For the 2012 ASTD TechKnowledge conference, I am conducting both a webinar and a live concerrent session for the conference. Both sessions are covering the same topic: Twitter 101 for the Learning Professional.
This blog post is being set up a follow-up resource for those that attend one of my sessions. It may also serve as a resource for anyone that wants to learn more about how to use Twitter.
Specific Session Resources
Twitter 101 for Learning Professionals Webinar Recording
Twitter 101 for Learning Professionals Slideshare
Beginning Twitter Tips
Twitter 101: How should I get started using Twitter? (from the Twitter Help Center)
How to Tweet: Twitter 101 (from eHow.com)
Why are You on Twitter? A 'Twitter 101' Lesson by Mike Johansson
Twitter 101: 55 Tips to Get Retweeted on Twitter by Pam Moore
Twitter: Why It's So Great and How to Effectively Use It by Lost Art of Blogging
Twitter for Beginners by Jerry Blumengarten
Beginning Twitter for Professionals by Kelly Meeker (Free course)
Comprehensive Resources
The Twitter Guidebook (from Mashable.com)
Twitter Basics (from the Twitter Help Center)
Books
Social Media for Trainers by Jane Bozarth
Gettin' Geeky with Twitter by Gina Schreck
The Backchannel by Cliff Atkinson
Twitter for Learning Professionals
How to use Twitter for Social Learning from The Social Learning Centre
The Effects of Twitter in an Online Learning Environment by Logan Rath
Nuts and Bolts: Social Media for Learning by Jane Bozarth
App Fusion: 30 Twitter Apps for the Learning Pro by Terrence Wing
Marc My Words: OMG, I'm Tweeting by Marc Rosenberg
App Fusion: Twaining in Twitter by Terrence Wing
Cybraryman: Twitter by Jerry Blumengarten
Using Twitter for Role Plays by Lisa Neil Gualtieri
Creating a Training Course in Twitter (YouTube playlist)
This series of videos explains how you can build a training program directly within Twitter, using the media playing capability of the service. While Twitter recently changed some of the features and the structure of it's webpage, the principles of these videos still apply. It also provides an opportunity to share some of the work of the late Terrence Wing, who was a strong voice of the use of Twitter and social media for training professionals.
Showing posts with label ASTD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ASTD. Show all posts
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Conference Backchannels: Archive of Collected Resource Postings
I am a huge proponent of backchannel learning. There are many conferences I would love to be able to attend, but my budget can only accommodate one or two each year. The backchannel is an excellent resource for learning from a conference or event that you are unable to attend in-person.
I find collecting and reviewing backchannel resources to be a valuable learning experience for me, even when I am attending a conference in person. Sharing these collections on this blog has shown that others find value in the collections as well.
As the number of these posts grows and continue to contribute value to me and others, I have created this post as an ongoing 'archive' and single point of reference to my conference backchannel collected resource posts. The listing starts with the most recent post and goes backwards chronologically.
Learning 2011 (November 2011)
ASTD Chapter Leader’s Conference (October 2011)
Learning 3.0 (October 2011)
mLearning DevCon 2011 (October 2011)
Resources Shared at Recent ASTD / SHRM Presentations (September 2011)#140EDU 2011 (August 2011)
mLearn Conference 2011 (June 2011)
Resources Shared at Recent ASTD Presentations (April 2011)
CLO Symposium Spring 2011 (March 2011)
Learning Solutions 2011 (March 2011)
Training 2011 (February 2011)
ASTD TechKnowledge 2011 (February 2011)
Learning Technologies 2011 (January 2011)
DevLearn10 (November 2010)
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Resources Shared at Recent ASTD / SHRM Presentations
Resources Shared at Recent Presentations
I recently had the privilege of speaking at a joint ASTD / SHRM Chapter Meeting. The topic of the evening's discussion was The Importance of Measurement in Learning and Performance.
The discussion covered a brief history of measurement of learning and performance, as well as where measurement may be going in the future. This blog post collects the resources that I shared as well as other resources that can continue the discussions and learning from the presentation.
BOOKS
- ASTD Handbook for Measuring and Evaluating Training edited by Patricia Pulliam Phillips
- Evaluation Basics (ASTD Training Basics) by Don McCain
- ROI at Work by Patricia Phillips and Jack Phillips
- Quick! Show Me Your Value by Theresa Seagraves
- Make Training Evaluation Work by Patricia Phillips, Jack Phillips, and Toni Krucky Hodges
- Return on Investment (ROI) Basics (ASTD Training Basics) by Patricia Phillips and Jack Phillips
- Measuring For Success: What CEOs Really Think About Learning Investments by Patricia Phillips and Jack Phillips
- Evaluating Training Programs: The Four Levels (3rd Edition) by Donald Kirkpatrick PhD
- Achieving Results from Training: How to Evaluate Human Resource Development to Strengthen Programs and Increase Impact by Robert Brinkerhoff
- The ROI Institute Fan Page (Facebook)
- ROI Network (LinkedIn)
- Kirkpatrick Partners
- The ROI Institute
- Alternatives to Kirkpatrick (via Bozarthzone)
- The Evaluation Center (via Western Michigan University)
- Why Don't We Weigh Them? (by Gloria J Gery)
- Social Media Metrics (via Learnlets)
Thursday, July 7, 2011
What's a Twitter Chat?
A number of my blog posts are reflections of twitter chats, such as #lrnchat and #realwplearn chat. As vibrant a community these chats represent, I sometimes forget that the participants in these chats represent a very small percentage of the overall community of Learning and Development Professionals.
At a recent ASTD Chapter meeting, I was reminded of this fact during a conversation I had with a group of peers. I was asked where I learned about something and I casually replied "We discussed it during a recent #lrnchat".
I received silence and a few puzzled looks in response. I added "It's a regular Twitter chat for learning professionals". Another moment of silence passed, broken finally by a peer who asked "What's a twitter chat?" I could tell by the looks around the table that everyone else had a similar question percolating in their mind.
If you've ever wanted to know how a twitter chat works, or what tools you can use to participate in a Twitter Chat, then this post is geared towards you. If not, well, you're here, so feel free to read it anyway.
WHAT IS A TWITTER CHAT?
At a recent ASTD Chapter meeting, I was reminded of this fact during a conversation I had with a group of peers. I was asked where I learned about something and I casually replied "We discussed it during a recent #lrnchat".
I received silence and a few puzzled looks in response. I added "It's a regular Twitter chat for learning professionals". Another moment of silence passed, broken finally by a peer who asked "What's a twitter chat?" I could tell by the looks around the table that everyone else had a similar question percolating in their mind.
If you've ever wanted to know how a twitter chat works, or what tools you can use to participate in a Twitter Chat, then this post is geared towards you. If not, well, you're here, so feel free to read it anyway.
WHAT IS A TWITTER CHAT?
A Twitter Chat is a group chat that takes place using the social networking service, Twitter. Twitter chat topics and structures can vary. Most do share the following characteristics:
- Since they use Twitter, discussions consist of comments of up to 140 characters
- Many chats are held on regularly scheduled dates and times
- Chats utilize a dedicated hashtag, so that participants can easily locate and participate in the chat
- Many chats are loosely moderated and have a set starting topic
- There is no expectation that participants will review and respond to every single post in the discussion, especially in larger chats
HOW DO I PARTICIPATE IN A TWITTER CHAT?
There are a number of ways to participate in Twitter chats, and I'll be sharing different tools later in this posting. Let's first walk through the most basic steps for participating in a chat. If you already have a Twitter account, you can skip ahead to step 2.
1. Create a Twitter account. A simple walkthrough of how to do that can be found HERE.
2. Search for the hashtag associated with the chat. This will filter your view so that only tweets with the chat hashtag are shown.
3. Review the listing of tweets; the most recent will be on top.
4. To check for new chat posts, refresh your screen or click the 'New Posts' link that appears on screen.
5. To contribute to the discussion, enter your comment into the status fields and click update.
IMPORTANT: you must include the chat hashtag in your comment in order to ensure other participants will be able to see your post.
TWITTER CHAT TOOLS
There are a number of Twitter tools that can make participating in a chat easier. Here are two of my favorites:
TweetChat
TweetChat is potentially the best tool for participating in a Twitter Chat, as it provides some functionality geared specifically for live chats:
- TweetChat automatically filters the Tweet stream, showing only the tweets containing the hashtag for the chat.
- TweetChat automatically refreshes every 5-10 seconds, keeping you up to date.
- TweetChat automatically adds the chat hashtag to all of your updates, ensuring you do not forget to do so yourself.
TweetDeck
TweetDeck is a aggregator that enables users to monitor multiple social media feeds at once, include not only Twitter, but Facebook, LinkedIn, FourSquare, and more. Users can set up dedicated columns for specific tools, or specific searches within those tools.
TweetDeck provides some unique features that can make participating in a Twitter chat easier:
- You can set up a column in TweetDeck that shows only the tweets from the chat
- You can simultaneously monitor a 'mentions' column that shows who has mentioned or reached out to you directly during the chat
- You can easily clear out all messages you have already read, an excellent tool for chats you are participating in sporadically.
There are a great number of additional tools that can be used for Twitter chats. I recommend trying a few and finding the one that you are comfortable with. The value of the chats is in the discussions, not the tools. Find a tool that makes it easier for you to participate.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
The best way to learn how to participate in a Twitter chat is quite simply to participate in one. Twitter chats are very much like learning to ride a bike. You can only learn so much by reading or talking to someone about it. To truly learn how, you need to go out and try it.
One word of caution though: for a newcomer to Twitter Chats, the speed at which they move can seem extremely fast. If you try to read every single message, it may feel like trying to drink from a fire hose. That's a normal reaction. Much like drinking from a hose, you should start by sipping from the stream. As you grow more accustomed to the flow, you'll be able to drink more and find the best way to quench your thirst for knowledge and community.
There are three regular chats that I recommend for learning professionals
#lrnchat (http://www.lrnchat.com/)
#lrnchat is a twitter chat for learning professionals that focuses on how people learn, what they learn, and what we’re learning as professionals in the field. The next #lrnchat sessions are scheduled for Thursday July 7th and Thursday August 5th at 11:30am and 8:30pm (EST).
#RealWPLearn (http://www.realworkplacelearning.com/)
#RealWPLearn is a twitter chat for all business professionals that focuses on how REAL workplace learning happens: through social, informal, and often serendipitous happenings. The next #RealWPLearn chats are scheduled for Wednesday July13th and Wednesday August 10th at 3:00pm (EST).
#ASTDChapters (http://astdchapters.wordpress.com/)
#ASTDCchapters is a twitter chat for learning and performance professionals that focuses on the value and community offered by the American Society for Training and Development and it's local chapters. The next #ASTDChapters chats are scheduled for Wednesday July13th and Wednesday August 10th at 8:30pm (EST).
The #ASTDChapters chat tends to move at a slower pace than the other two, so it may serve as a nice entry point for those new to Twitter chats. I will be one of the moderators for the July 13th chat, during which we are exploring "The Value of ASTD Membership". I invite you to join us and share your thoughts or suggestions on what the value of ASTD and it's chapters is and could be. I will also be able to provide real-time assistance to those new to Twitter chats.
Once you are able to get comfortable using the tools to participate in Twitter chats, i'm sure you'll find them to be extremely valuable feel free to reach out to me on twitter (@LnDDave) or in the comments section below if you have any questions.
I hope to see you online during an upcoming Twitter chat!
Monday, May 23, 2011
The Mixed Messages of Social Media
Today is the second day of the ASTD International Conference and Exposition in Orlando, Florida. I have attended a number of sessions on different topics including leadership, engagement, relationships, and more. Through them all, a consist thread about Social Media was present.
It makes sense. Social media technology is rapidly advancing and has passed a critical tipping point in which it is no longer a barrier to social learning and is in fact an enabler of it. It is such a game changer, that it likely has application in every conference session, regardless of the specific session title and focus.
What surprised me though was that there was not unison in the theme. True, social media was a constant theme, but a larger then expected percentage of people were speaking against the power of social media. This cautionary view of was somewhat surprising to me. It was something that was present both in speakers and in attendee comments via the backchannel.
I started my conference with a session facilitated by Marshall Goldsmith on leading your own engagement and stakeholder relationships. First, let me be clear: I enjoyed this session very much. In it, Goldsmith shared some great strategies that attendees could put into practice to strengthen relationships. I look forward to using some of the skills shared.
During the session social media was discussed as it pertains to relationships. Surprisingly, it was brought up as a barrier to relationships. Examples of celebrity tweeters were shared, and a very cautionary picture of social media usage was painted: if you're using social media, you're wasting time. Those specific words were not said, but when statements like 'social media relationships aren't real' are made, that's essentially the message many receive. These thoughts were supported and echoed in comments shared by some attendees via the backchannel.
I don't have a problem with a cautionary tale of social media usage. The example of the World of Warcraft player that played over 140 hours a week? Yes, that's a problem; but it's a problem with the player, not the game.
With filtering, social media can be a tremendous resource, including being a huge enabler towards building relationships. I have many 'real' friends that I have met via social media. In fact, one of the things I have enjoyed most so far at the conference is connecting with friends in person for the first time. Before social media, I had never greeted someone I was meeting for the first time with a hug.
And that's just the personal relationships... Social media has even more in building your personal learning network. That's a blog post in itself.
Speaking today about social media having no value is like standing on a soapbox 20 years ago trying to get people to stop e-mail; it's a waste of your time, and a disservice to those you are speaking to. Social media is here, and it has fundamentally changed the way people communicate. Either you accept that fact and get onboard, or the world leaves you behind.
I'll share the advice I give to the 'naysayers' I speak with at events. Stop focusing on why social media won't work; start focusing on one thing can do with it. Stop talking about 'having no interest in hearing about what Ashton Kutcher had for breakfast'; start looking at how people with similar interests are using social media.
As learning professionals, it's no longer a question of IF we will be incorporating social media in our programs; it's a question of WHEN. Some organizations may take longer to get there, some may even fight it along the way, but ultimately everyone will need to get there just to keep up with the way the world communicates - just like we did with e-mail.
As learning professionals, we have an opportunity with social media. We can take the opportunity to explore and utilize this technology now, or be forced to use it in the future. We can pave the way ourselves, or we can follow the road others have paved for us. The point is, one way or another, we will travel the path. Our opportunity is to be the leaders that help our organizations navigate the journey.
Need a place to start? Start by realizing it's not about what you can't do; it's about what you CAN do.
And please, stop listening when people say that social media is 'dangerous' or 'pointless'. The value is there, and it is priceless. Anyone who says differently just hasn't found it yet.
It makes sense. Social media technology is rapidly advancing and has passed a critical tipping point in which it is no longer a barrier to social learning and is in fact an enabler of it. It is such a game changer, that it likely has application in every conference session, regardless of the specific session title and focus.
What surprised me though was that there was not unison in the theme. True, social media was a constant theme, but a larger then expected percentage of people were speaking against the power of social media. This cautionary view of was somewhat surprising to me. It was something that was present both in speakers and in attendee comments via the backchannel.
I started my conference with a session facilitated by Marshall Goldsmith on leading your own engagement and stakeholder relationships. First, let me be clear: I enjoyed this session very much. In it, Goldsmith shared some great strategies that attendees could put into practice to strengthen relationships. I look forward to using some of the skills shared.
During the session social media was discussed as it pertains to relationships. Surprisingly, it was brought up as a barrier to relationships. Examples of celebrity tweeters were shared, and a very cautionary picture of social media usage was painted: if you're using social media, you're wasting time. Those specific words were not said, but when statements like 'social media relationships aren't real' are made, that's essentially the message many receive. These thoughts were supported and echoed in comments shared by some attendees via the backchannel.
I don't have a problem with a cautionary tale of social media usage. The example of the World of Warcraft player that played over 140 hours a week? Yes, that's a problem; but it's a problem with the player, not the game.
With filtering, social media can be a tremendous resource, including being a huge enabler towards building relationships. I have many 'real' friends that I have met via social media. In fact, one of the things I have enjoyed most so far at the conference is connecting with friends in person for the first time. Before social media, I had never greeted someone I was meeting for the first time with a hug.
And that's just the personal relationships... Social media has even more in building your personal learning network. That's a blog post in itself.
Speaking today about social media having no value is like standing on a soapbox 20 years ago trying to get people to stop e-mail; it's a waste of your time, and a disservice to those you are speaking to. Social media is here, and it has fundamentally changed the way people communicate. Either you accept that fact and get onboard, or the world leaves you behind.
I'll share the advice I give to the 'naysayers' I speak with at events. Stop focusing on why social media won't work; start focusing on one thing can do with it. Stop talking about 'having no interest in hearing about what Ashton Kutcher had for breakfast'; start looking at how people with similar interests are using social media.
As learning professionals, it's no longer a question of IF we will be incorporating social media in our programs; it's a question of WHEN. Some organizations may take longer to get there, some may even fight it along the way, but ultimately everyone will need to get there just to keep up with the way the world communicates - just like we did with e-mail.
As learning professionals, we have an opportunity with social media. We can take the opportunity to explore and utilize this technology now, or be forced to use it in the future. We can pave the way ourselves, or we can follow the road others have paved for us. The point is, one way or another, we will travel the path. Our opportunity is to be the leaders that help our organizations navigate the journey.
Need a place to start? Start by realizing it's not about what you can't do; it's about what you CAN do.
And please, stop listening when people say that social media is 'dangerous' or 'pointless'. The value is there, and it is priceless. Anyone who says differently just hasn't found it yet.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
ASTD ICE 2011 (#ASTD2011) Backchannel - Collected Resources
Last Update: 6/9
The conference may be over but the backchannel continues! I will add a 'Date Added' to each new resource that is added to make it easier for return visitors to see what has bee added since their last viewing. If you know of any additional resources not shown here, please let me know.
I am a huge proponent of backchannel learning. There are many conferences I would love to be able to attend, but my budget can only accomodate one or two each year. The backchannel is an excellent resource for learning from a conference or event that you are unable to attend in-person.
I find collecting collecting and reviewing backchannel resources to be a valuable learning experience for me, even when I am attending a conference in person. Sharing these collections on this blog has shown that others find value in the collections as well.
This post collects the resources shared via the backchannel of ASTD International Conference and Exposition 2011, being held May 22-25 in Orlando, Florida.
Official ASTD International Conference and Exposition Resources
Conference Website Home Page
Session Specific
Visual Notes from Smart Goals notes by Jeannel King; session from Glenn Hughes
Technologies that can support Informal Learning slide from presentation by Saul Carliner
Falling in Love all Over Again with ISD – with Allison Rossett at #ASTD2011 by Cammy Bean
High Impact Low Cost Experientials to Energize Leadership Training (slides and exercise files) by Sardek Love
The Future of Leadership (handouts) by Jazmine Boatman and Rick Wellins
ROI Institute A session of Jack Phillips of the ROI Institute by Evert Pruis (translated by Google Translate)
Resources & Handouts from my #ASTD2011 Talk by Lisa Haneberg
Marcus Buckingham - opening general session at ASTD 2011 by Evert Pruis (translated by Google Translate)
Falling In Love All Over Again with Instructional Design slides by Allison Rossett
Rebuiding Trust in the Workplace by Evert Pruis (translated by Google Translate)
Verse 1 of 3 Kirkpatrick Trainer Song ASTD 2011 video posted by BigKid
Verse 2 of 3 Kirkpatrick Trainer Song ASTD 2011 video posted by BigKid
Verse 3 of 3 Kirkpatrick Trainer Song ASTD 2011 video posted by BigKid
Donald Kirkpatrick's Final Presentation ASTD 2011 Emotional video posted by BigKid
Tony Schwartz - We're Working The Way Is not Working by Evert Pruis (translated by Google Translate)
How do YOU prefer to Learn? Audience Responses from "9 Elements to Design Learning and Influence Behavior" by Kimberly Seeger (Added 5/31)
10 Tips to Market Yourself and Your Business session handout by C Michael Ferraro (Added 6/3)
Learning Innovation with Today's Tech Tools Follow-up document to session by Larry Straining (Added 6/3)
Fierce Talks ROE at ASTD by Jaime (Added 6/3)
David Rock – the Neuroscience of Engagement by Evert Pruis (translated by Google Translate) (Added 6/3)
Disney's Approach to Inspiring Creativitiy - # astd2011 by Christian Barbosa (translated by Google Translate) (Added 6/9)
26 Proven Tricks to Enhance and Engage Learning session handout by Marc Ratcliffe (Added 6/9)
Miscellaneous
The conference may be over but the backchannel continues! I will add a 'Date Added' to each new resource that is added to make it easier for return visitors to see what has bee added since their last viewing. If you know of any additional resources not shown here, please let me know.
I am a huge proponent of backchannel learning. There are many conferences I would love to be able to attend, but my budget can only accomodate one or two each year. The backchannel is an excellent resource for learning from a conference or event that you are unable to attend in-person.
I find collecting collecting and reviewing backchannel resources to be a valuable learning experience for me, even when I am attending a conference in person. Sharing these collections on this blog has shown that others find value in the collections as well.Official ASTD International Conference and Exposition Resources
Conference Website Home Page
Conference Program Guide
Conference Program Guide - Keynote Speakers
Conference Program Guide - Conference Tracks
ASTD Conference Daily #1
ASTD Conference Daily #2
ASTD Conference Daily #3
Session Materials
Essentials of Social Media for Learning (online program starting June 14)
Conference Summaries and Recaps
ASTD2011 Day One by Robyn Sayles
ASTD2011 at Orlando 5/23 by Ayako Nakamura (translated by Google Translate)
ASTD2011 at Orlando 5/24 by Ayako Nakamura (translated by Google Translate)
ASTD, American VOV - Learning Network has a clear vision of learning! by Karen Phillips (translated by Google Translate)
Some Things We Learned at ASTD by GoToTraining (Added 6/3)
ASTD New Journal: May 24th, 2011 by Evert Pruis (translated by Google Translate) (Added 6/3)
Fierce Connects with Global Community at ASTD by Jaime (Added 6/3)
What I Learned at ASTD 2011 by Mark Miller (Added 6/3)
Highlights from ASTD ICE 2011 by Kelly Meeker (Added 6/3)
A Photo Review ~ #ASTD2011 by Robyn Sayles (Added 6/3)
eLearning, Social Learning & Mobile Learning Trends from ASTD 2011 by Molly Horn (Added 6/9)
#CPLPTalk Chat Transcript (topic was ASTD2011) (Added 6/9)
New eLearning Tools Roundup – #ASTD2011 by Cammy Bean (Added 6/9)
Return to ASTD by Owen Ferguson (Added 6/9)
The ASTD Conference 2011 kicks off in style by Katherine Farnworth (Added 6/9)
ASTD ICE 2011 Recap by Robert Ryan (Added 6/9)
ASTD Wrap Up by Scott Erskine (Added 6/9)
Learning and Development Trends from ASTD by Herrmann International (Added 6/9)
Conference Program Guide - Keynote Speakers
Conference Program Guide - Conference Tracks
ASTD Conference Daily #1
ASTD Conference Daily #2
ASTD Conference Daily #3
Session Materials
Essentials of Social Media for Learning (online program starting June 14)
Conference Summaries and Recaps
ASTD2011 Day One by Robyn Sayles
ASTD2011 at Orlando 5/23 by Ayako Nakamura (translated by Google Translate)
ASTD2011 at Orlando 5/24 by Ayako Nakamura (translated by Google Translate)
ASTD, American VOV - Learning Network has a clear vision of learning! by Karen Phillips (translated by Google Translate)
Some Things We Learned at ASTD by GoToTraining (Added 6/3)
ASTD New Journal: May 24th, 2011 by Evert Pruis (translated by Google Translate) (Added 6/3)
Fierce Connects with Global Community at ASTD by Jaime (Added 6/3)
What I Learned at ASTD 2011 by Mark Miller (Added 6/3)
Highlights from ASTD ICE 2011 by Kelly Meeker (Added 6/3)
A Photo Review ~ #ASTD2011 by Robyn Sayles (Added 6/3)
eLearning, Social Learning & Mobile Learning Trends from ASTD 2011 by Molly Horn (Added 6/9)
#CPLPTalk Chat Transcript (topic was ASTD2011) (Added 6/9)
New eLearning Tools Roundup – #ASTD2011 by Cammy Bean (Added 6/9)
Return to ASTD by Owen Ferguson (Added 6/9)
The ASTD Conference 2011 kicks off in style by Katherine Farnworth (Added 6/9)
ASTD ICE 2011 Recap by Robert Ryan (Added 6/9)
ASTD Wrap Up by Scott Erskine (Added 6/9)
Learning and Development Trends from ASTD by Herrmann International (Added 6/9)
Session Specific
Visual Notes from Smart Goals notes by Jeannel King; session from Glenn Hughes
Technologies that can support Informal Learning slide from presentation by Saul Carliner
Falling in Love all Over Again with ISD – with Allison Rossett at #ASTD2011 by Cammy Bean
High Impact Low Cost Experientials to Energize Leadership Training (slides and exercise files) by Sardek Love
The Future of Leadership (handouts) by Jazmine Boatman and Rick Wellins
ROI Institute A session of Jack Phillips of the ROI Institute by Evert Pruis (translated by Google Translate)
Resources & Handouts from my #ASTD2011 Talk by Lisa Haneberg
Marcus Buckingham - opening general session at ASTD 2011 by Evert Pruis (translated by Google Translate)
Falling In Love All Over Again with Instructional Design slides by Allison Rossett
Rebuiding Trust in the Workplace by Evert Pruis (translated by Google Translate)
Verse 1 of 3 Kirkpatrick Trainer Song ASTD 2011 video posted by BigKid
Verse 2 of 3 Kirkpatrick Trainer Song ASTD 2011 video posted by BigKid
Verse 3 of 3 Kirkpatrick Trainer Song ASTD 2011 video posted by BigKid
Donald Kirkpatrick's Final Presentation ASTD 2011 Emotional video posted by BigKid
Tony Schwartz - We're Working The Way Is not Working by Evert Pruis (translated by Google Translate)
How do YOU prefer to Learn? Audience Responses from "9 Elements to Design Learning and Influence Behavior" by Kimberly Seeger (Added 5/31)
10 Tips to Market Yourself and Your Business session handout by C Michael Ferraro (Added 6/3)
Learning Innovation with Today's Tech Tools Follow-up document to session by Larry Straining (Added 6/3)
Fierce Talks ROE at ASTD by Jaime (Added 6/3)
David Rock – the Neuroscience of Engagement by Evert Pruis (translated by Google Translate) (Added 6/3)
Disney's Approach to Inspiring Creativitiy - # astd2011 by Christian Barbosa (translated by Google Translate) (Added 6/9)
26 Proven Tricks to Enhance and Engage Learning session handout by Marc Ratcliffe (Added 6/9)
Miscellaneous
50 Ways to lose / INVOLVE Your LEARNER by Kimberly Seeger
Building your Personal Learning Network (PLN) by Jane Bozarth
Review of the #ASTD2011 Mobile App by Benjamin McCall
ZebraZapps Quick Tips by Judy Unrein
ASTD International Conference: Must Attend Sessions! by Benjamin McCall
Free Resources from the Marshall Goldsmith Library
THIS is what Social Learning Looks Like by Jane Bozarth
Why do people quiot hetting better at something? by Betterat Blog
Ken Blanchard – It’s Always the Leader (animated video)
ASTD Conference App Featured in the NY Times
Using Twitter for Reflection Questions by Jane Bozarth
Learning 2.0 is Dumb: Use ‘Connected Learning’ Instead by Dan Pontefract
Your Brain at Work YouTube video from David Rock
Are You Following Me? by Michael Palko
Better, Smarter, Faster: How Web 3.0-Executive Summary
Social Learning Lessons: Tales from 7th Grade Biology by Andrea May
What Can Angry Birds Teach Us About Employee Learning? by David Kelly
Who Owns Behavior Change In The Sales Force? - A Key Question For SE Pros From ASTD's 2011 International Conference by Brian Lambert
Social Media Revolution 2 (Refresh) YouTube video shared by Brittany Barhite
The State of Workplace Learning Today by Jane Hart
A Leader’s Biggest Credibility Killer (And Hardest Lesson) by Terry Starbucker
The Mixed Messages of Social Media by David Kelly
3 Things You Can Do To Harness The Learning Explosion by Treion Muller and Matt Murdoch
Crush Stupid Policies by Chris Edmonds
5 training activities to energize participants by Sharlyn Lauby
Chris Anderson shares his vision with TED (TED video)
Top 50 Mobile Learning Resources by Abhijit Kadle
Training Plan For iPhone Application Development by Amar Jadhav
Reflections on #lrnchat: The Archive by David Kelly
Where is the Puck Going? by Treion Muller and Matt Murdoch
How to Sweeten the Pot to Retain Your Most Critical Employees by Joanne Sammer
Eight Tips for LMS Implementation by Amit Gautman
50 Quotes About Teaching by Dennis Callahan
Free Guide: Brand-led learning by Kineo
Developing Mobile Learning: Which Device Are You Targeting? by Amit Garg
Employee Work Passion–connecting the dots between perceptions and intentions by David Witt
Top 13 LMS (and Learning Technology) Blogs by Amit Gautam
2011 Top Small Company Workplaces by Inc Magazine shared by Blanchard Leaderchat
What can you Learn from Gardening? by Kimberly Seeger
It's YOUR Privacy: Own It by Jane Bozarth
Six Social Media Trends for 2011 by Jeffrey Roth
Go Ask Your Father Became Go Ask Google, and Now, Go Ask Twitter by Gina Schreck
Authoring Tool Comparison by Diane Elkins
E-Learning Trade Shows by Craig Weiss
To Improve Learner Retention, Focus on the Dynamics of Forgetting by Jon Matejcek
Boosting Talent Development with Best Practices: finding inspiration in the Dutch Approach by Evert Pruis
The Future of Learning: An Interview with Alfred Bork published by EduComm Review July/August 1999, shared by Allison Rossett (Added 5/31)
The anatomy of a viral tweet and its implications for educators by Sherry Nussbaum-Beach, shared by Allison Rossett (Added 5/31)
Telling [Still] Ain’t Training: Interview With Harold Stolovich and Erica Keeps by Ann Pace (Added 6/3)
Can Bill Gates Lead the Informal Learning Revolution? shared by Andrea May (Added 6/3)
OpenSesame iPad Winners at ASTD ICE 2011 shared by OpenSesameVideo (Added 6/3)
Digital Ed's 'Pied Piper' by Liana Heitin shared by Allison Rossett (Added 6/3)
Tired of Being an Order Taker? The Reframing Meeting by Dick Handshaw (Added 6/3)
Sparking Innovation through Learning by Sam Herring (Added 6/3)
ASTD 2011 Interview With The Change Book Authors by jlorens (Added 6/3)
ASTD ICE Orlando - Album #1 Photo Album from Everest CS (Added 6/9)
Jessica J winning an iPad2 from Zenler YouTube video from ZenlerOnline (Added 6/9)
Reflections on #lrnchat: Training Project Management by David Kelly (Added 6/9)
Your Smartphone Is a Conference Game Changer – #ASTD2011 by Sharlyn Lauby (Added 6/9)
The Importance of a Cr8ive Twitter Handle by Diane Smith (Added 6/9)
When IT Pulls the Security Card, Pull Your Obscurity Card by Anders Gronstedt (Added 6/9)
Dedicated Backchannel Queries [Tool and search terms shown in brackets]
Building your Personal Learning Network (PLN) by Jane Bozarth
Review of the #ASTD2011 Mobile App by Benjamin McCall
ZebraZapps Quick Tips by Judy Unrein
ASTD International Conference: Must Attend Sessions! by Benjamin McCall
Free Resources from the Marshall Goldsmith Library
THIS is what Social Learning Looks Like by Jane Bozarth
Why do people quiot hetting better at something? by Betterat Blog
Ken Blanchard – It’s Always the Leader (animated video)
ASTD Conference App Featured in the NY Times
Using Twitter for Reflection Questions by Jane Bozarth
Learning 2.0 is Dumb: Use ‘Connected Learning’ Instead by Dan Pontefract
Your Brain at Work YouTube video from David Rock
Are You Following Me? by Michael Palko
Better, Smarter, Faster: How Web 3.0-Executive Summary
Social Learning Lessons: Tales from 7th Grade Biology by Andrea May
What Can Angry Birds Teach Us About Employee Learning? by David Kelly
Who Owns Behavior Change In The Sales Force? - A Key Question For SE Pros From ASTD's 2011 International Conference by Brian Lambert
Social Media Revolution 2 (Refresh) YouTube video shared by Brittany Barhite
The State of Workplace Learning Today by Jane Hart
A Leader’s Biggest Credibility Killer (And Hardest Lesson) by Terry Starbucker
The Mixed Messages of Social Media by David Kelly
3 Things You Can Do To Harness The Learning Explosion by Treion Muller and Matt Murdoch
Crush Stupid Policies by Chris Edmonds
5 training activities to energize participants by Sharlyn Lauby
Chris Anderson shares his vision with TED (TED video)
Top 50 Mobile Learning Resources by Abhijit Kadle
Training Plan For iPhone Application Development by Amar Jadhav
Reflections on #lrnchat: The Archive by David Kelly
Where is the Puck Going? by Treion Muller and Matt Murdoch
How to Sweeten the Pot to Retain Your Most Critical Employees by Joanne Sammer
Eight Tips for LMS Implementation by Amit Gautman
50 Quotes About Teaching by Dennis Callahan
Free Guide: Brand-led learning by Kineo
Developing Mobile Learning: Which Device Are You Targeting? by Amit Garg
Employee Work Passion–connecting the dots between perceptions and intentions by David Witt
Top 13 LMS (and Learning Technology) Blogs by Amit Gautam
2011 Top Small Company Workplaces by Inc Magazine shared by Blanchard Leaderchat
What can you Learn from Gardening? by Kimberly Seeger
It's YOUR Privacy: Own It by Jane Bozarth
Six Social Media Trends for 2011 by Jeffrey Roth
Go Ask Your Father Became Go Ask Google, and Now, Go Ask Twitter by Gina Schreck
Authoring Tool Comparison by Diane Elkins
E-Learning Trade Shows by Craig Weiss
To Improve Learner Retention, Focus on the Dynamics of Forgetting by Jon Matejcek
Boosting Talent Development with Best Practices: finding inspiration in the Dutch Approach by Evert Pruis
The Future of Learning: An Interview with Alfred Bork published by EduComm Review July/August 1999, shared by Allison Rossett (Added 5/31)
The anatomy of a viral tweet and its implications for educators by Sherry Nussbaum-Beach, shared by Allison Rossett (Added 5/31)
Telling [Still] Ain’t Training: Interview With Harold Stolovich and Erica Keeps by Ann Pace (Added 6/3)
Can Bill Gates Lead the Informal Learning Revolution? shared by Andrea May (Added 6/3)
OpenSesame iPad Winners at ASTD ICE 2011 shared by OpenSesameVideo (Added 6/3)
Digital Ed's 'Pied Piper' by Liana Heitin shared by Allison Rossett (Added 6/3)
Tired of Being an Order Taker? The Reframing Meeting by Dick Handshaw (Added 6/3)
Sparking Innovation through Learning by Sam Herring (Added 6/3)
ASTD 2011 Interview With The Change Book Authors by jlorens (Added 6/3)
ASTD ICE Orlando - Album #1 Photo Album from Everest CS (Added 6/9)
Jessica J winning an iPad2 from Zenler YouTube video from ZenlerOnline (Added 6/9)
Reflections on #lrnchat: Training Project Management by David Kelly (Added 6/9)
Your Smartphone Is a Conference Game Changer – #ASTD2011 by Sharlyn Lauby (Added 6/9)
The Importance of a Cr8ive Twitter Handle by Diane Smith (Added 6/9)
When IT Pulls the Security Card, Pull Your Obscurity Card by Anders Gronstedt (Added 6/9)
Dedicated Backchannel Queries [Tool and search terms shown in brackets]
Access the up-to-date #ASTD2011 backchannel [Twitter: #ASTD2011]
Marcus Buckingham Keynote [Twitter: Buckingham, #astd2011]
Doug Conant and Mette Norgaard Keynote [Twitter: #ASTD2011, plus Conant OR Norgaard]
John Foley Keynote [Twitter: #ASTD2011, Foley]
Photos from the Backchannel [Twipho: astd2011]
I will be adding to this list as I continue to review the backchannel transcripts and find resources. I will tweet updates occasionally as additional links are added. If you know of a valued resource I should add to the list - or if something is inaccurate - please add it to the comments or tweet me a link to @LnDDave.
If you find these collections of value, I have posts that consolidate the backchannel resources from other conferences. An archive of all of these posts can be accessed by clicking the link below:
Click here to access the archive of backchannel resource posts.
Marcus Buckingham Keynote [Twitter: Buckingham, #astd2011]
Doug Conant and Mette Norgaard Keynote [Twitter: #ASTD2011, plus Conant OR Norgaard]
John Foley Keynote [Twitter: #ASTD2011, Foley]
Photos from the Backchannel [Twipho: astd2011]
I will be adding to this list as I continue to review the backchannel transcripts and find resources. I will tweet updates occasionally as additional links are added. If you know of a valued resource I should add to the list - or if something is inaccurate - please add it to the comments or tweet me a link to @LnDDave.
If you find these collections of value, I have posts that consolidate the backchannel resources from other conferences. An archive of all of these posts can be accessed by clicking the link below:
Click here to access the archive of backchannel resource posts.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Resources Shared at Recent ASTD Presentations
Resources Shared at Recent Presentations
This Blog Post collects many of the resources that I discussed and shared during these presentations.
BOOKS
- Social Media for Trainers by Jane Bozarth
- Gettin' Geeky with Twitter by Gina Schreck
- The Social Learning Handbook by Jane Hart
- The New Social Learning by Marcia Conner and Tony Bingham
FACEBOOK FAN PAGES
WEBSITES AND WEB PAGES
- Seven Tips for Selling Executives on Social Media (via Social Media Examiner)
- Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, & the Social Media that Fulfill 'Em (via Flickr)
- How Social Media is Changing the Education Industry [INFOGRAPHIC]
VIDEOS
RECOMMEDED TWITTER FOLLOWS
Note: The value of network is determined by each individual. What I may consider of value may be different than what you do. That said, here are a few people that I highly recommend following on Twitter if you are looking to learn more about social media use in employee learning.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
ASTD Techknowledge (#tk11) Backchannel - Collected Resources
I am a huge proponent of backchannel learning. There are many conferences I would love to be able to attend, but my budget can only accomodate one or two each year. The backchannel is an excellent resource for learning from a conference or event that you are unable to attend in-person.
I find collecting collecting and reviewing backchannel resources to be a valuable learning experience for me, even when I am attending a conference in person. Sharing these collections on this blog has shown that others find value in the collections as well.
This post collects the resources shared via the backchannel of ASTD Techknowledge 2011, being held February 2-4 in San Jose, California.
Official ASTD Conference Resources
Conference Website Home Page
Conference Program Guide
Conference Session Materials
Information/Links to Conference Smartphone Apps
Move People Forward - The ASTD TechKnowledge Virtual Event
Conference Summaries and Recaps
I find collecting collecting and reviewing backchannel resources to be a valuable learning experience for me, even when I am attending a conference in person. Sharing these collections on this blog has shown that others find value in the collections as well.
This post collects the resources shared via the backchannel of ASTD Techknowledge 2011, being held February 2-4 in San Jose, California.
Official ASTD Conference Resources
Conference Website Home Page
Conference Program Guide
Conference Session Materials
Information/Links to Conference Smartphone Apps
Move People Forward - The ASTD TechKnowledge Virtual Event
Conference Summaries and Recaps
Full Backchannel Transcipt via What the Hashtag
What's Happening at #TK11? by Tora Estep (Added 2/3)
..in the Other Guy's Shoes by Ken Hubbell (Added 2/4)
More Stuff Happening at #TK11 by Tora Estep (Added 2/4)
Observations from ASTD #TK11: Learning in 2015 by Damon Regan (Added 2/8)
Report from San Jose: TechKnowledge 2011 by Kelly Meeker (Added 2/8)
Reflections on the Final Day of TechKnowledge 2011 by Clark Quinn (Added 2/8)
TK11 Random Comments Overheard and Observations by Craig Weiss (Added 2/8)
Lots of Fun at ASTD TechKnowledge 2011 by Karl Kapp (Added 2/9)
My Evolving Learning Journey by Jay Cross (Added 2/9)
TechKnowledge 2011: Why Learning Professionals Still Have a Lot To Learn by Bill Cushard (Added 2/10)
Session Specific
What's Happening at #TK11? by Tora Estep (Added 2/3)
..in the Other Guy's Shoes by Ken Hubbell (Added 2/4)
More Stuff Happening at #TK11 by Tora Estep (Added 2/4)
Observations from ASTD #TK11: Learning in 2015 by Damon Regan (Added 2/8)
Report from San Jose: TechKnowledge 2011 by Kelly Meeker (Added 2/8)
Reflections on the Final Day of TechKnowledge 2011 by Clark Quinn (Added 2/8)
TK11 Random Comments Overheard and Observations by Craig Weiss (Added 2/8)
Lots of Fun at ASTD TechKnowledge 2011 by Karl Kapp (Added 2/9)
My Evolving Learning Journey by Jay Cross (Added 2/9)
TechKnowledge 2011: Why Learning Professionals Still Have a Lot To Learn by Bill Cushard (Added 2/10)
Session Specific
ASTD #TK11 – Opening Keynote Kara Swisher by Cammy Bean
ASTD #TK11 - Opening Keynote Tony Bingham by Cammy Bean
#TK11 Keynote: Google’s Karen Wickre and Ann Farmer by Cammy Bean (Added 2/3)
Chief Learning Officers Give their View of the Future of Learning by Rick Von Feldt (Added 2/3)
Go Mobile or Go Home Prezi from session by Darin Hartley and Brain Taliesin (Added 2/3)
Instructional Design Today: What We Really Need to Know as Practitioners, Researchers, and Designers by Karl Kapp (Added 2/4)
Using Scenarios in eLearning by Cammy Bean (Added 2/4)
Twitter for the Learning Professional by Terrence Wing (Added 2/4)
Karl Kapp on Instructional Design Today #TK11 by Cammy Bean (Added 2/4)
HTML5: Are We There Yet? by Judy Unrein (Added 2/5)
Miscellaneous
ASTD #TK11 - Opening Keynote Tony Bingham by Cammy Bean
#TK11 Keynote: Google’s Karen Wickre and Ann Farmer by Cammy Bean (Added 2/3)
Chief Learning Officers Give their View of the Future of Learning by Rick Von Feldt (Added 2/3)
Go Mobile or Go Home Prezi from session by Darin Hartley and Brain Taliesin (Added 2/3)
Instructional Design Today: What We Really Need to Know as Practitioners, Researchers, and Designers by Karl Kapp (Added 2/4)
Using Scenarios in eLearning by Cammy Bean (Added 2/4)
Twitter for the Learning Professional by Terrence Wing (Added 2/4)
Karl Kapp on Instructional Design Today #TK11 by Cammy Bean (Added 2/4)
HTML5: Are We There Yet? by Judy Unrein (Added 2/5)
Miscellaneous
Where to learn about typography? link shared by Aaron Silvers
Everything is Miscellaneous (book by David Weinberger recommended during Ann Farmer Keynote) link shared by Terrence Wing (Added 2/3)
Using Twitter in e-Learning by Terrence Wing (Added 2/4)
Free PowerPoint Twitter Tools link shared by Terrence Wing (Added 2/8)
ASTD TechKnowledge 2011 photo album shared by Terrence Wing (Added 2/10)
Dedicated Backchannel Queries [Twitter search terms shown in brackets]
Access the up-to-date #tk11 backchannel [#tk11]
Kara Swisher Keynote [#tk11, Swisher]
10 Tips for Virtual Trainers [#tk11, Tip, FROM:cindyhugg] (Added 2/3)
The conference is now over. I will be adding to this list as I discover new resources, such as reflective blog posts. I will tweet updates occasionally as additional links are added. If you know of a valued resource I should add to the list - or if something is inaccurate - please add it to the comments or tweet me a link to @LnDDave.
If you find these collections of value, I have posts that consolidate the backchannel resources from other conferences. An archive of all of these posts can be accessed by clicking the link below:
Click here to access the archive of backchannel resource posts.
Everything is Miscellaneous (book by David Weinberger recommended during Ann Farmer Keynote) link shared by Terrence Wing (Added 2/3)
Using Twitter in e-Learning by Terrence Wing (Added 2/4)
Free PowerPoint Twitter Tools link shared by Terrence Wing (Added 2/8)
ASTD TechKnowledge 2011 photo album shared by Terrence Wing (Added 2/10)
Dedicated Backchannel Queries [Twitter search terms shown in brackets]
Access the up-to-date #tk11 backchannel [#tk11]
Kara Swisher Keynote [#tk11, Swisher]
10 Tips for Virtual Trainers [#tk11, Tip, FROM:cindyhugg] (Added 2/3)
The conference is now over. I will be adding to this list as I discover new resources, such as reflective blog posts. I will tweet updates occasionally as additional links are added. If you know of a valued resource I should add to the list - or if something is inaccurate - please add it to the comments or tweet me a link to @LnDDave.
If you find these collections of value, I have posts that consolidate the backchannel resources from other conferences. An archive of all of these posts can be accessed by clicking the link below:
Click here to access the archive of backchannel resource posts.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Reflections on #Lrnchat: FOCUS
Each week that I am able to participate in #lrnchat discussion I post a summary of the discussion to my blog. I do this both for my personal development as well as sharing with the Learning and Development Profession at large. This summary is based on my own interpretations of the chat; others who participated may have differing opinions or interpretations of the discussion. I welcome those that do to add your ideas to the comments.
The topic of this week's #lrnchat session was "FOCUS".
The topic of this week's #lrnchat session was "FOCUS".
I always find looking at the questions that are used to loosely guide the chat as a nice way to see the overall theme of the chat. Here are the discussion questions that were presented to the group:
Q1) How do we deal with pressures that distract us from the thing we’re supposed to do?Q2) When is the right time for a guilty pleasure? When does the guilty pleasure become too much of a good thing?
Q3) How do we deal with (or get around) overworking?
Q4) How might you work with your circle of friends (online and offline) to stay on track?
Q5) What are the things you tend not to focus on in your work? What happens as a result?
Key Learning Points
In today's fast-moving world, multi-tasking is constant. Most people do not have the luxury of working or thinking about a single task or topic exclusively for any length of time. Usually, we are revewing e-mail, conducting phone calls, sending text messages, and having lunch, all of which are peripheral things we do while working on the primary task at hand.
Key Learning Points
In today's fast-moving world, multi-tasking is constant. Most people do not have the luxury of working or thinking about a single task or topic exclusively for any length of time. Usually, we are revewing e-mail, conducting phone calls, sending text messages, and having lunch, all of which are peripheral things we do while working on the primary task at hand.
To keep up with the demand, many people come in early, stay late, or bring work home. If so, do we do it because we are passionate and enjoy the work, or do we do it just to keep up? Everything has a tradeoff; more hours we put into work means fewer hours invested in something else, like family and friendships. It becomes a question of priorities.
How can we narrow our focus to provide important tasks the attention they need? How can we keep ourselves balanced in a world of ever-growing professional responsibility? That was the subject of today's #lrnchat discussion: Focus.
The discussion started with one of the biggest obstacles to focus: Distraction. Distraction is the enemy of focus, so it makes sense that reducing distractions will increase focus. There were a few comments in the chat discussion that mentioned ‘eliminating’ distractions; I don’t believe that’s possible. The challenge is in the fact that distraction is not something we have complete control over.
What we can do is minimize distractions and the effect they have on our focus. I believe this comes down to two major categories, both of which were mentioned during the chat: creating an environment that reduces the chance of being distracted and minimizing the impact a distraction has so you can quickly regain focus.
There were a number of great examples shared regarding creating an environment to reduce the chance of being distracted, including:
- Dedicate (and publicize) time on your calendar where you should not be distracted. The publicize part is critical – it only works if people are aware of it.
- Complete the task in an environment away from the source of distractions. For some, that me be working from home or at a different office. For me – it’s Starbucks, the ultimate white-noise.
- If you’re like me, and suffer from SOS (Shiny-Object-Syndrome), eliminate the sources of shiny-object distraction, whatever they may be. As an example, if I need to focus more, I turn off the notification pop-up on TweetDeck, which appear every time a tweet appears in one of my search columns.
- SIDE NOTE: (Your visual for this point should have me standing on a soapbox…) I could have mentioned the Outlook e-mail pop-up, as it was once my biggest SOS source. That is it was, until I came to the realization that I could turn it off… and leave it off. If you haven’t done this already, I highly recommend it as a productivity booster. If the issue is important and requires your immediate attention, your phone should ring.
As much as you may try to set yourself up properly, distractions happen. Minimizing the impact of distractions is critical to focus and productivity. It’s also difficult, and requires discipline.
Whenever you are distracted, you have a choice to make. That choice is, at its most basic level, to decide what to do with the distraction. Let’s use the most common distraction as an example: The co-worker who comes to your desk and asks “Do you have a minute?” usually after they’ve already sat down.
This is really a moment of truth for your priorities and focus. Do you choose to simply allow the interruption or refuse it outright? The better option is probably somewhere in the middle. There could be a genuine issue that warrants your immediate attention, so you may want to listen to see if that is the case.
Once you understand the cause of the distraction – and I think this is the hardest part of the discipline – you must decide if you will own it. That’s hard. I actually had someone come to me shortly after the #lrnchat discussion requesting my help with her project, which was overdue. Facing a deadline myself, I explained that I could not help her now, and would be able to next week. She protested (a kind understatement), and continued to protest until I made the following statement: “I’m sorry. Poor planning from you does not warrant an emergency for me.”
You’ll notice I did not mention ignoring the distraction. I’ve heard that suggested in the past, and it’s really not a valid strategy. If ignoring the source of a distraction were an option, we wouldn’t be distracted in the first place.
One additional point: There were also a number of comments around prioritization being a strategy for mitigating distraction. Prioritization is very important, but it does not have a direct link to distraction. Priorities determine where our focus should be at any moment; distraction is when the focus is off.
From there the discussion moved towards Guilty Pleasures, specifically when a good time to indulge in one may be, and when a guilty pleasure may be too much of a good thing.
I may be a little too black and white on this issue, but I really think all guilty pleasures, to some extent, are too much of a good thing. The very definition states that you're gaining pleasure yet feeling guilty about the pleasure you are receiving. It implies that there's some sort of tradeoff to your pleasure. To answer the "when is it too much of a good thing", you need to look at what the tradeoff is.
The discussion then moved on to how we deal with, and preferably avoid, overworking. This question brings up another - what is 'overworking'?
People often say that they are overworked because they are working too much. I think the productivity of work is too directly linked to the measurement of time. Time is only one factor, and one that has one of the weakest links to overall output. If your work is being measured by yourself or others with 'time spent' as the yardstick, you have in many ways already lost. Your value and contribution should not be a measure of how busy you are.
On the other hand, working longer periods of time does not mean you are overworked either. If I'm working on a project, everything is flowing well and I am enjoying myself, am I overworked? A number of people in this week's discussion mentioned being so engaged in their work that they didn't even realize how hungry they were until they finished. Again, I do not feel this is overworked. If you love what you are doing, and have the power to choose to stop but decide to continue, you are not overworked.
The only risk in that equation is balance. That segues into the next question: How we can use our circle of friends to keep ourselves on track?
The idea of work/life balance was very prevalent in discussing this question. The thing that is sometimes missed though is what 'balance' actually means. Balance isn't easily defined as it really is a moving target. Not only is it different for each individual, it is different for the individual based on the circumstances of the moment.
I think the biggest hurdle for people related to balance is that they react to being out-of-balance instead of proactively setting a desired balance and maintaining it.
I know this has been a challenge for me. I have a tendency to lose myself in my work. At the same time, being a good father and husband is very important to me. This usually caused problems for me because I would not really realize how out-of-balance I would get on the work side. I usually became aware of it when my wife would bring it up, and then I would react to fix the balance.
Shifting to a proactive approach to balance requires two key components. The first, is that the individual must make a conscious choice rearding where his or her priorities are. Without this vision, you may not realize you are out-of-balance until the balance is very much off-kilter.
The second component is exactly what the question from #lrnchat is discussing: using your support network to keep you in balance. However, your friends and family can only keep you in balance if they are aware of what your vision of balance is. Without sharing that, your friends and family would be left to measure you by their own definition of balance, which may not be in sync with your own.
I knew this was a big shift for me. Once I shared with my wife what my vision of balance was, she understood me better and is now my main back-up system for personal balance.
The discussion concluded by asking what we tend not to focus on in our work. It seems that most of the groupo would agree that grammar and proofreading tend to be the first things to be forgotten whe the work is getting done, and it is usually caught shortly after the content is published.
For me, I have such a tendency to lose myself in my work, that I often lose focus on the important social connections. One of the things I keep conscious of in my relationships with is the phrase "Sorry, I've been busy". I don't use it nearly as much as I used to, as I now know that what I'm really saying is "Sorry, I haven't been staying true to my balance". I still fail at times, but I'm getting better.
I think the most thought-provoking tweet for me from the discussion came from @sifowler in response to this last question: "I don’t focus enough on my focus". Ultimately that's the overriding challenge for many of us.
When it comes to FOCUS, I think the greatest factor - and most common theme during this discussion - is Self-Awareness. If you have not taken the time to ensure you know what your priorities truly are, then you are left to react when circumstances throw your balance completely off. That's where focused discipline comes in.
When it comes to FOCUS, I think the greatest factor - and most common theme during this discussion - is Self-Awareness. If you have not taken the time to ensure you know what your priorities truly are, then you are left to react when circumstances throw your balance completely off. That's where focused discipline comes in.
It's always easier to make minor adjustments to stay on track then to correct things after going completely off course.
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