New Bill Would Revamp Ed-Tech Funding
eSchool News (May 2007)

Part of the No Child Left Behind Act, a newly introduced bill called the Achievement Through Technology and Innovation (ATTAIN) Act, aims to significantly enhance the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) federal block-grant program. The bill introduced in the House of Representatives, is backed by several major educational technology groups, and provides for many changes including: increasing formula grants size, providing better funding to schools in need of improvement, and designating a higher percentage of funds for sustained professional development.

Bersin’s 2007 E-Learning and LMS Predictions
Bersin and Associates (January 2007)

Bersin & Associates, an organization of senior analysts and consultants with extensive experience in corporate learning and e-Learning recently released a top 10 list of training industry predictions for 2007. The list includes several e-Learning and LMS prognostications:

• Companies will continue to move toward more sophisticated uses of e-Learning content and technology, such as for performance support, collaborative learning, and simulations.
• Nearly 40% of LMS users will seek improved content management solutions.
• Organizations will continue implementing “high-fidelity” online training programs that use simulations for improving mastery in a variety of skill areas.

Bersin & Associates Announces “The 2007 Corporate Learning Factbook”
CLO Media (February 2007)

Research and advisory firm Bersin & Associations recently published a comprehensive study analyzing the cost-effectiveness and efficiencies of existing corporate training programs. The report takes into account critical metrics like budgets, price paid per learner, staff sizes, and technology usage. The 79-page book also contains quantitative data about trends in corporate learning, an industry that grows an average of seven percent annually. Study results indicate that about 30 percent of respondents, representing companies of all sizes, use social simulation or immersive learning technology.

Winning Games
Training Magazine (April 2007) Margery Weinstein

In this Training Magazine article, games and simulations are highlighted as entertaining and efficient tools that make employees forget that they’re actually training. The piece discusses key attributes of great simulations, including the ability to grab learners’ attention, the flexibility to allow users to develop conclusions as the simulation progresses, and the important aspect that users can transfer the experiences and insights learned in the simulation to real-world situations.

New Technology Can Improve Your Performance
CLO Media (March 2007) Kaliym A. Islam

While Podcasts are not the end-all-be-all solution for knowledge, they are rapidly adding value by way of allowing individuals to view customized information no matter where in the world they are. An article published in Chief Learning Officer reports that companies using Podcasts to deliver information to stakeholders include IBM, Harvard University, General Motors, and Drexel University, among many others.

Video Games Teaching Students Algebra?
TechNews World (March 2007) Paul Korzeniowski

Some educators are now realizing the benefits that video games can play in the classroom. This article discussed the push to introduce video games in younger audience classrooms, proposing that the popularity of gaming with children cannot be ignored and so therefore should be embraced and utilized in teaching subjects such as algebra, history, and computer skills. Although there are still obvious barriers (the age gap, gender gap, and funding), the future of the classroom is certain to change as a result of the gaming industry.

Training Lacks Desire and Substance
CIO (2/13/2007) Chuck Martin

In an NFI Research global survey, respondents reported that the training offered to employees on the job is lacking and not properly used. Three-fifths said that people are not taking advantage of the training that’s offered to them. Some responded that the training was not appropriate to the individual or it was too general to be of any help. The article on the survey discusses the mandate on employees to perform better, yet they are not offered the right tools or enough time to fully benefit from the training. One respondent pointed out that if organizations don’t invest in their employees, the employees will leave to find another organization that will.

Glossary of Social Media Terms Developed
Elearnspace.org (2/23/2007) George Siemens

In a recent e-Learning Resources and News update, George Siemens provides a link to a glossary of social media terms that will help clarify the language used in the e-Learning industry. The glossary, he mentions, is a work in progress and is located at http://socialmedia.wikispaces.com/A-Z+of+social+media. The 100+ terms defined so far range from “crowdsourcing” to “permalink” to “startpage” to “Web 2.0.”

College Students Lack Internet Research Skills
Tech News World (12/23/2006) Eric Stern

Making the best use of technology should be easy for kids who grew up with technology, right? Not so much. It turns out that, while they do know how to watch movies, play games, and IM with their friends, they’re not proficient when it comes to online class research. In fact, many failed when it came to evaluating Web sites for authenticity (only 49% did it right) or properly narrowing down an Internet search (only 35% were able to). This has become such an issue that California State University is considering adding a technical literacy standardized test for CSU students.

2007 Competencies Lead List of Learning Influences
CLO Media (1/2007) Peter McStravick

International Data Group (IDC) surveyed Chief Learning Officer magazine’s Business Intelligence Board to find out what topics will have the most influence in the training industry in 2007. At the top of the list was Competencies. Last year, Instructor-Led Training (ILT) held the first spot. Although ILT dropped out of first position for 2007, it is still expected to have a big impact on the industry. Measuring ROI on learning fell on both sides of the spectrum: some felt that measurement was a key issue in judging the value of learning, while other felt that even if you could measure it, the results would be ambiguous at best. Overall, respondents felt more optimistic about training in 2007 than in 2006.

Report finds that U.S. organizations are investing more in employee training…

In its State of the Industry Report, the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) states that more business leaders are recognizing employee learning and skills development as critical elements to growing and sustaining a competitive advantage. The report states that, on average, employees are receiving 32 hours of learning per year. The report also highlights that profession- or industry-specific content was allocated the most learning content, and that the services most frequently purchased externally were technology infrastructure and content design, development, and delivery. (http://www.astd.org/astd/Research/ASTD_2005_SOIR_Member_Only.htm)

Report finds that online education in the U.S. is still growing strong…

The Sloan Consortium released its 2006 report on the state of online learning in the United States. The findings were positive for online higher education, with reports of record growth of online enrollments. The majority of online students are undergraduates, and the majority of schools offering online learning solutions tend to be public institutions, rather than private institutions. The study also found that most chief academic officers believe that the quality of online learning is “as good as or better than” the quality offered by face-to-face learning. (http://www.sloan-c.org/publications/survey/survey06.asp)