In this issue
	What's New? M-Learning Update Web Gem - Chief Learning Officer Website LearningEdge Early Bird Reminder!!!

M-Learning Update

In May's issue of the Muse (back copies of the Muse are available in the Resources section of our Web site) I reviewed the April issue IEEE's Learning Technology Newsletter. This outlined how some upcoming wireless and mobile communication technologies are being used to extend the possibilities of e-learning. Over the last few months I've had reason to think more about how organizations can support mobile learners. As a mobile learner myself, I consider this an issue close to my heart. Tammy and I both have two mobile phones (one for each side of the Atlantic) and lightweight laptops, but neither of us currently uses a PDA. We've looked at many but are always left thinking that we should wait for the next model. So what can organizations start to do now that would convince me to get a PDA? If an organization had a strategy to support mobile learners, what would it include? Here are two ideas that would make my mobile life more learner friendly. The first thing I'd like to see is WiFi access more widely available. If coffee shops, pubs and burger bars can offer wireless Internet access then it would be really nice to have it in the meeting rooms where we work. Just now, we often share one outlet on the wall ... but the cable is never long enough. At a recent meeting, at an organization that I'll not name, I took my own wireless router along so that we could all work at the same time! I'd also like to see more Web pages being accessible to mobile devices, especially the content of our e-learning platforms. This doesn't mean creating two versions of everything. All it requires is that Web content is produced to internationally agreed standards. These can be processed for rendering on a wide range of devices. This makes the content accessible to both the mobile and the disabled learner. See Nokia's whitepaper for more details. The second item in my personal m-learning strategy would be something that's known as profiled notification. Many mobile devices just don't have the screen resolution or keyboard to allow the kind of interaction required of most e-learning. But they can be used to notify a learner about deadlines, or activity in discussion areas or whatever else is important to a particular learner. Why log into an asynchronous discussion just to find nothing has happened? Learners should be notified when they want, about what they care about, on a device they already own. Profiled notification, would mean I could have a message sent to my home email address whenever a new thread opens up in an important discussion group and a text message could be sent to my cell phone whenever a tutor posts in the "announcements" group. Of course I would be able to change my profile whenever I wanted. If you're interested in reading more about how m-learners can be supported go to http://www.mobilearn.org/ This is the Web site for a "worldwide European-led research and development project exploring context-sensitive approaches to informal, problem-based and workplace learning by using key advances in mobile technologies." They've already published some initial results and a great newsletter. Mobilearn Project »

Web Gem - Chief Learning Officer Website

The Chief Learning Officer website is a companion to the magazine, which features top experts in the corporate training industry writing to executives and officers about the importance, benefits and advancements of a properly trained workforce. Given that the Conference Board of Canada recently suggested in their annual Training and Development outlook that "Canada continues to lag behind the US and other countries in employee training", publications such as this that raise the profile of organizational learning are much needed! The magazine is available free to US residents, and is 210 USD for Canadian residents. It includes regular features on human capital, learning solutions, productivity, technology, chief learning officer profiles and has numerous case studies. The website contains short overviews of the magazine articles, as well as case studies and executive briefings. There's also an electronic newsletter. While the subscription pages for the magazine and newsletter are a bit flakey, there's a lot of information on this site related to raising the profile of organizational learning. Chief Learning Officer Website »

LearningEdge Early Bird Reminder!!!

LearningEdge is a set of tools and processes that bring together learning strategy and business goals in a participatory, practical and easy-to-apply manner. If you are interesting in your organization becoming a learning organization, LearningEdge provides the map to get there. Click here to download a presentation about LearningEdge. Toronto Early Bird Reminder The earlybird deadline for the Toronto workshop is fast approaching on October 27. Sign up now to save $200. LearningEdge Case Studies The first LearningEdge Case Studies are now available online. A range of organizations are described, their Learning Signatures are outlined and the lessons learned from working with Learning Edge are highlighted. These first eight case studies come from work carried out in the UK in the summer 2002, at the end of the LearningEdge development process. LearningEdge Certification Dates Calliope Learning is the only company in North America licensed to train and certify people in the use of the LearningEdge toolset. 2003 Dates Location Early Bird Cut Off Registration Deadline December 8, 9, 10 Toronto October 27 November 24 2004 Dates Location Early Bird Cut Off Registration Deadline May 17, 18, 19 Calgary April 5 April 19 June 21, 22, 23 Vancouver May 10 May 24 October 18, 19, 20 Victoria September 6 September 20 November 29, 30, December 1 Toronto October 18 November 1 The cost is $2400 (plus GST), regular rate and $2200 early bird rate. Click here to register. LearningEdge on the Move!! We've had some requests for taking LearningEdge to other parts of Canada at different times from our scheduled workshops. If you can get 6 people interested, we'll travel to you! Call us today at (250) 213 6239 or email info@calliopelearning.com to explore the possibilities. Certification Sponsorship Opportunities Contact us if you are interested in taking the LearningEdge Certification but need some help financially. We've tried to come up with a creative solution that could be especially attractive to independent consultants. LearningEdge Online Presentation »