I accomplished my first goal since returning from the eLearning Guild Conference. I put together a 1-hour presentation with highlights from the workshop and all of the sessions I attended. I even included some key points from the three keynotes. I had the books I purchased out on the table – as well as some chocolate brownies. I invited everyone I could think of who is involved with training in some way across my organization. 15 people showed!
I demonstrated some of the key technologies – social bookmarking, blogs, wikis, and RSS feeds. I was surprised that most of the group had never heard of them. They were very excited and reportedly overwhelmed. We just barley scratched the surface too.
The best part was the discussion that ensued. Folks started asking each other how their groups might use such tools. We were brainstorming and exchanging ideas. It was thrilling.
We pulled up our organization’s Wiki (it’s fairly new and unknown) and talked about ways we might start using it right now.
As I started telling everyone I would email my presentation and resources to them I realized – no! I’m going to start a Wiki page on Training and Collaboration Resources. Then we can all have a central place to share our stuff.
Several people have approached me since the presentation and told me what they have been thinking about. One person already signed up for Del.icio.us and showed me that she has added some bookmarks. Some have fears and are overwhelmed – or feel like they are “too old” to learn new tricks, but even they say they want to embrace it anyway because it seems like this is where we are headed with the new generation. They’re just going to need my help, they say. I say – we are all going to help each other.
Our organization usually operates in silos. We have never been successful at having a training network group – but I think now there is a real interest. And the very tools we are exploring just might make it possible.
Inspiring post! Will you be my small business’ technology consultant?
Hi Angela: I came to your blog through Tony Karrer’s. Reading through your posts and looking at your profile, I think I actually may have sat with you at lunch on the Thursday. I can’t remember what we were discussing, but it was the day with the mango/chicken, banana/chocolate pudding something or other. Hopefully it is you. We sat in many of the same sessions through out the conference as well.
I too started blog when I came back and am finding it quite fun to do, but difficult to sound like I am an expert or have a profound sense of things. I’m trying to read and collect rss feeds as well so that I can start learning from others and create some critical thoughts of my own.
I’ve been able to get some buy in on a few initiatives that I want to take on. Now it’s just a matter of making them work. (http://discovery-thru-elearning.blogspot.com/2007/04/let-developing-begin.html)
I look forward to continuing to read your blog and see how your’s develops and progresses from here. Hopefully we will meet again at the conference perhaps next year.
Take care,
Tracy
Tracy! Of course I remember you. That was a good meal…
I’ve just been so jazzed since the conference! That’s cool about setting up the Wiki pages for your nurses. Does your organization already have Wiki technology in place? I’m hoping to start using ours as well. We could at least start with some FAQ pages.
Let’s keep in touch and thanks for writing!
I hope you’ll keep going with your blog.
[...] me to share highlights from the eLearning Guild’s Annual Gathering in Boston. After I held my brown bag I put some content up there, as promised. Since then I have added a bunch more ideas, my own [...]