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The Cranky Middle Manager Show #81 The Future of Learning- Elliott Masie
Posted on 01. Feb, 2007 by Wayne in Podcast
The Cranky Middle Manager Show #081
Yet another high-profile guest to the Cranky Middle Manager. We’ll talk to Elliott Masie , one of the world’s leading experts on electronic learning (e-learning for those of us in the biz). My thanks to Marshall Goldsmith for setting this up. Believe it or not 3 of my top 5 dream guests have now been on the show… (another one is next week’s visitor). Can the elusive Tom Peters be far behind? Even if he never shows up, we’re getting great guests and good conversation.
Show Notes
0:00 Welcome to the Cranky Middle Manager Show #81. Today we talk about the future of workplace learning with the renowned expert, Elliott Masie of the Masie Center. If you’re a geek, you’re in luck. If you’re in HR or the traditional training business, well the times they are a’changing.
This episode is dedicated to Prometheus, who brought fire (and thus light and learning) to humanity, which angered the gods. The technology may seem crude ( a fennel stalk ain’t exactly Second Life) but that’s the point.
4:00 The quote of the week is from Richard de Bury, who knew that Minerva (wisdom and learning) frequently hides behind a mask of pleasure…? Learning can and should be fun and misery is optional gang.
5:20 Welcome the awesome Elliott Masie. What do we mean by “e-learning”? It’s not always on-line training. Any time your fingers seek out knowledge qualifies. It can be informal or completely structured… when we do learning facilitated by technology. Wikis, blogs, even shows like this. Yup, if you’re listening to us you’re on the cutting edge.
7:38 Remember when we were all going to be driving flying cars? What was the original version of e-learning and how could we all have been so wrong? Most of us can’t get all the classroom training we want or need- sometimes you don’t need a gourmet meal, you just need a snack…
13:20 People are just out there learning- how does a company monitor its people and whether they’re actually learning anything useful? Assessment is key- which means training and HR will still have a job. Okay, nothing’s perfect….
16:07 How about the average manager- how can you help your people learn? Well, according to Dennis Dammerman, the trick was to come to work prepared to be learners, and ask how you can help people in your organization learn new stuff? I’m not sure he used the word stuff but the point is valid.
17:02 Here’s a fascinating example of blended learning, and also what’s wrong with most manuals and training. The simpler, the better.
20:32 If learning is social, how does e-learning work? Ask any 13 year old. Elliott tells us about some fascinating studies and experiments. Is my daughter a trend setter? Probably more than her old man, for sure.
23:50 The words “Fingertip Knowledge” get thrown around a lot. We hear an amazing story about what it really means- and it has nothing to do with that big old employee handbook you’ve got on your desk. As search capability gets better, people will use their fingers to find what they need.
26:00 With a flattening world, how is this manifesting itself? Where they’re thirstiest, they’re drinking deepest. Most of the world does way more effective Google searches than we do in the Industrialized West. But what about countries that try to control the Internet?
29:06 Elliott admits to working for the CIA and helping them search in the name of democracy. Senior managers should check out what the rest of the world is learning from. Check out Al Jazeera’s website just for kicks, or learn what’s going on in China. Heck, what’s going on in the cubicles behind you? Should companies permit Instant Messenging?
32:10 Elliott’s resources:
His site, with tons of research
Fast Company Magazine (and check out episode 57 with one of their writers, Linda Tischler)
Al Jazeera and the BBC
American Society for Training and Development and their Learning Circuits blog
While you’re at it, you can check out our Frappr map, as well as my website www.crankymiddlemanager.com .
Don’t let the weasels get you down.
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