About the importance of visualization

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In a recent on-line survey among colleagues on learning and training methodologies the need for more presentation and visualization techniques was expressed. Techniques in a nutshell that could be used in their daily learning and training. Last year we had a blogpost on learning and training in an audiovisual world and this post aims to add some other interesting and useful audiovisual ideas.

1. You might know already about the periodic table of visualization methods but maybe you could use some visual thinking guides in order to explore some more arguments in your discussion.

2. Mindmapping is widely used in training, collaborative mindmapping less. CmapTools is pretty handy in order to structure the key concepts while making a mindmap. Do you want to see some samples of mindmaps go to the overall Mappio database.   While reviewing this database we thought it might be handy to make a mindmap of every useful training method or technology. The idea came up when reviewing the mindmap of the Six Thinking Hats of De Bono .

3. Use relevant videos in your training. Recently we integrated fragments of the EPAs from EU-tube in a training programme. Lot of colleagues think it is difficult to find relevant videos on the net but we do invite them to double check “80 signs of intelligent life on YouTube” .

Any other audiovisual tips for this blog?  Feel free to add them in the comment section.

visual-thinking1

Audioblogging ?

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A lot of colleagues expressed their interest in blogging lately but had some concerns on the ‘time’-issue. I do agree that time is always a challenge and will integrate in the future blogposts some ideas that take time into account. The first idea is audio-blogging. Writing an article is time-consuming but what about recording audio-posts? Some ideas:

– interviewing subject matter experts who come to our Centre as resource persons
– document best practices and success stories of participants in their own words
– create mini audio sessions which are related to the course content
– let participants record mini audio journal entries with lessons learned from the training
– have people introduce themselves with a small audio file in the beginning of our on-line courses

(ideas inspired by Michelle Martin)

Audioblogging might be something to consider, especially if recording is even possible with your own mobile phone. This week we have planned to interview Marc Steinlin who will be facilitating the Open Space at the upcoming LED-conference. This audio blogpost will be available soon.

[polldaddy poll=1018926]


What is your story?

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Tired of delivering your presentations in the same old way? Try storytelling. It is maybe one of the oldest training methods. Storytelling is a powerful vehicle which can carry information in an interesting and engaging way. With the exponential growth of emerging technologies storytelling finds now also its digital counterpart. The vehicle (called digital storytelling) equals now the variety of multimedia technologies and techniques to produce stories. The technology is off course of second importance but it gives you the practical advantage to reach wider audiences.

According to EDUCAUSE constructing a narrative and communicating it effectively requires one to think carefully about the topic and the audience’s perspective. Storytelling would therefore enhance the degree of motivation and engagement from the learner.

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informal learning

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Jay Cross states that workers can learn more in the coffee room than in the classroom. They discover their jobs through informal learning. A common assumption is that 80 percent of learning in organizations is informal. Strange enough 80 percent of organizations spending goes to formal learning if we look at the spending/outcomes paradox institutions.

The spending/outcomes paradox

The spending/outcomes paradox

In his book “Informal learning, rediscovering the natural pathways that inspire innovation and performance” Cross explores how informal learning benefits organizations. Before we explore this question in the scope of our own learning institution I let Jay Cross explain what he exactly means with informal learning:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlETGJ0mnno]

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Learning Lab on innovative training design

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From Tuesday 09/09 until 11/09 ITC-ILO will host a LearningLab in collaboration with Architects of Group Genius . This three day workshop will focus on innovative, collaborative and interactive learning and training experiences. An excellent opportunity to review our own training practice, find some inspiration and explore innovative ideas. We will use this moment to introduce this T&L blog to all ITC-ILO colleagues. These three days will create an opportunity for knowledge sharing. The T&L blog will continue that knowledge sharing experience before, during and after the workshop.

To prepare for the LearningLab, we ask you to bring an object, symbol or image that represents a powerful, unusual, meaningful learning experience that you have had. The following image might be a good start to jump into this new kind of learning experience.

What is yours?

Click here for a visual overview of the entire learning lab.

Facilitation method: Open space methodology/technology

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Open Space Technology (or methodology) is a self-organising method that can be used to run meetings for a diverse public in order to address complex topics.
My experience in OS is very limited, that is why I rely a lot on picking the brains of those who do this type of facilitation for a living. There are also some good websites like this one recommended by Tom http://www.openspaceworld.org/

by Johanne Lortie

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Filming and sharing participants exchanges – part 1.

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Human capital
Let’s start with bit of maths. Three open courses a year (on average, per trainer) and 21 participants (on guesstimate) per course. That’s around 63 people, almost as many nationalities and professional backgrounds. Year in, year out, multiplied by the number of trainers on campus (how many, 40, 50?), that makes for a lot of people…

These people, their knowledge and experience, constitute one of the main asset of the international courses we run on the ITCILO campus. And our training methodology, the famous Turin Learning Approach (yes, it is famous, isnt’it?) is largely based on getting the most of this incredible human capital.

For some time now, I have included in my programmes specific sessions dedicated to participants exchanges. But I wanted to go a little further, and in particular, I wanted to remember these exchanges and I wanted that the participants themselves remembered them. So I thought about filming them.
One of the first test examples you can find here.. More extended examples will be presented later.

by Nicolas Serrière
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Facilitation method: Peer Assist

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During several training sessions we have tested out the ‘Peer-Assist’-technique to let participants identify challenges and share experiences. The best way to introduce you to the specific methodology is to watch the following movie.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObmQyW3EiiE]

This animation is based on the peer assist methodology as outlined in the book Learning to Fly – Practical Knowledge Management from Leading and Learning Organisations by Chris Collison and Geoff Parcell (Capstone Publishing, 2001, 2004).

by Tom Wambeke

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A Web Collaboration tool

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Yugma is a web-collaboration service that enables people to connect over the internet to communicate and share content and ideas using any application or software.
“Yugma” is a word from the Sanskrit language meaning “togetherness”, “the state of being in unified collaboration.”

Easy to use, free in its basic version, it allows on-line sessions with up to 10 remote connections, letting users conduct virtual meetings or “webinars”. The new 3.0 version integrates Skype. For free. Enhanced features (on payment; free for 15 days after registration) allow to use presentation tools and interactive whiteboard, to share files, run teleconferences, record sessions, share keyboard and mouse, schedule sessions and increase the connections (up to 500). But the basic free version is a great tool providing all the necessary features.

For registration, activation and use, the site is:
http://www.yugma.com

by Carlo Zampogna

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Facilitation method: World Café

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DELTA conducted a ToT-training on innovative and participatory facilitation methods last week for UN Peacekeeping in Brindisi. One of the used methods was called ‘World Café‘. It is a innovative methodology to host conversations with questions that matter. Basically you bring people together around café-style tables that are set in conversational clusters. Each table is hosted by a ‘facilitator’ which introduces a relevant question on the subject matter topic. The host visualizes together with the table members all the key ideas right on the table (which is covered with flipchart Paper).

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