"Most training in organisations still takes place on a very formal basis using the traditional training object - the 'course'. However, it is now well recognised that something like 70% of learning actually takes place informally in organisations, i.e. not in the classroom nor working through an online course, but in everyday working life as employees carry out their jobs - finding out information, reading documents, talking to other colleagues etc. It is these kinds of informal learning activities that need to be supported and encouraged online. E-learning is therefore not just about e-training but also about information, communication, collaboration, performance support and knowledge sharing."

Jane Knight, Founder, e-Learning Centre
From Top ten tips for implementing e-learning

Meeting Announcement

June 2006: Learning Eco-Systems, Infrastructure and Architecture – Opportunities and Challenges

As we continue to expand our thinking about what constitutes learning and work in today’s organizations, we are finding they are becoming ever more intertwined and inter-dependent.  For organizations to succeed into today’s competitive and global business climate it’s necessary to have a truly robust learning environment. This environment must enable workers to quickly adapt to change, develop new skills and knowledge constantly, and continually reduce their time to proficiency.
 
We are increasingly recognizing we need to be responsible for learning that occurs in both formal and informal settings – with and without technology. Just a few years ago learning was seen largely as formal training most often delivered in classroom events and e-learning courses delivered through intranets and the Internet. But now, we are coming to understand that within each organization there needs to exist, in fact, a learning eco-system; an eco-system that encourages, supports and delivers both formal and informal learning activities. And, in order for these learning eco-systems to survive and thrive, they must be based on a solid infrastructure and architecture to develop, organize, present, distribute, manage the learning content and activities.
 
Despite all that has already been written about learning architecture and e-learning infrastructures for learning management, delivery management, content management and business systems, there remains significant confusion about the real opportunities and challenges – and the broader implications in the future world of formal and informal learning. We will examine and discuss some of the different models for eco-systems, architectures and infrastructures that are being used today and are on the horizon for the near term future. 
 
The meeting will not have the traditional series of presentations. Instead, after Lance and Eilif have set the context for the meeting, they will interview the “speakers” we have invited—some from the “user camp” and some others from the “vendor camp”—so we can hear a range of different views on the evolving eco-systems, infrastructures, and architectures that are emerging in organizations to meet the new learning needs and challenges. Each speaker will be interviewed for about 10-15 minutes but attendees will also be able to ask questions and engage in open discussion around various issues relating to the topics of the meeting.
 
 
Meeting Topics:
  • Formal and informal learning models
  • Learning environments, eco-systems and architectures
  • Technology and organizational infrastructures
  • Interesting and important initiatives and projects underway today
  • Sustainability and business models
  • Implications for learners and decision makers.
  • Learning content management and delivery
Date/Time:
Wednesday, June 28, 2006, 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., followed by lunch and networking
 
Agenda:
8:30 a.m. – Registration, Coffee, and Seating
9:00 a.m. – Introductions, Forum News, and Meeting Context Setting— Eilif Trondsen and Lance Dublin
9:30 a.m. – Strategic and Operational Adopter/User Perspectives from Genentech and Autodesk—Harry Wittenberg and Jenny Blackburn, Genentech and Glenn Oclassen; Autodesk
10:00 a.m. – Open Q&A and Discussion
10:30 a.m. – BREAK
10: 45 a.m. – How Developers/Vendors can Meet Current and Future User: Grant Ricketts, Saba; and Jon Sciampi, SumTotal; Mr. X, JotSpot;
11:15 – Open Discussion
Noon - Box Lunch and Networking
 
Speakers:
  • Lance Dublin; Dublin Consulting
  • Harry Wittenberg; Senior Manager Learning Technologies, Genentech
  • Jenny Blackburn, Associate Director, Enterprise Learning Services, Corporate Information Technology, Genentech
  • Glenn OClassen, Manager Professional Services, Autodesk
  • Grant Ricketts, VP Business Development, Saba
  • Jon Sciampi, VP of Marketing, SumTotal
  • Mr/Ms X, JotSpot (Collaborative Wiki developer)
  • Eilif Trondsen, Director, Learning on Demand Program, SRIC-BI and Chairman, eLearning Forum
Who Should Attend:
Learning executives, managers, and practitioners who want to learn from and share with colleagues who face similar business and learning issues; Business managers who are interested in the intersection of business and learning.; Solutions providers interested in business drivers for decisions on learning technology and solutions; Learning professionals in business and education looking for innovative solutions and interested in future trends and issues.
 
Location:
Conference room B, Building A, SRI International 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, CA.  (SRI is on Ravenswood Drive between Middlefield and El Camino Real). Please use the parking lot at the corner of Ravenswood and Middlefield (next to the church) and walk the half block to the meeting. SRI has very limited parking in front of Building A; those spaces are reserved for SRI's use.
 
Registration:
PLEASE NOTE that we are meeting in conference room B, Building A (the building of SRI’s main reception), and NOT the usual Umura room in the International Building. We will have LIMITED CAPACITY (Max 35), SO WE WILL ACCEPT ONLY THE FIRST 25 REGISTRATIONS. Also note that we are trying out a new, two-tiered pricing approach: (1) For those who are not staying for lunch: $15; and (2) Registration with lunch: $30.

Please click here to secure your registration on-line today!.
 
Remote Participation:
Please note that we are still negotiating and working out the details for a technology platform for remote participation but we will NOT be able to offer remote access to this meeting. We are very sorry but hope to have this resolved soon.
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Further Information:
Eilif Trondsen, Founder and Chairman, eLearning Forum, etrondsen@sric-bi.com, 650-859-2665 Also, go to the website: www.elearningforum.com for further updates as they are made available.



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