New England Learning Association

For those of you who are still not sure they will attend Thursday’s panel discussion Creating a Learning Culture in a Biotech Setting, here is a preview of some of the questions that will be discussed:

• The Biotech and BioPharma industries have a wide range of audiences that you have to deal with, from scientists, and doctors, to sales people, administrators and even folks on the manufacturing floor.  What are the different learning styles that you have to deal with because of this?
• Given this wide range of learners and learning styles, what different delivery technologies do you use and how do you provide a blended learning approach that supports them all?
• This industry is heavily compliance driven. How does this impact what you do, and how you need to deliver the training?
• What is an example of one of your current projects and how does it take all of this into account
• What are your one or two key learnings or success factors that you have gained from this work that you think would really help anybody in the audience who is faced with the same types of challenges when rolling out training?

If you want to learn the answers to these questions and more, don’t miss the event.

Click here for the full event description and registration information.

Event Date: April 19, 2006

Join the New England Learning Association in a special session with a panel of thought leaders in the field of Localization in e-Learning as we explore what it takes to get your arms around a localization initiative. It involves more that just words.

This panel discussion is a special session at the eLearning Guild’s Annual Gathering 2006.  NELA members may attend this session and visit the eLearning MainStreet Marketplace for FREE by Registering Here.

Event Date: Friday March 31, 2006

The Canadian Society for Training and Development (CSTD), with the support of the New England Learning Association (NELA),is bringing representatives from 20 leading Canadian learning solution providers for a two-day visit to Boston on March 30-31,2006. While in Boston, the Canadian delegation will host a product showcase and half-day networking event on the morning of Friday, March 31, featuring presentations from New England-based thought-leaders in the learning industry.

Learn more or Register here.

Event Date: March 30th

Join senior learning executives from Serono Inc and Wyeth BioPharma as they lead a discussion about the challenges of creating a Learning Culture with a diverse learning audience ranging from scientists to sales representatives, each with a preferred learning style.

What is the best method of learning for a large, multi- cultural biotech/biopharma organization? The answer is “It depends.” First on what must be learned and more importantly, on who is doing the learning?

The challenges of creating a Learning Culture start with a diverse learning audience ranging from scientists to sales representatives, each with a preferred learning style. Mix in the need for a flexible learning curriculum, knowledge assessments and multi-lingual technology tools and the result is an approach to employee development that matches learning methods to learning styles.

Moderator: Doug Foster, Learning Consultant, D Foster Associates

Speakers:

• Mike Laffin: Director, Learning & Organizational Development at Serono, Inc.
• Kevin Kovalcik,Training Technologies Manager at Wyeth BioPharma in Andover

Event Details:

March 30, 2006
5:30 Registration
6:00-6:30PM Networking and Appetizers
6:30-7:30PM-Panel Discussion.
7:30-8:00PM-Q&A Session
SHARE (Consulate of Switzerland)
420 Broadway Cambridge, MA 02138 (directions)

Register Now

For those of you who were not able to make Dr. Ally’s presentation on The Use of Wireless Mobile Learning to Bridge the Learning Divide, Elluminate has made it available as a recorded session.

Dr. Ally led a very thoughtful discussion about the “Learning Divide” and how it may be bridged using new wireless mobile technology such as the $100 laptop.  The session prompted many questions about the requirements for both re-working the content for mobile use, as well as re-educating the developers and learners to take advantage of the technology.

For those of you with more questions, you may contact Dr. Ally directly by e-mailing him or calling him at (800) 788-9041 ext 6406. Additionally, you may use the comments section below to comment on the talk and start further discussion.

For those of you who were not able to make it to Saul Carliner’s talk, here are some of the highlights of the night.  You can also read his pre-event questions, or join in on some of the post-event discussion.

(more…)

University Research Project the Design of Online Instruction and Information

As discussed at Saul Carliner’s talk, he is currently looking for people to participate in a University Research project.  I have attached the file to this post (MS Word required), and a brief outline below.

(more…)

Many people last night told me that they were having interesting conversations and debates after Saul’s talk and the questions he raised.  A few people even mentioned continuing that discussion on this blog.  So I have created this post for people to start their comments.

Please use the comments section to post your thoughts.  If a larger topic or debate starts, we can create a separate article or category for that discussion as needed.

• Is m-learning the next big thing in e-learning? If so, what makes it so hot?
• What’s happened to learning objects? Have they gone underground like 80s music? If so, when can we expect their revival?
• In his new book, Marc Rosenberg announces that we’re moving Beyond E-Learning. Is that someplace we want to go?
• Everyone says that, because the current generation of young people is addicted to video games, workplace learning needs to morph into the Sims and Delta Force. But how much does everyone really know?
• In its just-released 2005 Industry Report, TRAINING Magazine declared that the classroom “ain’t dead yet.” So when?

I’ll explore these and similar issues this Tuesday, January 24, 2006, in my presentation, “Seperating the reality from the chatter in learning theories.” 6 - 8 pm, at the Canadian Consulate, Three Copley Place, Suite 400, Boston, MA 02116.

Saul Carliner

New Date: Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Exciting Webinar Hosted by Elluminate: Why is the use of Wireless Technologies for Mobile Learning gaining momentum in nations throughout the world? Join as we discuss the gap between those that have and do not have access to these types of digital technologies and where this market is headed.

We will discuss how wireless mobile technology can be used to bridge the learning divide and to allow individuals to learn anytime and from anywhere. There is a great sense of urgency to get remote communities connected.

Specific topics to be covered include:

• The types and benefits of mobile technology
• Design and delivery challenges when using mobile technology for delivering learning

Register for this webinar!