More questions (and no answers) to come.
Please help me out here. I don’t think the light is quite ON.
Each is unique.
If only I had paid an atom of interest at physics, I would have seen the covert message.
Apply as required.
#resistlist
I’ll be adding as and when.
I’ve just created my latest blog using Adobe Voice.
It’s called ‘Boyancy’ and you can find it here. It’s also available on Soundcloud.
Enjoy!
One of the trends that appears to have gained traction in recent months is Learning Analytics (LA). It has heavily featured in conferences right across the world, most recently at DevLearn.
Now I know LA strikes fear and loathing in some of you, but like it or not, it does appear to be here to stay.
Wikipedia defines analytics as ‘the discovery and communication of meaningful patterns in data.’
Data.
Technology has made data ubiquitous and, if Edward Snowden is right, more open than we had perhaps estimated. Data and the rights to privacy can be argued back and forth, but I do believe in the sharing of data for the social good.
One example of this is with Smart Cities.
For those not familiar, Smart Cities harness smart technology and data to tackle issues ranging from the economic to environmental. I live quite close to one – Milton Keynes.
Here’s an example of how they are using tech and data.
Energy systems for smarter cities
What the video shows you is consumer becoming a producer of data and then actively surrendering that data for the greater good. But they go beyond that. They go on to co-create by changing their behaviour. They call it Consumer to Prosumer, a top-down/bottom-up approach.
So, if people are comfortable doing this within cities or communities, why shouldn’t organisations be any different?
I get the trust, culture, WIIFM, Big Brother thing, but in the same way that we might relinquish control of our data for the social good, why wouldn’t we back in the workplace? Would opening data create conversation, create innovation and ideas, enable behaviour changes for the better? Would it enable co-creation within your organization? Isn’t this what xAPI and AI are there to assist with?
This leads me to Professor Everett Rogers and his theories documented in his wonderful work, ‘Diffusions of Innovation’. Aspects around ‘Properties of Innovation’ and ‘Adopter Types’ may provide some clues as to the ‘whys’ and ‘why nots’ of Big Data.
Here’s my retrospective VLOG that explores this.
I just wonder if Smart Cities will become a benchmark for more openness in data-sharing within other areas of our lives. Could it influence what and how we learn in our schools, our communities, our workplace?
Will 2016 be the year of ‘Smart Learning’?
Yep you read that right, so let’s keep this brief.
I’m currently participating in several MOOCs, one of which is “How to Create an Outstanding MOOC” hosted by HT2. We are currently on Week 2 of a five-week programme which includes the opportunity to design and develop one’s very own MOOC using the Curatr platform. (Still time to come and join us)
As found with some MOOCs, the experience has moved into different spaces. Last night, the conversation was hosted on Google Hangouts by MOOC ‘wranglers’ Craig Taylor, Martin Couzins and Sam Burrough. I like to call them ‘el tridente’.
Before I go any further, I have a confession to make.
I’ve only used Hangouts a coupe of times before, and despite its technical hiccups, I think it’s a great way to connect. I should use it more often when the opportunity arises.
But here’s my second confession. It makes me feel exposed.
Blogging and tweeting are safe. I can air my thoughts without fear. You, the consumer, make your choice. But there’s something NOW about Hangouts. Stupid thing to say I know, but there’s no real ‘Save/Edit Draft’. Does Hangout scare you? Sure does for me, but life is not always about A>B>Live.
Anyway, Willy Wonka.
I’m sure you are all familiar with the man, the story. Here’s a quick recap based on the musical.
Wonka is a mishmash-diddlyumptious.
He’s a Brand and Community Manager. He’s a spokesperson, a relationship builder. He lets the winners explore, meet others unlike themselves, make sense of it all….make mistakes. Without giving too much away, the Curatr MOOC talks about pointing the way, about flexibility, about ‘swinging’ and ‘dragging’ people. That got your attention didn’t it.
For me and my early steps into this field, designing and delivering a MOOC feels like being Wonka. And so I return to the MOOC…..
As the crazy man said: “The suspense is terrible…I hope it’ll last.”
Last week on #LDInsight Tweetchat(Fridays, 8am BST), the following question was posed.
Who could we be talking to that we aren’t at present?
Here was my response.
Now perhaps Peer Observation was probably not the right terminology, but my comment did resonate with some people, including respected colleagues Michelle Parry-Slater (@MiPS1608) and Jo Stephenson (@Jostepho).
Within my most recent organisation, my experiences of observation were either provoked by an HR process (e.g. appraisal/performance management), change (e.g. imminent restructures), or a combination of both. It strikes me now that we just sat and waited for these triggers. We weren’t agile, we weren’t really benchmarking ourselves sufficiently and possibly against the wrong things. Frankly, I feel we got a little lazy.
Your practice (and perhaps definition) of observation might well be different within your workplace. In this social age, we actively ‘observe’ our external peers through conferences, blogs, Meetups, Tweetups etc, but are we missing out on some useful CPD by partnering with an organisation and periodically observing each other’s day-to-day environment and practices?
Yep, the idea of external observation scares the heck out of me too, and I know it’s not easy, but how much value would both parties gain from spending time (and little budget) with each other, especially if your industries and/or sectors are at polar opposites?
So anyway, I’ve decided to put this to the test.
I plan to approach some individuals and organisations over the next few weeks…. speak to other LnDers, Developers, Architects, Marketeers, Product Managers. I have no idea what to expect (neither do they), but I’m confident it will be time and (little) money well spent.
Finally, in the spirit of recent hybrid hashtagging trends, I will today launch this campaign (of one) under the HT of #PeerWatch.
Would love you to join me on this.
John is old school. I say this because he’s not over-reliant on technology when it comes to creating and analysing structures. Don’t be worried by this…before I bought my current home, John spotted a defect on my conservatory that no other surveyor did. He saved me a few quid in the process.
John has just returned from a two-year gig in India. Now, when most of your friends come back from a lengthy outing abroad, you expect lots of media and tales. John is no exception, but when he came round, opened his laptop and launched PowerPoint, I knew this was going to be front row with popcorn. What John presented was a wonderful and illustrative narrative that was as absorbing as the biscuits we were dunking in our teas. John speaks with great technicality, and even though I can’t keep up with him, I love it.
Passion. Pride.
Anyway, slide 263 showed the early stages of one of his building creations, a roof at ground level against a backdrop of steel columns. “Trusstastic!” you scream. However, what is interesting is that his team are also chucking in the pipework, ducts, cabling etc at ground level before lifting onto the steel supports.
Roof. Done.
What this now does is provide protection, a shelter that allows you to repeat the process with subsequent floors. Each floor then becomes a shelter in itself allowing work to continue below, but it also serves as a support in allowing work to continue above.
There’s something Kanban about this approach. I don’t know what makes me say that, but it’s just…different.
Funny that we talk about agility, collaboration, bottom up, top down, scaffolding (yep you saw that coming), but are we still operating within old and tired techniques in LnD? A roof is there to protect, to frame and support. It has as much importance, if not more, as your foundations. You can still function with a shelter over your head.
Is it time for you to build again, from the roof up?
After 25 years, I’ve reached a very significant point in my professional life.
When I started as a Support Solutions Consultant (yep, even in the 80s we talked like that), I would not have envisaged my job path as a programmer, ELT, the bits in-between, and finally into learning.
Learning is my career. It’s what I’m about.
But more importantly, I’ve realised that the common thread throughout my professional (and personal) life is to make a difference and to enable, whether that’s directly or indirectly. It has always felt good.
I have a wonderful opportunity to step away from the corporate world for a little bit – away from the politics and monthly password renewal. I’m going to take the opportunity whilst I can. I don’t have much money, but I have two pension plans. One is currently six years old, the other is three (just kidding Social Services).
It’s a huge risk, but one I will look back on proudly for attempting.
And where will this temporary road of peace and tranquility lead to? Right now I’m not 110% sure, but I have a solid timetable of activities for the next three months. You’ll see me down B&Q alot.
To those of you who remain within Corporate World, I wish you continued success in your career.
It is your career, right?
Let’s keep in touch x
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