ASTD’s Big Question for December 2008: New Learning

The ASTD Big question this month is What did you learn about learning in 2008?

I learn so much all the time from students, clients and colleagues, it is hard to narrow it down to just two or three things, but I’ll try.

Here are a few of the lessons I have learned. Mostly about finding a good “model” for mobile learning course design, how others tend to view immersive learning environments and how Social Media is taking off in the least likely places.

First I learned that the best mobile learning device has to be the Nintendo DS. The powerful little computer literally has dozens and dozens of games that teach every thing from Spanish to French to Problem-Solving and even how to cook. These games, are all designed by many different organizations but all have elements that can be easily applied to mobile learning designs. Too many mobile learning initiatives want to place entire courses on a mobile device…not good.

I wrote a number of posts this year about mobile learning:

Five Holiday Semi-Learning Related Games
How Widespread is Mobile Learning?
Mobile Learning Via Audio

Lesson One: If you want to find out how to create effective mobile learning, purchase a Nintendo DS and some educational games. Then begin to design your mobile learning objects.

Next, I learned that virtual worlds are starting to gain the attention of publications like the Harvard Business Review and that the need to understand how to effectively use this technology to teach is acute because many learning and development professionals still think the use of Virtual Worlds for Learning is over hyped.

Of course, I wrote a number of posts this year about virtual worlds:
Some Facts about Immersive Learning Worlds
We Have 2D Virtual Classrooms? Why 3D
Teaching Higher Order Skills in a Virtual World
Complaint? Students Don’t Hang Out in Virtual Worlds After Class
Virtual Jeans=Real Jeans

Lesson Two: While there is a lot of press and buzz around Virtual Worlds, there’s still not a great deal of understanding of how to create effective and meaningful instruction within virtual learning worlds. More work needs to be done to help education people about the possibilities and proper use of these spaces.

The third big learning was that organizations who seemed the least open, most secretive and most regulated jumped into Social Media with both feet while other industries are still floundering. Examples include the United States Intelligence community and the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer

I wrote a number of posts this year about Social Media for Learning:
Adopting Social Media in Your Organization: A Few Considerations
A Pharmaceutical Leveraging Web 2.0 –In a Big Way
Social Networking Not Corporate Enough for Your Company?
Pedia Palooza

Lesson 3: If highly regulated and highly secretive organizations can leverge Social Media for learning, any organization can overcome obstacles and leverage Social Media for Learning.

Those are a few of the lessons I’ve learning and I am sure there are so many more as I learning through blogging, writing articles, speaking with others, reading and being part of the overall learning and development community. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to my knowledge this year!

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