The E-Learner
Issue No. 18
1st June 2001
Published by
All rights reserved.
Welcome to the eighteenth edition of The E-Learner, ECLO's electronic newsletter for members.
The E-Learner complements our existing hardcopy newsletter that will continue to carry articles and information of interest to ECLO members.As always, we welcome contributions from members, as it is impossible to keep on top of the wealth of information on the World Wide Web on topics of interest to you all.
For your ongoing reference The E-Learner will be archived in the members' zone of our web site.
Editorial
The recent Lisbon Conference brought with the usual combination of panic, fun, camaraderie, fascination, wisdom and complexity that we have come to expect from the event. The Gala Dinner, being the most fascinating of ‘Learning Experience’. Lisbon offered an exceptional setting for this ‘Journey of Discovery’, but we must move on, in the clear the knowledge that we must learn to take our learning where we find it and Lisbon, for sure, gave us all an abundance of opportunities to learn. This issue includes……….
Three Envelopes
A person had just been hired as the new CEO of a large high-tech corporation. The CEO who was stepping down met with him privately and presented him with three numbered envelopes.
"Open these if you run into trouble and you don't think you can solve," he said.
Things went along pretty smoothly, but six months later, sales took a downturn and he was really catching a lot of heat. About at his wit’s end, he remembered the envelopes. He went to his drawer and took out the first envelope.
The message read, "Blame your predecessor." The new CEO called a press conference and tactfully laid the blame at the feet of the previous CEO. Satisfied with his comments, the press and the City responded positively, sales began to pick up and the problem was soon behind him.
About a year later, the company was again experiencing a slight dip in sales, combined with serious product problems. Having learned from his previous experience, the CEO quickly opened the second envelope.
The message read, "Reorganise."
This he did, and the company quickly rebounded. After several consecutive profitable quarters, the company once again fell on difficult times. The CEO went to his office, closed the door and opened the third envelope.
The message said, "Prepare three envelopes."
Editor’s Comment: Dale Carnegie once said, "Always cooperate with the inevitable", when you have got to go, you’ve got to go….
Harold’s Mask
A number of people at the ECLO conference, fascinated by the ‘Harold and the Learning Path’ session, asked for further details.
The idea was that we all wear a 'mask' in life, which sometimes conceals our true self, or may be th and maybe how we would like others to see us. The session combined this simple notion with a technique to assist participants to remember who they are and how they perceive the people around them. More importantly, 'why ?' they came to this view at a particular moment in time; since the world is a transient place, in which (through learning) beneficial changes can take place.
For example, if you don't like who you are or you would like to change a close relationship you must first understand:
(a) what is happening ?
(b) why things happen in a certain way ?
(c) what would be a better situation ?
The use of animals caricatures enabled participants to visualise these characteristics (good or bad) more vividly, in order that certain 'adjustments' in relationship become possible and memorable.
The audience were asked to assist three participants, wearing masks, to discover ‘who they are ?’, as portrayed by the masks they wore. Andy Symons, one of the participants, was obliged to wear a mask on which was only a question mark (?), whilst other wore distinct characters, which the audience could clearly describe; when questioned. Andy was asked afterwards, how he felt when he sensed that they audience could not help him decide "who he was ?". He commented that he was forced to search for an identity of his own, in the absence of support from the audience.
When colleagues refuse to help us with our own identity, then we have little choice but to invent our own, even though this may prove to be an elusion. Better we help each other decide out true identity, in any given context. Moving on from individual identity, we then need to consider "Who are WE ?" and this can bring profound results in group-work, when ‘WE’ often means ‘I’ !
Editor’s Comment: What can I say ?
Trainer Styles from Peter Honey
The Editor recently took part in a data gathering exercise on Trainer Styles to compliment Honey and Mumford’s work on Learning Styles. The result indicate four distinct styles, as shown below:
Activist
Activists like to take direct action. They are enthusiastic and welcome new challenges and experiences. They are less interested in what has happened in the past or in putting things into a broader context. They are primarily interested in the here and now. They like to have a go, try things out and participate. They like to be the centre of attention.
Trainers with Activist preferences tend to:
- be upfront, visible and inspirational
- work best with people who have a go
- go at risk
- be energetic and enthusiastic
- use highly participative exercises
- give entertaining presentations
- encourage people to try new things
- use humour to jolly people along
- encourage people to keep up the pace/brainstorm
- visit breakout groups to give guidance
- do unusual things to capture people's attention
- go with the flow/react spontaneously.
Reflector
Reflectors like to think about things in detail before taking action. They take a thoughtful approach. They are good listeners and prefer to adopt a low profile. They are prepared to read and re-read and will welcome the opportunity to repeat a piece of learning.
Trainers with Reflector preferences tend to:
- prepare carefully
- help people to reflect
- listen intently
- encourage people to discuss their learning
- hold back from providing answers
- offer non-judgemental feedback
- provide unobtrusive facilitation
- help people
align="justify">Pragmatist
Pragmatists like to see how things work in practice. They enjoy experimenting with new ideas. They are practical, down to earth and like to solve problems. They appreciate the opportunity to try out what they have learned/are learning.
Trainers with Pragmatist preferences tend to:
- offer themselves as role models
- encourage people to experiment with different techniques
- work best with realistic, practical people
- use a hands-on approach
- offer practical hints and tips
- use realistic simulations
- emphasise applications
- use case studies to illustrate best practice
- show how the case is relevant
- share concrete, specific techniques
- help people acquire skills and emphasise the importance of action plans.
Editor’s Comment: Clearly for thought and for those ECLO Members wishing to participate in the Trainer Styles Questionnaire Survey, you can contact Erica at > erica@peterhoney.com or visit Peter’s website on http://www.peterhoney.com
Horror Scope – a light hearted look at Astrology; as a Business Tool
This month we consider the Gemini Personality. These are general personality traits found in people who are ‘typical’ of Gemini (the Twins ), An unhappy or frustrated Gemini may display may display some of the less attractive traits – so beware - if you have never experienced sitting next to a bomb, with a short fuse !
Gemini Members – [Born between 21 May to 20 June)
Positive:
- Inquisitive (Like to know what’s going off ! )
- Entertaining and Charming (A ‘Creep’ perhaps ! )
- Versatile (Can eat with both ears !)
- Liberal and Broadminded (Strips to the waist in hot weather !)
- Youthful (A Child in Adult Clothing ! )
- Quick (Now you see them – now you don’t !)
- Stimulating (Like a 12v battery coupled to the tender regions! )
- Inventive (Doesn’t let facts get in the way of a good story ! )
- Never prejudiced (Chill’s Out – a lot !)
Negative:
- Restless ( Like a Cat on a hot tin roof ! )
- Quickly bored ( Now you see them, now you don’t ! )
- Impractical ( Eats through both ears ! )
- Capricious and fickle ( An incident, waiting to happen ! )
- Gossipy ( Doesn’t let the facts get in the way of a good story ! )
- Nervous ( Booooooooooow ! )
- Manipulative ( Likes own way ! )
- Non-committal ( Maybe, what do you think ? )
- Dual personality ( When they are bad, they are very very bad…… ! )
Editors Comment: My suggestion here is never to hold the office meeting, at midnight, in a graveyard and/or when there is a full moon; particularly if your Gemini colleague is Chairing the meeting. He or she could simply be waiting for the Mothership, back to the Plant Zog.
This month’s prediction for all you Gemini's is (pay attention!!):-
"You'll be raring to go and quick to make decisions this month. Your mind will be in overdrive and you will want to experience a plethora of new activities, and guess what, you'll meet plenty of people that you would consider getting to know more intimately" (Cheeky!).
For the rest of us, click on > http://www.astroadvice.com/freezodiac/ << for the crystal ball.
The Gu the series:
· Harnessing minds - the challenge facing organisations to harness the diversity that is both the individual and the organisation - Montreal September 2001
· Creating sustainable communities - the role of communities in reconciling the interests of the individual and the many – London November 2001
For details of the forums, click on>
http://www.gurteen.com/gurteen/gurteen.nsf/ID/X0005452E?open&r=1&p=2215
Harvard Business School on Working Knowledge
This is a great little KM site - you will find a wealth of resources that reflects the intellectual capital of the Harvard Business School as well as the insights of industry leaders worldwide.
It also has a good selection of reviewed KM sites although I must confess a little bias given my KM site is currently featured as site of the month, so click on > http://hbswk.hbs.edu for more.Or for HBS reviews, click on > http://hbswk.hbs.edu/topics/c/knowledge_sites.html
Awareness
A little girl was being admonished by her mother for throwing sand in at the face of a playmate.
"Now you go over there and apologise," the mother demanded.
"No, I won't," the little girl replied. "I'm not sorry I did it. I don't like her."
The mother persisted louder. The daughter acquiesced. She sulked over to her victim and said, cursorily,
"I'm sorry," then ran back.
"No, that's not good enough." declared her mother.
"You go back and tell her you're sorry - as if you meant it."
I came across this little story in a book by Will Schutz called Profound Simplicity. The author points out the attempt of the mother to impose societies values on the little girl. "Lie" the little girl
is told. "Not only lie, but lie in a way that people don't know you are lying."
What concerns me is that the mother thought she was doing "right" - teaching her daughter good manners - absolutely unaware that the underlying message was quite a different one. Her reaction was one that is probably typical of most parents - I could see myself doing the same sort of thing some years ago.
There is a generic lesson here. We all need to think hard about our "instinctive" responses. Often our interventions - with all the best of intentions - in our personal and business lives don't improve
matters, but make things worse and we move on blindly "unaware" of the damage we have done.
Profound Simplicity by Will Schulz can be found on>
http://www.gurteen.com/gurteen/gurteen.nsf/ID/X00086F86?open&r=1&p=2215 and for Awareness by Anthony de Mello click on>
http://www.gurteen.com/gurteen/gurteen.nsf/ID/X00004B0E?open&r=1&p=2215
Consolation of Philosophy
A little while ago I decided to buy an audiotape to play in my car, not a music tape, but one that might teach me something. As I've always had an interest in philosophy I settled on a tape by Alain de Botton on the Consultations of Philosophy. I did not know at the time that the tape was based on a BBC TV series and a book of the same name.
I loved the tape and am pleased I bought it. What I found fascinating was that Alain de Botton focused on some of the things that bother us all: lack of money, the pain of love, inadequacy, anxiety
Theodore Zeldin ? I am increasingly fascinated by the work and ideas of Theodore Zeldin - I recently did a short review of his book "Conversations". Here is a link to an article from History Today on this interesting Oxford fellow. It seems Theodore Zeldin started out as a historian and wrote books about nineteenth century France, but today he prefers to reflect on the nature and future of intimacy, happiness, conversation and patterns of work. He says he is constantly thinking about how things came to be the way they are and what lessons we can draw from them and that the ultimate aim in life is to discover what one should do with one's life. His own aim in life is to set humanity on a more productive course. Great stuff - I love it ! For an article on Theodore Zeldin, click on> http://www.gurteen.com/gurteen/gurteen.nsf/ID/X0008A8EE?open&r=1&p=2215 Events Diary Here is s short list of some of the more interesting events coming up in the next 6 months: Knowledge Management Tools Forum 05 Jun 2001, London, UK http://www.gurteen.com/gurteen/gurteen.nsf/ID/X000512BA?open&r=1&p=2215 E-Learning Exhibition & Conference 06 - 07 Jun 2001, London, UK http://www.gurteen.com/gurteen/gurteen.nsf/ID/X00010A36?open&r=1&p=2215 The O'Reilly Peer-to-Peer Conference 17 - 20 Sep 2001, Washington DC, US http://www.gurteen.com/gurteen/gurteen.nsf/ID/X00045656?open&r=1&p=2215 Knowledge, People and Power (Montreal) 19 - 21 Sep 2001, Montreal, Canada http://www.gurteen.com/gurteen/gurteen.nsf/ID/X00054532?open&r=1&p=2215 The 2nd European Conference on Knowledge Management 08 - 09 Nov 2001, Bled, Slovenia http://www.gurteen.com/gurteen/gurteen.nsf/ID/X0002EC86?open&r=1&p=2215 Editor’s Comment: Thanks to David Gurteen for this month’s lively contribution to our thinking. He’s certainly been a busy boy. I wonder he finds to do in his spare time ! Web Flash from Marchmont The Brain & Intelligence Learning Style & Self-Assessment Tests Get to know yourself better through these free online and paper and pencil tests including the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, Multiple Intelligence Development Assessment and more. Try>
http://www.eduprise.com/public/news.nsf/id/-Need-to-Know#a03
e-Learning Starter Kit
The Kit includes an e-Learning Workbook - subtitled "25 Questions to a Successful - Learning System Launch," the workbook is a series of questions that get organisations thinking about the major decisions that need to be made prior to implementing an e-learning system. "By helping organisations define the objectives, strategies, resources, functionality and technical aspects of their project, the workbook will naturally lead to the development of a requirements document.
From there they can begin to objectively evaluate the many providers of systems, courses and
e-learning services. Which is insignificance when you consider it is free. So, click on > www.geolearning.com/kit
Final Thoughts
A few thoughts before I fall off my chair and for those of you who have made it this far:
Questions are the creative acts of intelligence - Frank Kingdom
or It’s easier to find questions than answers – give your brain a rest – Brian TaylorEvery creative act involves...a new innocence of perception, liberated from the cataract of accepted belief - Arthur Koestler
or Go on – be a hero – Brian TaylorThe idea is there locked inside. All you have to do is remove the excess stone. - Michelangelo on Creativity
or Take the top off your head and let your brain float free – Brian TaylorKnowledge increases in proportion to its use - that is, the more we teach the more we learn - H. P. Blavatsky, 1831-1891
or Rubbish ‘in’ Rubbish ‘out’, look for Quality not Quantity – Brian Taylor
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