supercharge innovation.
4. Continuous Learning. Mobile ubiquity will dramatically increase lifelong learning outside traditional institutions – especially learning that improves personal competitiveness.
Bottom line: whatever your role in creating or delivering learning, mobility will change everything. At Pearson, it’s already central to our strategies — and, increasingly, our products and services.
Check out our previous post, What Apple’s AppStore Says about the Future of Mobile Learning.
Source: This post is based on the forthcoming article ‘Learning on the Run’, written by Bill Zobrist and Todd Hitchcock to be published in March 2011 as part of the Software & Information Industry Association (SIAA) Experts’ Guide to the Postsecondary Market.
Author: Todd Hitchcock has been working in the educational technology field for the past 20 years. He has held a number of leadership roles in the US and Canada, including Technology Officer for a large suburban school district, Director of Account Management at eCollege, Vice President of Global Services at Florida Virtual School and for the past three years, Vice President of Online Solutions for Pearson Education. Todd is an advocate for educational improvement through innovative technologies and currently is on the Board of Directors for the International Associate for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) and the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA).
Tags: Association, Corporate, eLearning, Innovation, Learning Technologies, Mobile Learning
Posted in Online Learning | 3 Comments »
by Amy Rondinel
March 1st, 2011
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“Forever” is a big word, but ASTD’s Six Trends That Will Change Workplace Learning Forever doesn’t overstate much. We recommend the entire piece, but we found one observation especially telling.
Writing about social media, ASTD quotes T+D’s Jeanne Meister and Karie Willyerd: “The next generation of workers… will demand the ability to work in ways they’ve already found to enable success. If the learning function does not step up,” someone else will.
It’s easier to row with the current than against it. When you’re challenging people with difficult or unfamiliar content, deliver it in a context, format, or medium they’re already comfortable with. It won’t be a struggle to teach most millennials how to use social learning environments: they get that.
It’s the same for smartphone-based learning, another of ASTD’s top six trends. Of course, as ASTD notes, it’s more challenging to identify when mobile learning works, and build the three-minute “learning vignettes” it demands.
At PLS, we’re doing a lot of that these days. We’re finding that mobile learning can be remarkably powerful. But forgive us one slightly cautionary observation. Notwithstanding iPhones and Twitter, some crucial competencies still can’t be taught in three minutes or 140 characters!
Tags: eLearning, Innovation, Learning 2.0, Mobile Learning, Social Learning, Talent Management, Web 2.0
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by Bill Zobrist
February 23rd, 2011
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Recently, Apple’s AppStore served up its 10 billionth app. But when me and my mobile learning partner, Todd Hitchcock paid a visit recently, we weren’t shopping. Rather, we wanted to discover what the App Store had to say about the current state of mobile learning in the Apple mobile ecosystem.
In our forthcoming article Learning on the Run for the Software & Information Industry Association (SIAA), we discuss our findings in more detail. In the article, we note that Apple’s top ten learning apps at the time include plenty of low-cost drill-and-practice and simple games for young children. Re-sort the best-sellers by gross revenue, though, and the grownups take over. Turns out adults are ready to pay good money for mobile learning – as exemplified by “Becker’s 2011 CPA Mobile Flashcards” ($199) and “BarMax NY” state bar exam prep ($999.99).
Todd and I believe mobile learning has few boundaries from entry into nearly every demographic with access to a smart phone and the web. But, we also believe that most of today’s top-sellers dwell in the lowest levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy, the favored classification system in use by educators for learning objectives. We are at the very frontiers of learning app development optimized for the tablet. Whether it is the iPad or all the forthcoming competitive devices, we see dramatic additions to elearning where mobile eventually dwarfs traditional elearning as we know it today.
That’s just one of our predictions: we’ll cover several more in our future post, 4 Huge Reasons Why Mobility Will Transform Learning.
Source: This post is based on the forthcoming article ‘Learning on the Run’, written by Bill Zobrist and Todd Hitchcock to be published in March 2011 as part of the Software & Information Industry Association (SIAA) Experts’ Guide to the Postsecondary Market.
Author: Bill Zobrist is the Director of Online and Emerging Product Strategy in the Pearson Learning Solutions (PLS) group of Pearson. Bill envisions and builds new educational technology products and services. Presently, he is crafting mobile learning products. You can follow Bill on Twitter: @bzobrist.
Tags: Corporate, eLearning, Innovation, Learning Technologies, Mobile Learning
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by Amy Rondinel
February 21st, 2011
Click to read all posts by Amy Rondinel
In this interview, we take a closer look at mobile learning as a key growth area in the postsecondary and continuing education market. This podcast will dive into the challenges and opportunities of implementing a mobile learning environment.
‘A Closer Look’ Interview with Bill Zobrist
on Mobile Technology’s Impact on eLearning
(Click on the link above to listen to the recording or right click to download the mp3 file)
Bill Zobrist is the Director of Online and Emerging Product Strategy at Pearson Learning Solutions (PLS). Bill envisions and builds new educational technology products and services. Presently, he is crafting mobile learning products. Bill can be reached at bill.zobrist@pearson.com or followed on Twitter: @bzobrist.
If you have not done so, we welcome you to view the inspiration behind our podcast, the webinar ‘When eLearning Goes Mobile’ with Bill Zobrist, Karla Berry of National University and Supra Manohar of Emantras. The webinar was presented by the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) in January 2011. Be sure to preview Bill Zobrist’s contribution to the SIIA’s upcoming publication, The Experts’ Guide to the Postsecondary Market as well as future blog posts.
Tags: eLearning, Innovation, Learning Technologies, Mobile Learning
Posted in A Closer Look Interview Series, Online Learning | No Comments »
by Sean Stowers
February 16th, 2011
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Last summer, leading distance learning innovators came together at the 2010 Distance Teaching and Learning Conference in Madison, Wisconsin. They predicted a decade of massive transformation. eLearning expert Jon Aleckson recently documented their predictions, and added some valuable insights of his own.
Top takeaways: global interconnectedness, new technologies, and ubiquitous bandwidth will promote learners’ understanding that “education is an ongoing, lifelong continuous process.” Meanwhile, “formal and informal learning experiences will merge and the differences blurred.”
This means great new opportunities for everyone from learners and trainers to administrators and developers. Of course, for each opportunity, there’s a challenge.
For instance, as learners bridge informal and formal education sources, what assessment standards will apply? As learners increasingly network and learn from each other, how will they overcome physical and psychological distance?
Advanced tools will simplify collaboration and interaction, provide richer experiences, and reduce dependence on textbooks. But how will we manage “growing tension between standard core content and differentiation of content”? Where will content come from? How will learner-generated content be used? What about copyright?
Aleckson has neatly organized a table of Opportunities and Challenges for just about every stakeholder. If you’re interested in distance learning, there’s plenty here to think about.
Tags: Distance Education, eLearning, Learning 2.0, Learning Technologies, Media Solutions, Mobile Learning, Social Learning
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by Amy Rondinel
February 9th, 2011
Click to read all posts by Amy Rondinel
With another boomer retiring every eight seconds, we’re just not creating great leaders and building bench strength fast enough. Recently, EDA and Pearson TalentLens asked executives to list the competencies most lacking in tomorrow’s leaders. #1 on the list: strategic thinking. As one EDA advisor put it, “the capacity to stand back from operations and see where value is being created, where lost and where destroyed is critical, especially in the face of complexity.”
Strategic thinking takes years to develop. It’s the pinnacle of a pyramid of competencies. You must build the pyramid’s base first: critical thinking. Sadly, too few organizations systematically develop critical thinking skills.
These skills can be taught effectively. Adult learners can learn how to ask better questions, evaluate arguments more effectively, get past “spin,” cope with contradictions, and handle other critical thinking tasks that are key to modern leadership.
When organizations prioritize critical thinking, they widen the base of potential leaders and accelerate those leaders’ development. Meanwhile, they gain immediate benefits from improved decision-making.
At PLS, we’ve worked hard to discover better ways of helping adult learners master and apply critical thinking. We’re at your service to share what we’ve learned, as you craft the best approach for your organization.
Tags: Corporate, Critical Thinking, Executive Development, Leadership Training, Talent Management
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by Sean Stowers
February 1st, 2011
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Well worth your time: the Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks’ recent special issue on corporate e-learning. JALN’s top-level conclusion won’t stun you: thanks to “overwhelming economic advantage,” web-based e-learning has transformed corporate training. True enough, but only the beginning of JALN’s story.
SDSU researchers Allison Rossett and James Marshall find corporate learning pros far more comfortable adopting e-learning for well-defined topics such as product information or compliance. “Murkier” issues, such as team building, or cross-cultural understanding? Not so much.
Issue editor Robert Ubell writes that corporate e-learning is “highly mediated by technology, with trainers [replaced] by instructional design elements… By contrast, in online courses at universities—often equally media rich—instructors and students take virtual seats online, interacting continuously… Online, workers are on their own, while college students and faculty learn together.”
We suspect Ubell’s findings link to Rossett’s and Marshall’s. If you’re totally on your own, it’s tougher to master complex skills that are often deeply interpersonal.
That’s why we’re building online learning communities where peers, instructors, and managers support each other. It’s why we’re increasingly focused on higher-level competencies, such as critical thinking. Ultimately, we think that’s where the most value will be found – for you, and your learners.
Furthermore, Pearson is also developing programs through which corporations can upskill their learning and development professionals to deliver types of online learning experiences that have become the hallmark of the academic world.
If you would like to know more about our approach to online learning, or to developing your team to deliver more robust online programs, Just Ask.
Sean Stowers is the Director of Learning Services for Pearson Learning Solutions. He works with corporate and association clients to design and develop engaging solutions for their employees, candidates or members. Prior to joining Pearson Learning Solutions, Sean was a business development manager with Pearson’s FT Knowledge business, which was a leading provider of training solutions to the financial services industry. He also spent 4 years at IBM in their Learning Services Division. If you have questions or comments regarding this post, you can email Sean at sean.stowers@pearson.com.
Tags: Compliance, Corporate, Critical Thinking, eLearning, Learning Technologies, Talent Management
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