That Learning Dude Rises, Batman Style

That Learning Dude Rises

Hugely anticipated and it never let me down. I had waited so long for the arrival of the Dark Knight Rises I was beginning to worry that it would be somewhat of an anti-climax but how wrong I was. A compelling storyline, that delivered interest scene after scene after scene. It's funny how we sometimes build ourselves up when it comes to learning too. Learning is much valued as much as it is under rated. It is hugely anticipated and then sometimes fails to deliver. So how can something so great sometimes go spectacularly wrong? Perhaps the simple answer is because at times there is not enough bravery in taking risks, or quite simply it lacks the characters..........so lets add some of them.

Learning starts with a hero, somebody that wants to do good for others. To do this they have to go underground, get behind what the customer really wants and if required challenge the establishment. If all is good and the learning has been achieved they sometimes receive little praise, not that what they have done is not welcomed, just that the sense of accomplishment lies not with the hero but the person who has actively been involved in the learning process. The hero of course is continually learning and that is why they keep doing what they do. 

Learning needs a joker or something to inject a bit of fun into the proceedings, sure there is a dark side to the Joker especially when you are faced with them in workshops, seminars or forums etc but by embracing their chaotic sense of enthusiasm you can capture something which will light the fires of engagement. You have to draw people into what you are doing, get them to drive the learning and most of all not be so serious.

"What is always on its way but never arrives?"..........."Tomorrow"

Learning needs a challenge and  plenty of food for thought. Where possible the learning should set tasks that make people think and reflect. If in the classroom make it experiential, if eBased then drop in assessments, surveys and gamification. 

Riddle me this, riddle me that, why is an orange like a bell? They both need peeled !!!! Make a lot of noise about Learning, let them know the purpose, benefits and results it can bring.

Learning.......like Bane should be powerful and provide strength to the learning experience. Sometimes you could say it is good to have a little fear built in, that charges the atmosphere and creates challenge and competition. If you look at the Dark Knight Rises both Bane and Batman actually have a similar sense of vengeance and whilst I am not suggesting this is good for learning, the fact that both share a common goal is a great example of how we should look for shared purpose with the learner, help to build rapport and set the expectations of support throughout the session or situation.

Dressing to impress as Bane is probably a little scary too, use it wisely.

Now what we are really looking to achieve is for the Learning to spread, not too quickly as this can be lost in translation but like Ivy (not poison) to creep along and build momentum. You want the learning to slow burn, provide things in little branches, build your learning in such a way that people can pick up like pollen and drop in different areas to grow and develop in new and exciting ways. 

There is one last character I think our learning needs.  We all need an Alfred, someone who can stand over us and offer us support. A champion who can sponsor the learning and make us believe that what we are doing is the right thing and most of all the person who can deliver a tough message and let us know pure honest feedback which can help us develop and grow. Mentors come and go but an Alfred will never leave you.


That Learning Dude @LearningXDude

Curiously creative or creatively curious?

"Ideas come from curiosity" - Walt Disney

I'm a huge fan of Walt Disney and many things Disney Corp, call it the inner child, call it the outer child but I just find him and it special for a few reasons. The main thing is I worked for the company for a couple of years as a cast member in stores and got to immerse myself in a culture which I felt really engaged with and on most days it was a joy to go to work. However.......(and you knew it was coming) I have to dispute something which has been in the companies folklore for decades.

On October 27th 1954 as Walt spoke of his plans to create Disneyland he said "I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing, that it was all started by a mouse"

There is no disputing that he said this but what I do dispute is that it was not all started by a mouse at all but by a blank sheet of paper, some curiosity and a dash of creativity.

There are some simple reasons which highlight why I like to be curious and why I am more than likely to have a pad of paper and a pen close by rather than not. I am a nosey person......naturally nosey. Observant and interested in things, stuff and a little bit more. This curiosity fires my imagination and makes me think how things work, how I can make stuff better and what can I do next.

It's exercise for the mind, an active mind which helps to fire the  neurons and get things ticking, I love the feeling I get when this happens, a creative euphoria that produces a strong and more productive mindset. Pen and paper to me is the minds running machine

When you have a blank sheet of paper you can begin to imagine the art of the possible (to coin a phrase often used by a mate). This is all about awareness of ideas, you find that when you become more aware of what is possible you rarely miss a trick. Look at this cup, how many times have you thought about something outlandish, completely bonkers but the idea is gone as quick as it came?  The key to opening your creative mind is taking that gamble, making that plan and putting it into action, I would so love to have come up with the cookie pocket mug. Even if you only go so far as building the prototype, do it. This is creativity and this is learning from your awareness of the art of the possible. The excitement you generate at doing something like this will also be rewarding and that in turn also gives the neurons a kick.......to keep firing.

The next thing about that curiosity and creativity is the capture. Grasp as much information as possible about your idea and transfer it to the paper. Or indeed if you can, take a picture be it mental or physical imagery. Look for the pot of gold in the idea and take it.

Add colour, add life and give things a name. Attach words and let the idea talk to you.............if anyone asks who you are talking to? hold off saying Harvey the Rabbit.......at least for a little while.

Before long things jump out of the page.



So that blank piece of paper started the process, that in turn fired ideas for Walt and he took a gamble on so many things, there was lots of knocking of doors and rejections to deal with before that mouse dude really took off, but he never let the mouse be the end of it. I leave you this week with a look at how far things moved on and how much fun people have when being curiously creative.

So grab the paper, grab the pens and let your curiosity and imagination run wild


That Learning Dude @LearningXDude

The new learning style, I give you the Technist, born from B.YO.D.......D !

Just like my Nike's

I have this pair of trainers, I've owned them almost 8 years now. They are not your standard type of trainers, they were retro when I bought them, they were not to everyone's taste and most certainly don't conform...................which played a huge part in the purchase.

They were / are the comfiest shoes I have ever worn and hence the reason I still wear them. I have bought several pairs since and they have found their way home with me but nothing has come close to that pair. So I guess you understand their importance to me but for one thing.

I have one mate who still to this day refers to them as clown shoes !

Now I am sure any of you are hanging on to every word of this weeks post wondering if the message is around finding something that fits and wearing it with pride, eh....be comfy with what you choose Learning Dude or have you ever learned the ways of the circus but alas there is no such line of development I have considered for circus skills although it has given me an idea :-)

You see the thing about the shoes is their comfort and feel is important to me. They're my clown shoes, I bought them because they didn't conform and because I don't.........unless Mrs Learning Dude tells me to.

I have made many a purchase like this, none more than with tech. When people were gearing up to buy a Sony Playstation I was buying an Atari Jaguar (well it did have Tempest) When people were buying a Commodore Amiga I was buying an Atari ST and when they were opting for iPod's I bought an Archos 5.

Back then the choice was limited to one or two parties competing with each other for supremacy. Now however there is so much choice you can expect people to have a number of gadgets in their pockets and bags all across the globe.

Stop what you are doing and look around, how many can you see? I have four scattered in front of me just now. Each running different versions of Android and Windows.

Three of these will travel to the office with me tomorrow and each is capable of running varied content. Now, I don't think I am (that) unique and  recognise that there is an opportunity to engage with people like never before. You see it's like the shoes, if they are comfy you will happily walk miles in them, throw in your choice of music player and that pair of headphones that provide maximum sound with minimum fuss and everything is good.......and don't you just love the power you feel when you run your finger over your touch screen device.  By contrast, if you pop on my headphones, grab the clunk and chunky feeling of that old Archos and slip into my clown shoes and how far will you walk?

You see we all like the things that are the most comfortable and that we chose for particular reasons. I would also like to advocate this from a learning perspective. If Kolb, Honey, Mumford and Gregorc etc had been a little bit more forward thinking then perhaps the "Technist" may have been a welcomed addition to the much disputed learning style family. I am a Technist (occasionally non conforming) and up until the point people start reading this weeks post perhaps the only one.

The "Technist" likes to take information on through the medium of the gadget. Sit them in a soulless class and watch them fade away. Sit them in a class and review the content on their phone or tablet and they start to engage. Provide them pre and post course material accessed through the very same gadgets and they will probably start sending flowers. Invite them into the room and interact through their gadgets, gizmo's and various formats and there is a danger they may wish to move in with you.

When building content today you have to think of the Technist and make multi format versions of what you do. Don't Apple in isolation without considering the Jelly Beans. Let them choose the content to match the Tech. The format they chose will be as comfortable to them as the shoes they wear (but not as comfy as my clown shoes) With comfort comes confidence and confidence builds support and engagement . Bring your own Device is dead, long live Bring Your Own Development Device B.Y.O.D........D :-)



That Learning Dude on Twitter @LearningXDude

Learning? Nah, history tells me I am just being social-able !!!

Social [Soh-shul] - Pertaining to, devoted to, or characterized by friendly companionship or relations

Able [Ey-buhl] - Showing talent, skill or knowledge.






"Social learning, social learning" was the cry but what did they actually mean? There are many different versions of what it is, how you do it, if you can and is there a cost? However That Learning Dude recently tuned in to a webinar from Jane Bozarth and she summed it up perfectly when she said it's not new, it happens already and it's not all about the tools and tech. This is probably the clearest description I have heard. So why then if it is everything she says do people still get confused? In most cases it may well be that people make it sound difficult and spend time being more concerned about the technologies of the time which creates some form of technofear, which alludes to people claiming it's a generational thing, or too time consuming or or or etc etc etc blah blah blah ! Of course the funniest thing about that is this message is spread via social mediums. All this of course got That Learning Dude thinking (a recurring theme). Social learning has been around for a long time but how did we achieve it without some tech and where did the big players in the social media arena really get their ideas from?



So let me take you on my historical whizz through how we became Social-Able.

A long time ago the Neanderdudes took to recording their day to day routines through cave paintings. A varied range of theories as to why they did this go from post ice age Dulux decoration to spiritual ceremonies aimed at drawing out spirits from the cave walls and my favoured link with sharing stories for those who may pass through or live in the dwelling in the future. So here lay the foundations of the first recorded Dude-inar. An artist captured his image by way of prehistoric Instagram moment and more than likely shared an audience with the cookery class going on at the other side of the cave as they roasted the spoils of the hunt whilst observing a carefully painted recipe for buffalo wings on the wall in a Pinterest stylee !

Some time later in ancient Egypt a Wikipedia style movement was well under way. The book of the dead was worked on with multiple writers and editors updating different parts of the book. The interesting part about these and other Egyptian artefacts is how far and wide they have been spread out over the world. A social and global connection all from one culture where those studying ancient Egypt have went to great lengths to recreate what the time may have been like as though it was their second life :-) We must also give consideration to the fact that Hieroglyphs would not have been deciphered if it wasn't for the help of the discovery of the Rosetta Stone ;-)

Viewed 11,000 plus times on You Tube but that is sooooooooo now and not how we did it back in 1919. I say chums lets all head down to the picture house and see what's happening in the world. Pathe News was a social revelation. No longer did you have to read the news but you could see it in the company of friends.

Then of course came the 50's and the advent of  iTunes, granted the pocket version wasn't exactly portable but diners and dance halls around the world increased the knowledge of the hip and groovy kids with new ideals of fashion, music and dance.......just like our happening couple on the right.

By the time the 60's came round revolution was all the rage with festivals, free love and the idea that we all needed connection with mother earth.

It goes on and on and on and the world said let Betamax be my Bebo as will Facebook be my VHS.

And there you have it, we are doing nothing different and social learning evolution has always existed. I can't tell my Canopic Jar from my Microlith but the Egyptians knew this and left enough clues across the globe for interested parties to connect with. If you don't believe me check out the awesome linked in crew at the British University in Egypt and make the distinction. History set the scene for where we are with Social Learning today because we are a social bunch and love to be innovative and create amazing new things. We are Social-Able and learn using what we have created through histories lessons with special thanks to the likes of Marcus Aurelius and his blog type musings "to myself" which made it possible . 

That Learning Dude  follow me @learningXDude

Learning from the ways of the force, a timeless classic

It's an age old discussion, and in fact it recently became a rite of passage moment when my 7 year old son turned to me and said. "Dad, why doesn't Chewbacca get a medal?"  It's the kind of moment that brings a tear to your eye and especially when concerning Chewies lack of bling.

I have heard many of the answers before and decided to dismiss some of the possible responses to answer my sons curiosity, for example I don't believe the Rebel Alliance were Wookist, I doubt very much that Chewie suffered from a medal allergy and nor do I think it was an intervention by the Protocol Droid Union to stop them melting down any more of C3PO to make the gold medals in the first place. My response to Jnr Learning Dude was simple and opened up a whole series of valuable life lessons and discussions for the moment and those still to come. The simple answer I gave him was "Son, it's not all about the bling. A simple thank you and to be appreciated for what he achieved was gratitude enough for Chewie"

Too often people look for that "thing" as a reward for receiving training rather than truly understanding that the "thing" is what the learning has done or will do for them. Now Luke as you can see from above was well impressed with his medal and that's fine as much learning he has to do, so let him smile.

That Learning Dude got to thinking about the fact that 35 years had passed since Star Wars was released back in 1977 and at this time I myself was a mere 7 years old. I too questioned the lack of medal for Chewie and summoned my father, "Yes, he was my father" to calculate the many reasons possible for this on his shiny new Apple computer while Mother gazed on in admiration. Sadly the computation failed to provide the answer but did give me 7 other learning gems from the ways of the force.

1) Luke wanted to join up with his best mate at the Imperial Academy and become a pilot but his Uncle Owen had other ideas and hoped to keep him from his dreams. It happens. People, things, stuff and then a little bit more may get in your way from what you want to achieve but stick to the task and you will get what you want. Okay so I can't guarantee that a well connected old Jedi can get you a jump up to x-fighter class but you get the picture.

2) Make the right connections and build a network that can support your wider goals. Through Obi, they managed to find just the person for the job down at the Cantina which led them on their journey and indeed Luke's destiny. Without that connection Luke would have either been topped by Dr. Evazan who had the death sentance in twelve systems or ended up as charcoal like Aunt Beru and Unlcle Owen. Networking is an important part of learning as the wider the circle the more extensive the knowledge.

3) Okay so friends of That Learning Dude may laugh when I talk about the importance of plans when you are learning or creating learning as I do tend to be a little bit vague when I am in the zone as such. However this does not mean I don't have any (I keep them safe in a little droid). The importance of great plans helps you to track exactly where you are, react quickly to changes and help you to meet overall goals and milestones.......alternatively steal your enemies plans, find their weakness and you're all clear kid !!!!! Of course That Learning Dude wouldn't be an advocate of that. That wouldn't be the plans you'd be looking for.

4) Be prepared to make some sacrifices along the way, granted some may be more extreme than others as Obi proved for the greater good.......which reminds me, why doesn't Vaders strike with the lightsaber not burn through Kenobis cloak? Just asking.....ehem, anyway, where was I? Yes sacrifices. I spoke in a previous blog about a little bit of failure being okay. These little failings can be your sacrifices, it might mean putting a little more effort or time in to make something work but the long term gains will be worth the effort and will help you stay on target.

5) Look for feedback, it is the best way to find out that what you are doing is right. Now at times you may not like what you hear and possibly  attempt to ignore it, but of course, if you search your feelings :-) the chances is are you will know it is true and be able to accept it. This is perfect as you can then update your plans and goals with new targets. Who knows you may also be able to repair relationships that have lost there way a little.

6) One thing you shouldn't do is over promise. Not to yourself and not to others. Be realistic about what you can and cannot do. You don't want to have to drop things and let people down at the very sniff of an imperial cruiser so make sure you know your limits.  A greater strength to have is recognising what the priorities are and acting upon them. Oh and unless you want a dressing down from Yoda, don't tell people you will try to do it. There is no try !

7) Last but not least, the learning never stops

That Learning Dude @LearningXdude

Take a chance and Learn, failure could be an option.

Since the rumours broke and the official announcement was made about Microsoft launching their own tablet, there seems to have been a number of people lining up to announce its demise before launch.

Take this article from Business Insider which suggests that Microsoft are doomed to failure from the start. You can see why they have come to their conclusions but until launch it is difficult for me to think of it in terms of success or failure. I have a little more faith in taking chances. I can not imagine for one minute that Microsoft have set themselves up to fail. It would be incredibly unwise for any business to create and launch a product without taking a number of things into consideration. Microsoft have assessed the tablet market and see a gap for a new entrant, one of the reasons being is there is always room for healthy competition. This is what drives innovation.

One of the most interesting flaws in the arguments of the doubters is that Microsoft don't understand the market, they cite the example of their failed range of media players the Zune. Now whilst it was a failure as far as media players go the lessons learned have been used to help create the Windows phone. Zune as a music and video download service will be offered under the Xbox brand. Which leads me on to another point. If Microsoft are to be warned off of the Tablet arena just because there is a dominant brand, why did the Xbox succeed?

That Learning Dude remembers another product doomed to failure, the Sony Playstation. I was at an event in 1994 with two companies presenting their wares, Sega who had dominated the game console market for several years with the Megadrive and Mastersystem and the new kid on the block for consoles, Sony. So confident were Sega that their new Saturn would continue their market dominance that the exec hardly got out of first gear. He mocked Sony for even attempting to enter the arena, questioning their hardware and software choices, the control system and anything else he could see fit to challenge. Sony stuck by it, they had done their research and even though admitting Sega had sold millions of consoles they stayed true to their dream. The rest is history as they say, Sony still have one of the dominant brands in the marketplace and as for Sega? Well they make software now for the industry after admitting defeat. Even with the odds stacked against them Sony achieved success, just as Microsoft were to follow suit in later years with the Xbox when faced with Sony dominance. So who is to say Microsoft cannot challenge Apple? In fact it is in the games arena I see the biggest opportunity with the Surface with connection to the Xbox generating maps and additional data for games such as Call of Duty and Halo........but that's getting a little geeky........although would I not be right in thinking Nintendo are going down the very route of crossover tablet and controllers for their new console?

As I said. A little too geeky right?

Now what does this have to do with learning I hear you cry?

Well for me, learning is all about creation, connections, innovation, knowledge and in fact whatever you want it to be. Mark Twain said that he never let his schooling get in the way of his education. This means it never stops. To do this you should be bold and take chances. Stick your neck out and let people know what you think. Take information on board the way you want it and come to your own conclusions testing theory along the way. Don't pay too much attention to the doubters either, any time I hear their voices I refer to the story of the group of scientists who back in the day said that whilst the possibility of television was there, it would be a commercial disaster with limited potential................history is littered with these stories. I am just thankful nobody listened to them, but then I am watching BIG on Film4 right now so I am a little biased (for those who have watched this film it is hard not to disagree that a robot that turns into a building would be a rubbish toy so perhaps sometimes listen to the doubters but as a rare treat)

When I take on a development challenge or piece of work I would never set it up to fail and whilst I wouldn't go so far as to say failure is not an option, I would say that a little bit of failure along the way tests the strength of your product. So build an element of strength testing into your plan to ensure you can improve it right up until launch and even then keep it evolving.

Do not bother too much about the doubters, take on board constructive comments but if they are questioning the scale of the challenge you are facing then they probably will never understand creativity and innovation. JFK when asked why go to the moon? Acknowledged the task ahead but pointed out that they did not choose to go to the moon because it way easy but because it was hard. If you see someone doing something that you think is too hard then you are not looking close enough. Steve Jobs would have relished the fact that his Microsoft are set to challenge the dominance of iPad. It would have spurred him on to do something even more dynamic. That's the real challenge and only by doing so will you truly learn what it means to take a chance.

That Learning Dude

Follow me on Twitter @LearningXDude

Gadgets Gizmos & Bridging the Learning Gap

Awww, look. A cute little image of a tablet propped up on a teddy.........cute to the point that the teddy is purpose built to hold the tablet of a child. The question that once was at what age do you let your child have a mobile phone has progressed to what age should a kid have their first tablet?

An iPad in a toaster yesterday

That Learning Dude got to thinking about it tonight  while reading an article on www.tecca.com about this very subject and knowing that this conversation could be approaching me with a letter to Santa at any point in the very near future. The answer of course is varied, there are many who may wish to ask what is wrong with a Scalextric or train set? (an excellent way to learn all about physics I might add) or those who might plump straight for the iPad and worry about finding it in the toaster at a later stage.  


This isn't what it got me thinking about, it was more around how do we bridge the learning gap between the gadgets, gizmos and tablet's that are flooding the market on a daily basis with the way we are still learning in the business classroom. The report card of That Learning Dude Jnr will be landing on the dining table this week and within there will be the scores on the doors for IT Skills. The benefit of these skills at an early will be essential in his future as the pace of education begins to keep up with advancements in technology. There is no doubt that in the next ten to fifteen years if not sooner our future leaders are going to be some of the most tech savvy employees on the market place and they will pick and choose a business that meets their needs as much as we need their skills and therefore we need to be ready. 

Now I know that the video above is really an advert for SMART tech but if you look at how we have advanced through the ages it seems ironic that when we contrast this with the business world, by the time our future employees leave education and walk into their new role they step back in time.  They will encounter training that not only fails to meet their needs in a way they now receive information but at times in a way that is completely based on learning practise's of years gone by. I fear the day that poor unfortunate delegate comes into the room and is mocked for trying to turn on the flip chart. Now the business has to change but there are others that need to be involved, take Flip Chart Guy for example. He needs to be the champion in the class room in a way that engages the learner but allows him to continue to be confident enough to wear that snazzy dollar bill suit. Flip Chart Guy may be resistant at first so lets give him a little nudge.

1. Check your pocket..........okay not too often as that is bound to be reflected in feedback scores but what type of mobile device do you have, how do you use this? Emails, you tube, social media or perhaps you even take phone calls on them. The chances are you already have a quick win mobile learning tool in your pocket and looking around the room most people will have similar devices. Consider breaking that cardinal rule and ask people to turn phones on !! Tweet during the session or breaks, suggest videos that can be viewed on TED or You Tube pre and post course. Some of this content can allow you to make sessions more interactive and focus on something more practical
2. Save the trees,  save the planet and help the business be a bit greener. Now this one is something that always amazes me, we design materials on various office products and then spend hours at photocopiers printing off several trillion copies whilst enduring the wrath of that person who has one thing to print and faces many a demoralising trip to the printer only to see you standing there rhyming of the now well trodden line of "I only have a couple more to do". This content is and can be integral to a programme and does not have to be lost, send what you can pre course and ask people to review. For a real radical thought get them to bring their laptops into the room and access the material live for reference. Don't panic about them accessing outlook, people will do this on Blackberry's etc regardless what you say as in today's fast paced environment it gets difficult to stop them, I find it offers up more respect with the learner and if you contract or provide enough information up front around some do's and don'ts then in most cases it won't be an issue......plus you can email them during the session :-)
3. Finally allow people nay encourage people to take pictures or videos on phones etc  of what they have learned, posters, laughter moments or exercises. Make the room engaging, interactive and fun, learning is so much better this way. I was recently delivering out in South Korea and fascinated with how many photographs were taken during a session on iPads, iPhones and cameras. This was in no way distracting in fact the sessions were going viral within a few hours and shared with friends and family across the Asian region. Social Learning in a workshop without trying, merely by allowing the cameras in the room.

  Now we know a lot is about more for less just now so we have to think of a way we engage with business leaders to make these things happen, the key point is there is a lot we can do that works in conjunction with the restricted budgets. The fact that we can take advantage and cut costs relating to printing, or expensive corporate videos through the use of free resources means that the money we save is actually freeing up elements in the budget to invest in other tools.

1. Show them what it provides not what it costs - An investment in rapid learning tools takes the experience and skills of Flip Chart Guy and gets him to create relative material that cuts time to competency thus giving time back to the business to put the newly learned skills into practice to make or sell more widget's. 
2. Be brave and bold with the current social media trends and online content. We engage more through social media to promote our businesses and recruit staff but a strong social media policy is actually a deal breaker for some of the top graduates who will not join a business without one. Another way to engage is to offer online toolkits such as www.goodpractice.com which give on the go content to suit managers needs.
3. Lastly give them devices on the go, the benefits of this builds a mobile and flexible workforce. My recent trip to Asia saw a 200 strong induction group provided with a Samsung Galaxy Tablet. They used this as a learning tool and will use it on return to the business. Providing tools which present opportunities in and out of the classroom is not only seen as an investment in people but builds trust in the workforce by potentially offering more flexible patterns of work.

So there you have it, my musings on Gadgets, gizmo's and bridging the learning gap, now if you'll excuse me I have a very important art lesson on Lets Draw

That Learning Dude