Think Small - Learning Objects

You HAVE to get on board with this. I guarantee your learners will thank you...

Back in January I predicted that small learning objects would be one of the "Trends for 2003." I'm not talking about reusable objects or SCOs. I mean small, self-contained learning modules. Think smaller than a typical lesson. This is part of the bigger trend towards e-learning moving to the realm of the business units and away from training departments, and moving into learners' daily workflow, and away from multi-hour, scheduled courses.

In the last month alone several vendors have told me that bite-size learning objects have become the fastest growing segment of their business, and a few training directors have shared their success with this approach as well. In fact, the success has been so dramatic that they've been reluctant to share their secrets.

Fortunately for all of us, Novartis Pharmaceutical's John Talanca has written an article exclusively for e-Learning Guru readers talking about his success designing and delivering mini-modules for his pharmaceutical sales force. John is Novartis' Director of Technology and Distance Learning and has been an innovator in technology-based training for the last decade. He's usually a couple of years ahead of the mainstream, so if you want an early peak at what may become a best practice a couple years from now, read and pass along his article.

Let's Get Small by John Talanca, Jr.
http://www.e-learningguru.com/articles/art_misc_1.htm

Free Executive Book Summary
Winning E-Learning Proposals

Last month I gave kudos to Dr. Karl Kapp's new book which gives great advice to those who must respond to e-learning RFP's as well to those who must write them. Now you can get a taste of it with this new 4-page Executive Book Summary accessible by clicking this link:
http://www.e-learningguru.com/books/winning.pdf

Ready to buy it? Get it from Amazon or directly from the publisher:
J. Ross Publications

White Paper
Training Analytics: The Time is Now (Josh Bersin)

Big thanks to Josh Bersin who sent me over one of his latest white papers which provides a great introduction to training analytics. Discusses the three measures of Efficiency, Effectiveness and Compliance and the concept of a training dashboard. Also explains the difference between analytics and reporting. I immediately added it to the library and you can get access it directly (PDF) at:
http://www.e-learningguru.com/wpapers/analytics.pdf

Also, I want to thank Ron Grimes at Biographix for improving some definitions (and finding a typo) in the Guru's 200+ word E-learning Glossary.

Do you know a colleague who would like a free executive book summary? Please send them this e-mail!

Until next time, here's to living and learning and thinking small,
-- Kevin

Kevin Kruse is the e-learning columnist for CLO, Chief Learning Officer magazine, author of Technology-based Training (Jossey-Bass), and Principal with Kenexa. He can be reached at kkruse@e-learningguru.com.
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