But, Clara did mention one of the authors, Talia Konkle. And, I found Talia’s website, and it lists a soon to be available PDF of the article in question. So, let’s operate with the assumption that Clara’s summary of the report is accurate. Here are some astonishing things with profound implications for learning.

1. The research was done using pictures of objects. Hmmm, remember that old picture is worth 1,000 words? How many of your PowerPoint presentations are textual as opposed to pictorial?
2. Humans appear to have visual memories for such pictures far in excess of what anyone expected.
3. Interestingly, to encourage participants to strive to remember, the researcher gave small money prizes for the participants who scored the highest. Hmmm, are you actually encouraging your students to stay motivated?

This is a fascinating report. I cannot wait until I get a chance to read the entire report. But, I hope you agree that this have profound implications for workplace learning and performance improvement.

The course materials are released under the Creative Commons (Non-Commercial, Attribution, Share-Alike) license. So, you are free to take it, and make use of it. The page for the materials is at:

http://www.technicaltrainer.org/Design101/

• Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative
• MIT Open Courseware
• Rice University Connexions
• Wikiversity
• iTunes University
• TeacherTube
• Small Business Administration (SBA) Training
• W3 Schools - Web Skills Training
• The Open University

So, this is just a start. Hopefully someone out there is reading this blog, and will add a few more that I have missed. Email me (bill@technicaltrainer.org) or post a comment to this entry. Either way, I would like to add a much more sizeable list of free learning resources.

1. FREE IS GOOD! - Not great, not spectacular, but overall it is good. Some of the best software out there is free. Heck, you are reading this blog on a website. Both, Apache (which serves up the website) and Wordpress (which serves up the blog) are not only free, but they are the dominant software packages in their markets. Having said that, there is lots of free junk!
2. NETWORKED IS ESSENTIAL - Your software must take advantage of the Internet. It could simply do something as check itself for updates. But, I look very suspicious at software that isn’t at least network savvy enough to check itself for updates.
3. COLLABORATIVE IS BETTER - In general, if you are looking at two software packages, and they are very close in your evaluation, give the edge to the one that support more collaboration. Get used to software like Wikis, Blogs, Forums, Listservs, Social Networking, etc. All of these allow collaboration in one form or another.

So, looking at these considerations, let cover some resources to get you the tools you need.

1. Jane Hart is a masterful resource. Her e-Learning Pick of the Day is regular reading for me. And, her master directory of Learning Tools is simply stated The Best Resource of its Kind on the Web! Honestly! In most cases, if Jane doesn’t know about it, it doesn’t exist.
2. Free is good, but sometimes you need solutions that aren’t easy to achieve with free tools. The Best of the Best and MUST BUY tools for learning belong to Adobe. If you are building website, you need Dreamweaver. If you are building interactivity, you need Flash. If you are building e-Learning, you need Captivate. Bravo to Adobe for supporting our industry. Support them. They are well worth it. AND! News worth reading … ADOBE HAS A FREE SOLUTION, and it looks like a killer web application. Go an visit Acrobat.com.
3. Need an LMS? Does FREE sound good to you? Try Moodle! It really is one of the best LMS systems out there.

Finally, I have my own list of Trainer Resources. It is no where near as good as Jane Hart’s list. But, you may find it more to your liking.

• ASTD (used to be American Society for Training and Development, but is now just the initials): This is the organization that is defining the profession. You need to belong. Just do it! Here are some of their more important resources for the profession.
  • T&D Blog - The blog based on ASTD’s T&D magazine
  • Learning Circuits Blog - ASTD’s blog on technology
  • Learning Policy - ASTD’s website on public policy for the WLP
• e-Learning Guild - Their website says it best, “A community of practice for e-Learning professionals.” If ASTD is defining the profession as a whole, the e-Learning Guild is defining the e-Learning subset of the profession.
  • e-Learning Insider - ELG’s blog
• ISPI - Internation Society for Performance Improvement - These folks cover the subset of the Performance aspect of Workplace Learning and Performance.
  • PerformanceXpress - ISPI’s Newsletter (JEESH! I wish they had an RSS feed)
• SALT - Society for Applied Learning Technology - These folks focus on the technologies for learning. They have a more academic slant as well. But, an excellent organization that you should consider.
• Toastmasters - While not specifically in the WLP profession, these folks provide the foundational skills needed for any successful WLP professional.

I could add many more. I have a list of Associations on my website. You can refer to that for even more. Do we need more? I’m not sure. There is such a thing as saturation. But, even so, anything that adds to the profession and the professional stature of Workplace Learning and Performance is ultimately a good thing in my book.

Tom Peters - WOW Bill! You went out on a limb here! Why don’t you pick someone really obscure, like Peter Drucker? Well, you probably know Tom Peter, but are you reading Tom Peters? Not just his books, but his blog? Here are some really important things he has to say.

• Yes! You are in Sales! (Video) (PDF Transcript)
• Passion! (Video) (PDF Transcript)
• Definition of Leadership (Video) (PDF Transcript)
• Tom Peters designates what he considers the Best Link Ever.

Will Thalheimer - OK, I know he doesn’t have this designation yet, but I assure you that Will Thalheimer will someday be ranked with the likes of Malcolm Knowles, Robert Gagne, Thiagi, and Donald Kirkpatrick/Jack Phillips (take your measurement pick). He is that good. Seriously! Here are some really important things he has to say.

• The Learning Landscape Model
• Will’s Suggestion of a must-see Instruction Design video … just say Thiagi! (the video itself)
• A FREE research report on Feedback
• Will’s Work-Learning Audit Results
• Absolutely Essential Reading! - Will Thalheimer on Myths and Bogus Research

Garr Reynolds - If you haven’t yet read Garr Reynolds’ book, Presentation Zen. Go immediately to Amazon.com, and order the book now. (Just click this link to make it easy.) He is the master of presentations, and if you read his material you will create better presentations! Here are some really important things he has to say.

• Brain Rules for Presentations (based on Dr. John Medina’s book - Brain Rules)
• Refrain from Using Powerpoint (Toyota CEO urging employees to stop Powerpoint’ing).
• Garr Reynold’s website with his presentations.

All of these people are 5-Socrates teachers. In all honesty, Will and Garr are very close to a 6-Socrates score.

Note: I think Socrates was a tremendous teacher. I don’t agree with a lot of his opinions, but I always learned by reading about him and his methods. So, he is the golden measure by which all teachers should be measured.

• 0 Socrates = Bring on the hemlock!
• 1 Socrates = A trial is in your future!
• 2 Socrates = Does the word gadfly mean anything to you?
• 3 Socrates = Nearly virtuous. At least good enough to talk yourself out of some debts!
• 4 Socrates = Virtuous.
• 5 Socrates = You stand side-by-side with the likes of Plato and Aristotle. Considered exile lately?
• 6 Socrates = You are the ideal of Socrates himself. Bring on the hemlock!

So, I thought I’d start summarizing what I read on the web, specifically my RSS feeds. This might help you, the reader, by point out some useful resources and ideas you might have otherwise missed. And it will definitely help me out by forcing me to write more often. So, here goes.

Storytelling is an essential skill for Workplace Learning and Performance professionals. Yet, almost everyone overlooks it. I really appreciate Anecdote. These folks know storytelling, and how to put it to good work. Summarizing some input points from their work are the following stories.

1. Who Am I / Why Am I Here Stories - Who Am I stories reveal character, and Why Am I Here stories reveal motivation. Together the two stories give insight into who you are. (MORE ON THIS)
2. Cooperation - This article demonstrated the “Tragedy of the Commons” concept, and is an essential point to understanding the values of long-term thinking and the dangers of short-term thinking. (MORE ON THIS)
3. ASTD in their Workplace Learning and Performance definition called the Competency Model lists Knowledge Management as 1 of 9 Areas of Expertise required for the profession. The Anecdote folks have a spectacular whitepaper on Knowledge Management. (GET THE WHITEPAPER)
4. ASTD’s Competency Model also lists Facilitating Organization Change as a core Area of Expertise. Here is an excellent whitepaper on Organization Change. (GET THE WHITEPAPER)

All in all, these folks are people you want to listen to and on a regular basis. Visit their website. Subscribe to their newsletter. You will learn from them, and that is my highest praise.

(My Rating Scale - 5 Socrates)

Note: I think Socrates was a tremendous teacher. I don’t agree with a lot of his opinions, but I always learned by reading about him and his methods. So, he is the golden measure by which all teachers should be measured.

• 0 Socrates = Bring on the hemlock!
• 1 Socrates = A trial is in your future!
• 2 Socrates = Does the word gadfly mean anything to you?
• 3 Socrates = Nearly virtuous. At least good enough to talk yourself out of some debts!
• 4 Socrates = Virtuous.
• 5 Socrates = You stand side-by-side with the likes of Plato and Aristotle. Considered exile lately?
• 6 Socrates = You are the ideal of Socrates himself. Bring on the hemlock!

Are we really that sensitive in learning and development world? Are we so concerned with hurting someone’s feelings that we are unable or unwilling to stand and defend ideas we find important? Come on folks, get both a backbone and some passion.

How about these fights as a start:

1. Tesla vs. Edison
2. Einstein (Relativity) vs. Quantum Mechanics
3. Galileo vs. The Church
4. Newton vs. Leibnitz

This is just a handful. And is really used just to prove the point that conflict is virtually inevitable. It is also the source of amazing burst of human creativity. Take Tesla as an example. He was told that AC current couldn’t power motors. So, he actually invented a motor to prove his skeptics wrong. The Wright Brothers certainly chased powered flight despite numerous doubters.

So, I think we need more not less disputes, disagreements, and down-right arguments. In fact, if you look just a little you can find numerous examples.

1. Kirkpatrick vs. Phillips (measurement)
2. Behaviorists vs. just about everyone else
3. Nature vs. Nurture

You can disagreement politely or not. You can choose small or large forums to air those disputes. You can dispute something privately or publicly. But, I think it is almost a professional obligation to force yourself to challenge your own assumptions about what you know. Heck, I’m proud to say that I have posted my own disputes with my colleagues.

1. Me vs. The 30-minute Masters
2. Me vs. Cliff Atkinson

Sure, not the loftiest of writings, but the act of writing what I thought, and supporting it as best I could, caused intellectual growth. Sometimes disputes cause you to change your mind; sometimes they cause you to stand for what you believe even more. The only true demand should be the requirement for intellectual honesty. When/if you are ever proven wrong, admit it and move on. I only wish that sort of intellectual honesty happened more often.

So, bring on the conflicts! The health of our profession depends upon it.

My two cents …

ASTD has been on a steady push to increase the recognition of the Workplace Learning and Performance profession. One of their efforts is a professional certification called the CPLP (Certified Professional in Learning and Performance). To help candidates prepare for the CPLP, ASTD published an excellent source library called, the ASTD Learning System.

In that absolutely essential library (have I convinced you to get it yet?), ASTD lists the following instructional system design (ISD) models:

• ADDIE
• Gagne’s Nine Events of Learning
• Rapid Instructional Design (Thiagarajan)
• Dick and Carey Systems Approach to Instructional Design
• Seels and Glasgow ISD Model II (see note)
• Smith and Ragan Systematic Instructional Design Model
• Accelerated Learning

Of all of these models, Rapid Instruction Design by Thiagi is the only model that even comes close to reality. Why? Because according to this model it is the alternative when, “designers are working with tight deadlines, limited budgets, and constantly shifting content.” Which sounds like reality to me!

In fact, look at Wikipedia’s entry on Design. The last part of their first sentence is telling, “and other creative endeavors.” Design is a creative process. Most creative processes have constraints but those serve only as guide posts. For example, if Fort Knox commissioned an artist to create a symbol to represent the U.S. Bullion Depository, I seriously doubt that they would allow that artist to create a solid gold emblem weighing several tons. Does the depository contain enough resources to do that? Sure, Fort Knox has about 5,000 tons of gold. But, I don’t think that I would be “out on a limb” saying that they would prefer to keep their gold in its non-artist shape. More reasonably, I doubt the U.S. Mint would allow an artist a lifetime to create such a emblem. In essence, creativity is often constrained, and often those constraints add to, rather than detract from, the creative processes. But, it is still creativity.

Instructional design should be considered a creative process. Stop trying to dictate the steps in the process. Doing so creates instructional products that are as likely to excel as a paint-by-numbers picture is likely to appear in the Louvre, the Tate, or MoMA. All things have to be considered in a design, and everyone of them can be successfully ignored by the right design. Audience, Budget, Time, Media, Delivery Methods are all just parts of a design. The beauty (or lack of) is in the final design. Allow instruction design to express the art of learning. Sure, instructional designers should be well-versed in the theories that form the foundation of their craft, but equally well-versed in tossing those theories out when the learner is the focus rather than just an input to a paint-by-numbers process.

After all, I hear more conversation and hear more recall on most Dilbert cartoons than I do for most formally designed courses.

(My Note from above)

I don’t really know why it is Seels and Glasgow’s ISD Model II. I can only surmise that Model I was a tragic failure. Or perhaps Seels and Glasgow were psychics! Psychics? Yes, real honest-to-goodness ESP-kinda folks. How? In Designing Learning, Volume 1 of the ASTD Learning System pg. 37, here is the quote.

“As noted by Seels and Glasgow (1998), according to the Smith and Ragan ISD model (2004), …”

There you have it. In 1998, Seels and Glasgow were already reacting to a model that Smith and Ragan had yet to produce. Proof positive of real psychic ability. Something far more suspicious than Roswell ever well be!

But, I wonder how many of us are paying for things, like this, that don’t really provide value. I’m also a Popular Science reader, love it. On their website, they provided a link to a FREE Brain Training site. Wonderful! I do crosswords and sudoku puzzles every day. This is my kind of thing. Except, FREE wasn’t free. They wanted my credit card (to avoid people signing up for multiple free previews … what a crock!), and I would be automatically billed. Folks, the model just isn’t there. Count me out!

Here’s two more. I was a huge Borders Book Store fan. I was in the store multiple times per week. Then, about a year ago, Borders switched my local store to a Seattle’s Best. No problem. But, I live in Central Florida, and the wonderful Seattle’s Best folks do no have a soda fountain. NONE! NADA! ZIP! Which given that I have documented proof of almost $3000 in purchases in the previous year, Borders was willing to throw away because of their partner Seattle’s Best. Now, I actively speak against them. And Amazon then became my best friend. I am currently an Amazon.com PRIME account holder. I ordered a telescope for my nephew’s birthday. Despite several emails and a call from me, I was assured the telescope would be there. I could clearly tell it wasn’t. But, alas, the wonderful Amazon.com support folks disputed my doubt. What happened? The telescope was back-ordered. I had to scramble. I took my business to B&H Photo. And, I have done very little business with Amazon since. Why? Because they didn’t so much as offer me a free “anything” to make amends for their partner’s foul-up. Well, pick your partners well. I do. So, Borders and Amazon, I guess my business and referrals are not good enough for you. C’est la vie. Count me out!

In all, I am just looking more closely at my relationships at all levels and all types. Ultimately, a relationship should provide value. If if doesn’t, PLEASE count yourself out! If nothing else, it will save your sanity.

Sorrow, at least in my book, implies a commitment to change, or at the very least attempt change. Sorrow is also a state of mind that lasts longer than the time it takes to say the words, “I’m sorry.” None of the people who have said that they were sorry ever really intended for me to think that they intended to change their behavior. After all, the fast-food people don’t really change their behavior. And, the poor airline counter person isn’t responsible for the flight’s delay. In fact, I truly feel sorrow for them. They have been “trained” by some corporate program that undoubtedly tied the training to business results that saying “I’m sorry” improved X by Y%, and the approximate ROI on that training was Z%. (Note: I’m sorry I wasn’t able to provide real numbers, but they were withheld for proprietary business concerns.)

SO! Stop saying it! What you really mean is that you apologize for the error. I can accept apologies. Just thinking about them makes me all warm and fuzzy. In fact, try to use it next time. Better yet, apologize for the actual crime instead of using generic words. For example, I apologize for you having to park your car, and come into the restaurant to correct an error I should have caught before giving you your food. Or, I apologize on behalf of the airline, who in an attempt to satisfy your need for low-cost air travel, has reduced costs by cutting flights, crews, and other amenities; while not fully explaining the consequences to you. And, dear airline traveler, you should be the one who is sorry for blaming the airline’s performance on me as a lowly front-line worker.

So, dear reader, I apologize for being sorry. I’d even be sorry if I could work up some guilt-free emotional angst. I’d write more, but I have to circle back through the drive-through to get my fries they left out. I am sure they are sorry!

So, it comes as no surprise that my blog is continually under assault. My Moodle and Drupal servers were also compromised. So, I have taken them down. The database tables have been erased. They are gone. Gone! GONE! Fortunately, my blog security is good enough to prevent most intrusions. Never say all. Because out there, there is always someone clever enough to find a way.

I wish it wasn’t so. I wish I could play more, and worry less about the safety of those playing in my playground. But, for now, there are too many bullies in the playground, and not enough of us are in the position to stand up to them. One day, the tools will change, and the balance of power will be more centered. Until then, you play safe.

My two cents!

First, Josh Waitzkin is the subject of the book/movie, Searching for Bobby Fisher. He is a remarkable learner. He is a chess International Master. He is a two-time Tai Chi Chaun Push Hands World Champion. And, he is currently pursuing Brazilian Jui Jitsu. He is both an intellectual and an athletic champion.
One, I do recommend the book. It is a compelling read. It was hard to put down. I read it in two sittings. I would have finished it in one, but I started late at night. And, I will reread it again. But, it is incorrectly titled. It should be titled, The Art of Performance and Competition.

From an outsider’s perspective looking at what others have written about Josh’s book, I think that they think that he has some nearly mystical ability to learn. While from my perspective, Josh has an unstoppable will to succeed. Even Josh tries to summarize his own methods, and I think he misses the forest for the trees.

In the book, Josh talks about “Making smaller circles”, “Investing in Loss”, “Slowing Time”, “Being in the Zone”, “Building Triggers”, and “Illusions of the Mystical”. These are all important concepts that Josh shares. His insight is compelling. But, in both his analysis of learning chess and tai chi chuan, he talks about a concept that he expresses best from a tai chi perspective which is, “have deep, solid roots”. That unfortunately is the drawback of his book. He’d rather talk about the “mystical”, and yet he misses both his and learning roots.

For example, read his stories about his learning, and I don’t recall one note about the hours of practice that lead to his success. Sure, he talks about practice. It is inherent in his stories. But, rather than attribute his prowess to countless hours of practice on a chess board or on the mats for tai chi chuan, he develops his own expression of learning. Josh is a success because he practices hard for what he does. On top of that, at the highest levels of anything, genetics play a part. Josh is gifted with tremendous intellect and physical attributes. He has then honed those attributes to a razor’s edge in chess and tai chi chuan. While he is currently pursuing excellence in jui jitsu, I can confidently state that with the passion he will undoubtedly pursue that, we will soon read of his success in that endeavor.

I has been conjectured that it takes approximately 20,000 hours to become a master in a subject. At 40 hours per week, that is a little less that 10 years. Josh saw chess at age 6. He became an International Master at 16 which is about 10 years. He began studying tai chi chuan in 1998, and become world champion in 2004, about 7 years. Wait! That isn’t close to 10. AHHH! You are right. But, Josh didn’t start from ground zero. In fact, Josh transferred learning in chess to learning in tai chi. And, Josh was already an experienced competitor. So, he didn’t need to relearn the competitive process. I fully expect that his transfer to jui jitsu, assuming no major injuries, will be around 6 years or so. We’ll see.

Josh misses the part about time. He misses the part about transfer of learning. He overlooks learning theory, especially from Knowles. He misses the roots!

But, for all that, he gives tremendous insight into competition and a competitive mindset. He gives us wonderful insight into using failure to gain advantage. He shows what it takes to be a champion.

I’d love to have a deep and long conversation with him. I think he’s a fascinating person. Heck, Josh, if you ever come back to the Orlando area, feel free to look me up. I live in the area, out on the west-side. (Note: The chance of this conversation is about as likely as me beating him at chess, tai chi chuan push hands, or jui jitsu, but I’ll invest a little in my own loss.)

Why? I’d love to see Josh take up learning with the same passion he has undertaken other activities. I’d love to see learning get a poster boy. Could you imagine children looking up to learning? Could you imagine adults going to a movie about learning? If Josh could make chess sexy, imagine the wonderful outcomes if he made learning sexy.

But, to anyone who might read this, here are some “roots” of learning you should consider. Read the following authors:

• Malcolm Knowles
• Howard Garner
• Daniel Goleman
• Walter Dick
• Robert Gagne
• Ruth Clark
• Edward de Bono
• Elaine Biech
• Donald Kirkpatrick
• Jack Phillips
• Rafe Esquith
• Robert Mager
• Bob Pike
• Dave Lowry (outstanding Martial Arts writer)
• Sivasailam “Thiagi” Thiagarajan
• Mortimer Adler
• Malcolm Gladwell (but, this is the start of growing past the roots)
• Clark Aldritch

Sure, I could list a whole bunch more. These are my main influences. They are the ones I hope influence me as I pursue my PhD. And, even if you don’t agree with the choices, reading them is worth the time and effort.

My two cents!

1. It is easy to get started blogging. OK, to blog a bit more, but it is really hard to keep blogging. So, I have a new found appreciation of those who do it for a good long while.
2. You know those spam emails, advertising everything from stock tips to how to increase/decrease the size of body parts you may/may not have? Do you know why you get them? Because they work. Somewhere out there, there is a guy/gal sitting at their computer who actually clicks the link of a spam email in the hope. Spams exist because they work! Scary! But, worry not for me, I’m about to collect a big payday from a Nigerian banker who just happened to contact me today. Just a little effort for a big pay day! Now, where’s my bank routing numbers?
3. The World Wide Web should really be called the Wild West Web. It is absolutely lawless out there. Until, and I hope not if, someone becomes the sheriff, and decides to clean up the place, it isn’t exactly safe. Sure, lots of excitement, and lots of opportunity.
4. I am absolutely amazed at the number of fake registrations I get on my blog site. Like I wouldn’t check. I guess folks are just looking for abandoned blogs. I also get those on my YAHOO! account, my Facebook and MySpace accounts which I never use, and probably a few other accounts that have been lost to antiquity.
5. Remembering all my damn passwords is an amazing chore. I use RoboForm to help. Really like the tool. I like it well enough to register it. I just hope that admitting this doesn’t now open me up to some unexpected web attack on my password vault. YOWSA! On second thought, forget that I wrote this.
6. Bottom-line, if you engage your brain in something new, you are bound to learn something. Maybe you’ll even learn something about which you set out to learn. More than likely, you learn that and a whole bunch more. Get going, there’s a whole world of unexpected things to learn.

Bill

So, here it is: http://edresearch.wikispaces.com/Journals

I’ve already uploaded the OPML file into my RSS reader of choice (Thunderbird). So, get to it. Read! Learn! Grow!

Storytelling is the oldest form of leader-lead training. It works. And yet, for all those things, we infrequently (i.e., almost never) use it in workplace learning and performance. Why? Probably because we aren’t good at it. Want to get better? Here are some excellent sources.

Source 1: Ira Glass, from This American Life - I think Ira and his crew are the best storytellers currently around. Here is an outstanding set of videos from Ira explaining how to tell stories. Videos on YouTube

Source 2: The folks at the Anecdote blog (http:/www.anecdote.com.au) have a wonderful guide they call The Ultimate Guide to Anecdote Circles

Source 3: Here is a good website with lots of good links to Storytelling information.

Source 4: Garrison Keiller is another fabulous storyteller. While not specifically on storytelling, you have to read his archive of pieces at Salon.

Source 5: Mark Twain, who I never heard tell a story but I think is the greatest storytelling American writer, wrote a piece entitled How to Tell a Story.

Source 6: While I didn’t hear Mark Twain tell stories, I did hear Lewis Grizzard tell stories. If there is reincarnation, he definitely shared souls with Mark Twain. You can learn more at the Lewis Grizzard Museum.

So go learn to tell stories, or at least tell them better … and did I tell you the one time when I …

To help, here is the PPT for my presentation, and a link to the same presentation in an online format. Also, I copyrighted the materials, but I have also put them under the Creative Commons license. So … enjoy!

I’m going to define “Association” broadly to included any organization that represents the Workplace Learning and Performance (WLP) profession, or provides a common meeting ground (usually online) for WLP professionals. This can broadly include classic associations, but also include common portal websites, bulletin board, online groups, and governmental websites that act as or support the WLP profession.

Having said that, here is my list of associations you need to know:

Professional Associations:

ASTD (American Society for Training and Development)

International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI)

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

American Management Association (AMA)

Internation Board of Standards for Training, Performance and Instruction (IBSTPI)

Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD)

American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE)

American Association for Vocational Instructional Materials (AAVIM)

American Educational Research Association (AERA)

Association for Business Simulation and Experiential Learning (ABSEL)

Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE)

Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT)

Computer Education Management Association (CEdMA)

International Association for Continuing Education Training (IACET)

International Association of Facilitators (IAF)

International Association of Information Technology Trainers (ITrain)

International Society of the Learning Sciences (ISLS)

International Technology Education Association (ITEA)

Society for Applied Learning Technology (SALT)

Society for Organizational Learning (SOL)

Toastmasters International

Worldwide Association of Business Coaches (WABC)

Governmental Organizations:

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

Employment & Training Administration (ETA)

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE)

Small Business Training Network (SBA)

National Centers for Career and Technical Education (NCCTE)

National Council for Workforce Education (NCWE)

What Works Clearinghouse

Other Associations:

Center on Education and Training for Employment (CETE)

CompTIA Technology Learning Group (TLG)

eLearning Guild

Institute for Research on Learning Technologies (IRLT)

Learning Technology Research Institute (LTRI)

Organization Development Network

Performance, Learning, Leadership, & Knowledge Site

Training & Development Discussion Group

Whatever the name, many of you are not specialists in computers, software, and the Internet. Well, those are areas where I have a bit of knowledge, and I thought I’d share my list of applications that will make your life easier and hopefully better. But, before I give you the list, let me share an observation. Since the advent of the Internet, applications have expanded. In the past, an application was software installed on your machine that did something (e.g., played a game, edited a word processing document, calculated a spreadsheet, etc.). Now, with the Internet, there are additional categories.

First, you can create yourself or obtain a webhost. For example, I use 1and1.com to host my website:

And, you can install software on your webhost that either you or your visitors can use to do something (e.g., blog, collaborate, post to bulletin boards, etc.) Second, you can visit websites that have software on those websites that allow you to do something (e.g., send email, search websites, manage calendars, etc.) So, the definition of an application is the same with the exception that the software no longer merely needs to reside on your computer.

Here is my list of applications (installable on your PC, installable on a server (webhost), and accessible via the web) that every Workplace Learning and Performance professional needs to know (and especially because they are all free).

Applications

Server-Based Application Software

Apache - Web Server

Apache Tomcat - JSP Server

dimdim - Conferencing

dokeos - eLearning

drupal - Content Management

Moodle - Course Management

MySQL - Database

PHP - PHP Programming

phpBB - Bulletin Board

PHPOpenChat - Chat

Sakai - Course Management

Socialtext Open - Wiki

Tikiwiki - Wiki

WordPress - Blogging

Web-Based Software Applications and Important Links

Article - Hacking Knowledge 77 Ways to Learn Faster, Deeper, and Better

Article - Research Beyond Google 119 Authoritative, Invisible, and Comprehensive Resources

Collection - Free Software Directory

Collection - Pics4Learning

Collections - Wikibooks

Collections - Wikiversity

Google

Portal - FirstGov

Reference - The Elements of Style.

Reference - The World Factbook

Reference - Wikipedia

Reference - Wiktionary

Web Application - Aggregator - Netvibes

Web Application - Drawing - Gliffy

Web Application - File Conversion - Zamzar

Web Application - Groups - Yahoo! Groups

Web Application - Pictures - Flickr!

Web Application - Presentations - Empressr

Web Application - Video - YouTube

Yahoo!

Microsoft Windows-Based Installed Software

Application - Calendar - Sunbird

Application - Dictionary - Wordweb

Application - Mapping - Google Earth

Application - Note Taking - KeyNote

Application - Open Office

Application - Project Management - GanttPV

Audio - Apple iiTunes

Audio - Apple QuickTime

Audio - Audacity

eLearning - CamStudio

eLearning - Mind Mapping - FreeMind

eLearning - Producer

eLearning - Simple Learning Creator

eLearning - TestCommander

eLearning - XERTE

Flash - Adobe Flash Player

Imaging - 3D Modeling - Blender

Imaging - 3D Modeling - SketchUp

Imaging - GIMP

Imaging - GIMPShop

Imaging - Screen Capture - FastStone

Media - VLC

Messenging - AIM

Messenging - GAIM

Messenging - Skpe - Phone

Operating System - Ubuntu Linux

PDF - Adobe Acrobat Reader

PDF - CutePDF

PDF - PDFCreator

Security - Anti-Spyware - Ad-Aware

Security - Anti-Spyware - Spybot-S&D!

Security - Anti-Spyware - Windows Defender

Security - Anti-Virus - AVG

Security - Firewall - Zonelabs

Utility - Clients - PuTTY

Utility - Compression - IZArc

Utility - DeepBurner

Utility - FTP - FileZilla

Web - Browser - Firefox

Web - Email - Thunderbird

I hope this list helps. It represents the best-of-the-best in my opinion. And even if you think something is better, it is still well work a look at these packages.