In this issue:
- Virtual Interview with Dr. Patrick Dixon, Change Management Guru
- Live from London with Heidi Fisk
- Evolving Trainers
- Training Around the World
- A reader asks...
- Funniest Training Story C-O-N-T-E-S-T
- Upcoming Events
1. Virtual Interview with Dr. Patrick Dixon, Change Management Guru
Influential Trends recently conducted a virtual interview with Dr. Patrick Dixon. Dr. Dixon is the author of ten books on the future including "Futurewise" and director of Global Change Ltd, http://www.globalchange.com. He has his own Web TV station and has appeared on radio and TV programmes in the UK over 50 times in the last year. He consults to Fortune 500 companies on new technology and has lectured recently to Compaq, Microsoft, Hewlett Packard and the World Economic Forum.
Last week, Dr. Dixon gave the Opening keynote address at Computer Training World - Europe (http://www.influent.com/ctwe2000). For those of you who did not attend the conference, here are a few of his thoughts on change and what it means to us as technology trainers.
TRENDS: What message will you be bringing to the Computer Training World Europe Conference keynote presentation?
DIXON: Take hold of the future or the future will surely take hold of you!
TRENDS: What do you mean by people having "techno-vision?"
DIXON: Most people tend to take what they know from the past and add to it. But that does not give you the future. Next they do market research - but clients are usually even blinder about the impact of new technology than those needing the information. What we need is techno-vision to take us right over the horizon bearing in mind that seeing just six months further than anyone else is the difference between success and death.
TRENDS: How does technology training promote organizational change and in what ways can we use it to Accelerate change?
DIXON: Technology training will only promote organizational change if it gives people a vision about what is coming. Otherwise trainers will be constantly frustrated, trying to encourage people to use systems they see no real need for and which will involve yet more reorganization for what they see as limited benefit.
TRENDS: There is an ongoing debate about proving a return on investment for training, what are your perspectives on this issue?
DIXON: Keep it simple and then you can measure it. At it's most basic, take 20 executives with average typing speeds of 15 words per minute and then send them back with speeds over 40 and the difference in terms of e-mail processing time is dramatic.
TRENDS: What are some ways technology training needs to change to keep pace with the future?
DIXON: Too much time is spent building training castles in the sky when staff still can't type, can't get e-mail from a hotel room and have no idea how to build warm human relationships of trust using a videoconferencing system. Keep it simple, keep it basic, keep it practical, keep it real.
2. "Live" from London with Heidi Fisk
Heidi Fisk here, writing to you from London, England and the Computer Training World Conference (CTWE). OK, I admit this is not really "live" from London, but I thought the Trends readers might be interested in the Trends that I saw while attending this event:
1. "E" rules -- The most heavily attended sessions were those addressing e-Learning. In the Expo, if your booth did not have the 'E' somewhere visible (e-Learning, e-Commerce, e-Mentoring), then you did not have many visitors. Bob Mosher, who gave the closing keynote address, jokingly told the audience that he felt he needed to change his name to e-Bob to keep up with this trend. The real discussion at the conference was whether e-Learning is hype or the future -- but all agreed it was too early to come to any conclusions.
2. Wireless is hot -- The varied infrastructures and erratic reliability of many countries' "wired net", is driving Europe to wireless technologies. You cannot walk down the streets of London with out seeing every third person on their "mobile" phone. Dr. Patrick Dixon (see article above) who gave the opening keynote address, gave the conference delegates a peek into the future that contained incredible wireless personal "appliances" that give you vast options for connectivity including v-mail, e-mail,and messaging. He showed a cell phone that flipped open to reveal a full keyboard and screen -- but was the size of a regular phone! It was the marriage of a Palm Pilot and an eccentric phone. This super phone is only available in Europe at this time -- look for it in the States in the next 12 months -- I will be first in line!
3. Mixed modes of training = the next wave -- The classroom still rules and there is great interest in Web-based training, but the really hot topic was how to combine the two to create the maximum learning experience. Expect a lot of case studies at next year's CTWE that address how companies launched a "blended model" learning strategy.
4. Certification is big -- whether it was technical certification for support staff or certification for classroom trainers or certification for the Web-developer, the merits of certification were being discussed in many sessions and by delegates. The interest in certification is partly driven by government initiatives to reskill the unemployed.
5. Employment rates and government initiatives impact training -- There are many, many government initiatives and studies being conducted in the UK and Europe around learning, reskilling, certification, and increasing technology skills for all workers. These initiatives are partially being driven by the unemployment rates (which tend to be higher than the States) and the shortage of technical workers (who are in as much demand as they are in the States).
Well, these are the main trends that I saw at this year's event.
Cheers for now!
Heidi Fisk
** As a regular feature of Trends, we will publish reports from selected events. If you are attending an event and would like to submit a "roving report" article, please contact mailto:rsmith@influent.com.**
3. Evolving Trainers by William Vanderbilt
Trainers have traditionally been asked to perform one role, but over time are being asked (even required) to perform completely different roles. Some Trainers make the transition; while many struggle.
Often, Trainers try to apply the same tried and proven traditional classroom skills to their new assignments. However, this transfer may not work. With the introduction of new approaches, new technologies, and new methodologies coupled with increasingly shortened time for learning, Trainers must learn a whole new set of skills.
Trainers everywhere have a choice in their reaction:
1. Ignore the new requirements and continue on as they have. Those that take this approach are often bitter toward the changes taking place inside and out of the classroom. They like the world as it was often chanting "It has worked for years, why do we need to change now?"
2. Incorporate new concepts into their training while steadfastly holding on to the ways they have always delivered training. This can appear awkward and never permits the true value of the new technologies and teaching methodologies: square peg, round hole.
3. Embrace the changes and "go back to school." Trainers who take this approach may learn to be more of a "broadcaster:" facilitator and instructional manager. This transition is not easy, yet yields the flexibility and progression required as technology marches on.
Here more about William's thoughts at his session, So You Want To Be a Trainer in the New Millennium, at the Computer Trainers' Spring Break Conference. Visit http://www.influent.com/ctsb. Send in your comments on how you have personally evolved to meet the needs of new technologies, methodologies, and concepts in technology training by writing to mailto:rsmith@influent.com.
4. Training Around the World
At Computer Training World - Europe, we conducted a survey to get a sense of technical training in the UK and how non-UK trainers can learn about what it takes to deliver technology training in a country other than their own. Here are some of the responses we received.
Survey results on global training issues:
- What are the ways trainers can tap into the skills needed to conduct technology training in your country?
* Respondents listed: professional organizations such as ITTA (Information Technology Training Association), magazines, conferences, train the trainer courses, the Web.
- What language is expected for the technology training?
* The responses to this question varied based on the native country -- though many technical classes are held in English.
- What are some tips for training in other countries?
* If English is not the native language, but the class is being taught in English, check the language capabilities of the audience, speak slowly, and remember that English is not the same as American.
* Understand the culture -- it is very easy to offend or cause confusion if you have not taken time to understand your audience.
* Don't use slang
* Be careful about humor -- it usually does not transate well.
* If you are teaching a technical course in a language other than your native language, you must be fluent.
5. A reader asks...
Do you have a question to pose to the Influential Trends community, or would like to respond to a reader's question appearing here? Send an email to mailto:rsmith@influent.com. Remember to use the Influential Trends Archives as a one-stop resource for your technology training questions at http://www.influent.com.
6. C-O-N-T-E-S-T
Influential Trends is conducting a contest for the funniest training story. Send in your funny training stories by March 1, to mailto:rsmith@influent.com. After all stories are collected and judged, the winning story will be published in Influential Trends and the winner will receive a F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S prize.
7. Upcoming Events
Here are some upcoming events that are of benefit to the industry:
Studio 2000
February 23-25
San Francisco, California, USA
Calling online information designers! If you intuitively understand what you are designing yet searching for comprehensive knowledge on design techniques, Influent's *new* Studio 2000 Conference is for you. This uniquely formatted learning studio has in-depth sessions, renowned keynote speakers like Jakob Nielsen, and dynamic networking opportunities. Visit http://www.influent.com/studio2000 for more information.
Computer Trainers' Spring Break
March 15-17,2000
Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA
Break out of the doldrums of winter and break into a new perspective on your career as a technology trainer at the only event focused on your issues and needs. This limited attendance symposium is designed for both the novice and the experienced trainer. Learn the basics of great training and discover how to be the trainer for the new millennium. Visit http://www.influent.com/ctsb for more information.
WBT Producer Conference & Expo
ACE User Conference
April 26-28, 2000
San Diego, California, USA
WBT Producer is targeted towards those who develop, design, or create online learning and Web-based training (WBT). ACE is the Allen Communication user conference. You can find out more about these events by visiting http://www.influent.com/wbt2000.
WBT Executive Summit
April 26-28, 2000
San Diego, California, USA
The WBT Executive Summit is for Training Directors,managers, and other executives who are responsible for the strategic implementation of online learning/Web-based training. Keynote addresses will be given by Rich Karlgaard the publisher of Forbes Magazine and Alan Webber the publisher of Fast Company Magazine. For more information go to http://www.influent.com/wbtes2000
