Blogger and futurist Seth Godin had a great post the other day about the importance of listening. And maybe that’s what associations should be doing more of when they talk about the next generation of their annual meetings, conferences and conventions—listening. As association professionals, we have lots of clever ways to talk to members through our communications and live events, but are we really listening to what they have to say?
When the economy crashed, the meeting planning industry took a hit. At the time, many organizations were forced to rethink the traditional meeting format. Enter in virtual meetings and webinars. Now that the economy is slowly getting better, so is the ability to bring back face-to-face meetings. Ironically, it coincides with webinar platforms performing at their highest level to date. This leaves webinar operators pondering a very important question: During this day and age, where do webinars belong?
The field of continuing education (CE) and lifelong learning is going through a major transition in response to the new economy and the demands and interests of learners in the new economy. As with other businesses and industries, technology continues to be one of the big drivers of change in CE today.
Job search got you down? Stuck in a dead-end position? Maybe it's time to learn something new. There is a skills gap in the marketplace. In a 2013 study, only 15% of hiring managers said nearly all or most job seekers had the skills and traits their companies look for. There's no better way to make yourself more attractive to a potential employer than to master something new.
Scientific research from the 1990s now reveals that more than ever before, a challenged, stimulated brain may well be the key to a vibrant later life. As 78 million Baby Boomers prepare to redefine their own retirement, news that staying active and keeping their brains constantly engaged may help stave off mental and physical ailments and diseases has many asking how best to do so. The answer is simple: lifelong or later-life learning.
Smartphones and tablet computers are radically transforming how we access our shared knowledge sources by keeping us constantly connected to near-infinite volumes of raw data and information. We enjoy unprecedented instant access to expertise, from informal cooking lessons on YouTube to online university courses. Every day people around the globe are absorbed in exciting new forms of learning, and yet traditional schools and university systems are still struggling to leverage the many opportunities for innovation in this area.
Tablet trifecta- The combination of mobility, larger screen size, and greater computing power makes tablets an ideal mobile device for accessing a wide range of training and educational content—from e-textbooks to Web-based courses to decision-support apps. Producers of eLearning who understand the devices’ potential—and limitations—will be able to create truly innovative, effective tablet-based learning experiences that wow and delight learners.
Improving a Safety Culture requires a set of change management processes to be employed to ensure that any significant change initiatives are rolled-out in a controlled and systematic manner.
A warm Friday in August and I am enjoying the privilege of visiting EPCOT at Walt Disney World in Florida. One of my favorite things to see is the "American Adventure." One person in our party has an electric convenience vehicle, ECV, so we enter through the special assistance lane to the back row of the auditorium.
Enforcement ... does that mean discipline? Wait … what is discipline? As I was growing up and in need of firm guidance, discipline was often kicked off when my papa told me, “You’re in a heap a’ trouble, boy.”