2008 Predictions, Remembrance and Challenges

Posted by Karl Kapp on January 5, 2008

The ASTD Big Question for January is “What are your Predictions for Learning in 2008?”

First, I am going to borrow from the December 2006 Big Question which I really liked. The three questions, now modified for 2008, are:

These are not easy questions to answer but here they are:

What will you remember most about 2007?

I had the opportunity to present with my oldest son on the topic of Second Life. See Father and Son Second Life Presentation and Workshop Success-Teacher/Technologists Doing Great Work
Gadgets, Games and Gizmos for Learning. (3G4L), was published which has led to great opportunities, conversations and discussions.
I launched a blog book tour to support the book which was a lot of fun and really helped to generate some good discussions about the topic of bridging the boomer/gamer knowledge gap and explaining how to use gadgets, games and gizmos for learning. Check out the post Final ReCap of Blog Book Tour for Gadgets, Games and Gizmos for Learning
I found out that I am most like the Green Lantern in the wildly popular “What Super Hero are You?” fad that swept the learning blogosphere early in 2007. Which Superhero am I?
I had the opportunity to present with Allison Rossett on the topic of Rapid E-Learning. Rapid E-Learning of Interest
I participated in my first television and radio interviews in late 2007. See the television interview at Roll the Tape! read about the radio interview at Hello, You are On the Air with Karl Kapp
My wife took me and the family on a suprise cruise for my birthday…great time!
I had the opportunity to give a Graduation Speech speech at Bloomsburg University to the undergraduate graduating class.

What are the biggest challenges for you/us as head into 2008?

Personally

Try to keep up with writing books, book chapters, blog entries, articles, presentations, letters of recommendation, grading papers, recruitment of students to our program, evaluation, consulting and everything else that seems to occur all at the same time. Time management is a big issue that I need to get some more control over in 2008.
Of course, it would always be nice to…”get in shape.” Not always so easy as a “computer jockey” sitting at a desk all day but something worthy of effort. It is important but not urgent…I need to up the urgency.
This year it looks as I may be confronted with the issue of whether or not to accept corporate sponsorship of Kapp Notes. I like the idea of having “no strings attached” to my blog but there are some perks to sponsorship.
I hope to continue to make good friends through blogging and the blogosphere.
I need to publish some more peer reviewed articles (didn’t I say that last year?)

Professionally

I think the field needs to focus on intelligent use of technology by concentrating on specific learning strategies that are successful for learning and helping people take more responsibility for learning.
To continue the momentum built up around Gadgets, Games and Gizmos for Learning.
Continue to help students understand, appreciate and become excited about the field of instructional design and technology.
Contribute to Michael Allen’s 2nd e-Learning annual.
Write another book and create some products useful to people as they struggle to make sense of the fast and furious world of e-learning, learning and training.

What are your predictions for 2008?

Dis-integration of course materials. I see a lot of material being developed by end users (learners) via the Web 2.0 technologies and then instructional designers acting more like instructional assemblers.
Some type of corporate YouTube-esque product is released, professional videos for professional trainers. Not sure if free or a subscription model.
Continued focus on mobile learning…I envison something like GeekBrief TV as a great use of mobile. TrainingBrief TV perhaps? Maybe this is really related to the prediction above.
Introduction of a highly popular “Second Life”-esque product focused specifically on training industry takes training industry by storm through the introduction of some serious money and one or two big names behind the effort.
Several easy-to-use game development tools will be introduced along the lines of Articulate’s Engage product making interactive games available to instructional designers at all levels.
If economic recession becomes a reality as spoken about…layoffs in the e-learning and training field will hit toward the end of 2008.
I will continue to blog and enjoy the online community of bloggers, lurkers and others.

In conclusion HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!
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Posted in: prediction