Have you seen the new blockbuster movie, Avatar? No? Don’t feel bad. Neither have I. Maybe we are the only people who have not seen the film yet, but I’m going to wait until it comes out on DVD – or some new media format.
We all know that technology changes quickly and often times drastically, and Avatar is a perfect example. Just a few months ago, I used to discuss how avatars could be used in training. Many of the people in my class had never heard of an avatar. Now, just about everyone has heard the term. Technology works that way. This can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your point of view. I often tell learners that you cannot be expected to know every new technological tool/gadget, term, innovation, or organization, because it changes so rapidly. It can become overwhelming. Even professionals will tell you the same thing: The amount of information out there is so vast that it is nearly impossible to stay current.
So what is the answer for us busy trainers? I suggest the EX factor:
- EX-plore the various websites and journals that are currently available. Learn what you can from them.
- EX-plain what you learn to others. Not only will be you helping someone else stay current, you will be reinforcing your own learning.
- EX-periment with some of the new tools you discovered. Don’t be afraid – just play and have fun. Many tools are now free, while others provide free trial periods.
At Langevin, we know how busy your lives are. Therefore when you attend our e-Learning workshops, we will share with you a wealth of resources that will allow you to stay current in a reasonable amount of time.
If you are going to be looking into how technology will be impacting how you train, you do need to keep current on key issues/trends. But don’t panic! I am not asking you to enroll in a college computer programming course. However you do need to talk some of the language of your IT department and staying current can help you do this.
Perhaps most importantly, you will need to create a strong relationship with IT. If you stay in your training speak, then you will instantly lose credibility with the people who may have a big influence on the success of your e-learning projects. Staying current will not only foster positive relationships with IT, it can also help you gain credibility with everyone in your organization as well.
So, if you are not going to the movies anytime soon, then you just created some free time so bring out the popcorn and Explore, Explain, and Experiment – and hopefully I’ll see you at a Langevin course where w e can do this together!
Ron
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