Using QR codes to record learning experiences in an LRS

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This quick video by Walter Duncan reminded me of some of my initial thoughts when I first read of the development of the Tin Can API. I can see a not-too-distant future where learners scan a QR code after completing an activity, and their experience gets logged to their cloud-based Learning Record Store (LRS).  In fact, I think I’ll drop that suggestion to Power-2-Teach as a future enhancement for their Quick Key app.  While the app solves the issue of grading for teachers, I can see a use case for not just teachers― but for tracking learner experiences in the corporate sector as well.

- Alex Santos

Alex is a co-founder and Managing Member of Collabor8 Learning, LLC, an instructional design and performance management consultancy. His firm collaborates with organizations to enhance the way they develop  and train their people. To learn more about Collabor8 Learning, click here.

Alex can be reached at 786-512-1069, alex@collabor8learning.com or via Twitter@collabor8alex.

A picture is worth a 1000 words

As many organizations are looking to cut costs, training is often quick to be placed on the cutting block.  In the past many organizations transitioned from classroom training to e-learning which promised cost savings in design and delivery time.  However, as budgets tighten further, organizations are looking for even more cost effective ways to train their employees.  Many are looking into more on-the-job training, coaching and mentor solutions. Napoleon said “Un bon croquis vaut mieux qu'un long discours” which translates into a picture is worth a 1000 words.  If this holds true, then a short video is worth millions of words.  Video is a great format for delivering training, and production costs have dropped dramatically in recent years.  In today's "reality TV" dominated world, expensive training video productions of yesteryear are no longer realistic or necessary.  How do we incorporate today’s technology into our training?  And how do we "democratize" it from emanating from the training department to a tool the front lines of our businesses can use?

The simple answer is to empower your employees to shoot video and provide them with a platform for sharing  it.  Using video appropriately enables your employees to contribute to the community that is your organization.  It allows those who are best at demonstrating their expertise in executing a business process to teach others and develop these skills in their peers.  This way, instead of being paired up with one or two people to deliver on the job training, employees are exposed to the best the organization has from wherever that may be in the organization.  The best part of collecting these videos is that over time you develop a searchable archive.  Then, as your experienced workers retire or leave, their contributions stay with the organization.

Many are concerned about privacy and security using the public video sharing services.  But organizations are finding it very affordable to install their own platform to share, comment and discuss video demonstrations.  The first step is to overcome the fear of allowing employees the power to have a voice within the organization.  Leverage the power of social learning through employee videos, and you'll wonder why it took you so long to employ this strategy!

____________________________________________________________________- Alex Santos

Alex is a co-founder and Managing Member of Collabor8 Learning, LLC, an instructional design and performance management consultancy. His firm collaborates with organizations to enhance the way they develop their people. To learn more about Collabor8 Learning, click here.

Alex can be reached at 786-512-1069, alex@collabor8learning.com or via Twitter @collabor8alex.

M-Learning down the mobile road

As learning and development professionals, we look to utilize any every medium that delivers learning and improvement.  Over the years we have utilized formal classroom training, on-the-job training, self-directed training and of course e-learning and electronic performance support systems (EPSS).  Now technological advances are bringing us  the newest trend in learning is M-Learning.

M-Learning or Mobile learning means delivering your learning initiatives on any device, anywhere, anytime.

As an organization you have many things that you need to communicate.  Some require formal classroom training (i.e. compliance, OSHA, Federal Regulations…) but there are also a lot of topics that can be delivered less formally, through other means.  But it does include formal learning.  M-Learning does not always mean formal learning.  Some examples are:

• E-learning - E-learning can and should be accessible by all mobile devices in your IT environment.
• Classroom training - When you deliver formal classroom training, you may elect to record the session and re-purpose it to the organization as a podcast.
• OJT – On-the-job training, or "Learning- by-doing" and receiving feedback and performance coaching as you learn. Note that this option is limited to jobs and situations where making mistakes is not costly or dangerous.
• Podcasts – Your training department can create periodic podcasts to cover various topics that pertain to your organization.
• Blogs, Wikis, Tweets – There are endless ways to communicate what your employees need to know.  Organized appropriately and integrated into natural workflows, they can be powerful tools.

We are all different and want to learn on our own terms, in ways that best appeal to us, and using whichever medium we are most comfortable with learning.  While it is important for your learning and development people to create some core content it is equally important to foster learning at all levels from all levels.  Unleash the power of your organization and get them teaching each other and making all of that learning possible on a mobile learning platform, where all the participants can interact.