Learning & Performance Tools SIG SITE

by David Amdur

New tools for training and performance are released almost constantly these days—how can we keep up? The Learning and Performance Tools SIG is a forum for sharing new discoveries, or expertise with more established tools.

Program agendas won’t be set more than a month in advance, so we can be responsive to the newest developments. The format is flexible, but presentations will be short so we can tap the expertise that attendees bring.

The ‘Tools SIG’ began under the aegis of PACT (Professional Association of Computer Training). Brandy Favilla, PACT Vice President and Community Engagement Manager at Globe Education Network, found an excellent room for us, equipped with a state-of-the-art Smartboard, generously provided by Minnesota School of Business in Richfield (just off 494 & 35W). When Kristin Ford, President of ASTD-TCC, heard about the SIG, she suggested that our chapter become a co-sponsor. And so, the newest SIG on the block became the only one that can claim two parents.

Baby Steps

The Kick-Off meeting in April featured Jane Neumiller-Bustad showing free online course hosting services, and Troy Peterson demonstrating Nibipedia, his web-based video annotation and social learning platform. He also showed us his iPad!

At the May meeting, we had the opportunity to learn experientially while helping a very worthy cause. Beth Scudder, E-learning Coordinator for HealTorture, a supplier of training to service providers for survivors of torture, wanted guidance in choosing a new Learning Management System (LMS). Tim Gustafson did a masterful job facilitating us in analyzing this client’s needs, uncovering key features of LMS solutions, and developing steps for a Request for Proposal process. We gained valuable insights into process as well as content.

Walking the Walk

We don’t just talk about new tools—we try’em out, too. We’re piloting an online collaboration and knowledge sharing tool, called SAP StreamWork, that Rich Hoeg from Honeywell featured in his presentation at PACT in March. He used it to connect scientists all over the world. Recently we've migrated to a site with greater functionality. It includes wikis, blogs, videos, RSS feeds & other pages. All are invited join the Site and contribute to the dialog at: http://grou.ps/lptsig.

We are also using a free online collaborative note-taking and backchannel commentary tool: TodaysMeet.com. Notes and resources from meetings will be posted on a PB Works wiki page, so topic information can be extended and refined. All of these ‘crowdsource’ tools require a critical mass to function optimally, so YOUR participation will make all the difference!

Last Step (so far)

The last meeting of this season focused on Learning 2.0 Tools. We explored what key functionalities can improve performance through knowledge sharing and collaboration, and what types of software offer these functionalities.