T&D articles from February 2004

T&D archives from February 2004

The human side.(Frontpage)
February 1, 2004... This issue debuts a new column, The Human Side (of training, learning, and performance) on page 55. In this quarterly column, we hope to tell stories of learning and teaching experiences that do more than just impart new knowledge or...

On the money!(Mailbox)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... Pat Galagan's article, "The Future of the Profession Formerly Known as Training" (December), is terrific and right on the money! Galagan synthesized the myriad discussions I've had with my combined communication and performance improvement...

Not lost in translation.(Mailbox)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... I was glad to read Jennifer Salopek's "Lost in Translation" [Trends, December]. Of course I was pleased to see myself quoted, but mostly I was pleased to see T+D cover this subject in a sensitive and accurate way. [The article] surely had lots...

2004 forecast.(Intelligence)(work forecasting)(related article: Executive update: two trends)
February 1, 2004... What does the future hold? It's hard to predict tomorrow's weather, much less what will happen in a year, but that doesn't stop people from trying. Here are the top 10 themes in the 2004 forecast from the futurists at research firm the...

Reality check: games at work.(Intelligence)(can benefit productivity)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... This just in! Games at work can benefit productivity and job satisfaction, according to a study by the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. Scientists from the university studied the effects on workers of playing simple games such as...

A seat at the table: in a slight departure from the usual E-Learning column, the subject is Speaking the Language of Executives--one of the biggest skill gaps in the learning profession. As for that seat at the table, technology can help get you there.(E-Learning)(Column)
February 1, 2004... "Pedagogy? He kept talking about pedagogy," one senior executive recently scoffed to me, describing his dinner with a career learning and development professional. "I mean, I have my MBA from one of the top schools in the country, and I'd never...

The color of learning: enhance memory and retention with a splash of color.(Fundamentals)
February 1, 2004... Different colors have different physiological effects on humans. Scientists have found that red makes our adrenaline flow, resulting in an increase in pulse, blood pressure, and energy level. Orange can trigger hunger. Blue relaxes us, causing...

Pick up your PDA: you can use technologies that aren't typical learning technologies to enhance learning (and your role). That's what the digital beat is all about.(Digital Beat)(personal digital assistants)(selecting e-learning)(Column)
February 1, 2004... I received an email last month from Haidee Allerton, the editor of T+D, asking if I'd write a new monthly column called Digital Beat (formerly known as The Web). It took me only 27 nanoseconds to reply with an affirmative. I'm thrilled to be...

Digital dashboards.(Digital Beat)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... There's increased discussion of the use of digital dashboards for learners when we talk about leveraging technology. For example, imagine that you're a sales manager in a company selling high-tech equipment. Wouldn't it be phenomenal to log...

Shooting ahead of the duck: how to make sure you don't lose too many feathers when it comes to technology.(Concept: a powerful, intriguing, inspiring, or perhaps odd idea distilled to its essential elements)
February 1, 2004... I've built interactive media for Newsweek since 1989--from laserdiscs and CD-ROMs to AOL, Prodigy, and now half a dozen Websites. One of the biggest lessons I learned was when we began to produce documentary CD-ROMs in 1993. Back then, CD-ROMs...

Beneath the tip of the iceberg: technology plumbs the affective learning domain.
February 1, 2004... Recently developed products are automating learning designed for mapping the affective domain. Several factors are driving the adoption of such products. Workforce alignment. A lot of the workforce misunderstands the business goals of...

Performance support tools: where learning, work, and results converge: Einstein was an early performance support tool user. The U.S. Coast Guard uses PSTs. Time to get on board?
February 1, 2004... When an organization builds and uses performance support tools, it's attempting to assure accurate and consistent effort by providing access to helpful information at the moment of need. Rossett and Mohr offer guidelines for ensuring great...

Cohorts in learning.(Association of Executives in Finance, Credit, and International Business)(Michigan State University)(develop online courses)
February 1, 2004... Like many associations, FCIB wanted to offer educational opportunities online. But instead of teaming up with a vendor, the association partnered with a university. And that choice has made all the difference. The opportunity came when a...

The knowledge warriors: busy professionals--call them "knowledge warriors"--have no time for courses, no need for grades. They learn in new ways, through new technologies, on the go. Here's how.
February 1, 2004... Researchers have found that we spend a high percentage of our time--some estimate it at 28 percent--just seeking the information we need to do our jobs. What workers need, says Levy, isn't just a way to access data, but a way to filter it...

Marketing e-learning: they came, they saw, they couldn't log on. Here are some straightforward tips for fixing that common problem. First, look to your technical support team.
February 1, 2004... One way to determine how well employees have received your organization's e-learning program is to ask your technical support team. Employees often call the tech staff due to a need for technical information. But don't be upset that...

Rekindling the spirit of learning: make a joyful noise.(The Human Side)
February 1, 2004... Amen. That word was poignantly spoken from a participant near the back of the training room. It was followed by an awkward silence, sideways glances from other participants, and a muffled apology from the overly enthusiastic one. That...

Selecting a Web-conferencing provider: NMHG provides global training to its dealer network with Encounter.(Solutions)(NACCO Materials Handling Group )
February 1, 2004... A vendor-provided case study on business solutions that might meet your needs and help you refine your training purchase decisions. NACCO Materials Handling Group's Aftermarket Training department provides both classroom and online training...

Ten Tongue Fu! tips: train your tongue to deflect, disarm, and defuse.(Development)(communicate more constructively)
February 1, 2004... Want to know what to say when you don't know what to say? If so, you're in the right place. These Tongue Fu! tips will help you communicate more constructively with co-workers, clients, supervisors, and suppliers. What is Tongue Fu!, you...

Getting in with the in crowd.(Who Really Matters: The Core Group Theory of Power, Privilege, and Success)(Book Review)
February 1, 2004... Who Really Matters: The Core Group Theory of Power, Privilege, and Success By Art Kleiner "The customer comes first' is one of the three great lies of the modern corporation," writes Art Kleiner in his new book Who Really Matters. "The...

If this, then ...(The Age of Heretics: Heroes, Outlaws, and the Forerunners of Corporate Change)(The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook: Strategies and Tools for Building a Leaming Organization)(The Dance of Change:The Challenge of Sustaining Momentum in a Learning Organization)(Schools That Learn: A Fifth Discipline Fieldbook for Parents, Educators, and Everyone Who Cares About Education)(Brief Article)(Book Review)(Brief Review)
February 1, 2004... If you liked Who Really Matters (see review), consider these other books by Art Kleiner. The Age of Heretics: Heroes, Outlaws, and the Forerunners of Corporate Change (Doubleday, 1996, US$29.95) This history of the movement to...

A project planning tool.
February 1, 2004... The Need A recent "Chaos Report," published by industry analyst Standish Group, estimates that one-third of projects can be deemed "a pass"; two-thirds are either "challenged" or "outright failures," Two years ago, Bornbardier of Canada...

The $30 a day job: that's right. Jury duty.(Working)
February 1, 2004... Sooner or later, you're likely to be called to serve. If you're registered to vote or have a driver's license, they'll find you. Typically, you're paid $30 a day if your employer suspends your salary while you're out or you are unemployed or...