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TechLearn Report
Optimism...Mergers...Context...Workflow...Simulations

TechLearn wrapped up last week in Orlando, FL. The show continues to change, but also continues to be the best big e-learning conference there is. The number of exhibitors has gone up, the number of public "check-your-email" terminals way down, lunches are boxed, and attendance was around 1700. The ChumbaWumba song TubThumping was selected as the theme song for this year's event...

I Get Knocked Down
But I Get Up Again
You're Never Going to Keep Me Down

TechLearn is a good barometer of the mood for the industry, and I was surprised at how good a mood everyone was in. Certainly not like the euphoria of the late 90's but very optimistic nonetheless. Perhaps the recent mergers and good economic news has something to do with it? Perhaps the sight of a clean-shaven, slimmed-down Elliott Masie tooling around on his Segway brought good cheer?

Elliott proclaimed, "Content is king, but Context is Queen." Which succinctly captures much of the discussion at the show around moving e-learning into the workflow of everday lives. All that results from this includes: mobile learning (m-learning), smaller learning objects, search engines as primary access point to learning and information.

The show was awash in consolidation rumors. The loudest one I even heard from the Coronado's bartender who told me that another big LMS acquisition is imminent. I don't know who it is, but I thinq we'll hear an announcement within another week or so.

Though not announced as any official "trend" all talks related to simulations were well attended. Clearly the industry wants more than the traditional tell and test models, and simulations and games are likely to have staying power.

Next year TechLearn moves to New York. Very puzzling to me. Always expensive and always cold in November. For more detailed coverage of TechLearn visit Jay Cross' blog at http://www.meta-time.com/blog.

Instructional Design: Simply Put...
This article, contributed by instructional designer Purnima Valiathan, uses "learning as a journey" metaphor to explain instructional tactics to those who are new to the field of training and development. Includes table comparing and contrasting different tactics with audience (adults vs children) and delivery method (ILT, WBT, and CBT).
Click here to read the article (MS-Word).

White Paper: Making PDF Documents Fly
I'm usually not too interested in the tactics of technology-based training but Montreal-based company Integration New Media sent me a white paper that caught my eye. It discusses the value and how to's of embedding PDF documents inside apps created with Authorware, Director or Flash (rather than launched in a separate window).
Click here to read the white paper (PDF).

Roger Schank and Carnegie Mellon offer
Master's Degree in e-Learning
Roger Schank walks his talk as the director of Carnegie Mellon's new distance ed program for learning sciences. There are no traditional lectures; students work on projects from a story-based curriculum. The Learning Sciences faculty offer guidance, advice, and feedback within the context of real-world e-learning challenges. For more info or to apply online go to: http://west.cmu.edu/masters/ls/index.htm

Know anyone who missed TechLearn but might be interested in these notes? Please send them this newsletter, they'll thank you!

Here's to living and learning, simply put,
-- Kevin

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