In this issue:

1. Three Tips for Working Smarter in 2012
2. Course Series Spotlight: DISC Personality Tendencies
3. Blended Learning Resources
4. Last Call! Discount Deadline for Align 2012

Dean Pichee, the President and CEO here at BizLibrary, issues a standing challenge to everyone in the organization. He wants to know, “Are you smarter every Friday?” Think about this simple challenge. If every person in the organization is a little smarter on Friday, what does that incremental, step-by-step move towards being a little smarter each week do for the organization? Quite a lot –here’s how.

First – when the most senior leadership in an organization asks everyone to be a little smarter at the end of each week, the culture of the organization gets nudged a little towards learning as a core value that is – in fact – valued and openly discussed. So – the first big step towards “smarter on Friday” is to get senior leadership to commit to the same thing AND share newly acquired knowledge.

Second – you need tools. It’s much easier to get the technology tools in place and used when the senior leaders in an organization openly use and endorse social learning. Here at BizLibrary, we are using something we call “Community” – a social learning and collaboration resource within our LMS. While we’d love to talk to you about Community, the tools you choose will be largely irrelevant if your senior leaders do not embrace them and – even more importantly – use them. (click here "Social Learning - Three Suggestions for Making Effective Use of Social Learning Tools") As for choices, you have three categories of tools or products from which you can choose:

1. Web-based free tools (like Yammer, Huddle) – while the price is right, and the functionality might be good, web-based tools come with some limitations. For instance, these tools might be difficult to pull within your internal learning environment, and it’s hard to link participation to other learning resources.
2. Build your own – while this option might be tempting, it can be expensive and unless your develop team work with or builds learning management systems or collaboration tools, the effective coding and application architecture can be challenging.
3. Third-party vendors – there are more vendors entering this space by the day. The trick is to find one that understands your needs, your market space and can deliver effective tools within the limitations of your budget.

Third – once you’ve gotten your culture moving the right direction (with a big push from leadership), and you’ve gotten the tools in place, the next major step to take in actually getting a little smarter every Friday is to get employees engaged in actually learning new things AND sharing what they learn.

Often times, steps 1 and 3 are the most critical and most challenging. If you’re lucky enough to have senior leadership really engaged, the employees will follow. But it is not a “one off” sort of event. Getting smarter each week takes effort, effective tools, time and persistence.

What is it that makes people different? In this courses series you'll recognize how you and the people you interact with everyday are different. In this series you'll learn:

• The Four Types of Behavior Tendencies
• How to Recognize the Types in Others
• How to Apply this Knowledge
• How to Improve Personal Productivity

Click here to download the DISC Questionnaire

 

This course series from Producer Partner, ej4, includes: DISC Introduction DISC Questionnaire DISC Style: High D DISC Style: High I DISC Style: High S DISC Style: High C

Blended Learning is a combination of activities, including online learning, classroom instruction or other training modalities to help develop new knowledge and skills and transfer it to the workplace. Blended learning is a sound learning strategy with decades of practice. Instructors have always blended training techniques into an overall learning strategy. With tools like web conferencing, social networks, and learning platforms available, organizations are no longer strictly bound to the traditional classroom training model of having everyone sit in the same geographic space. We can do the same thing in a virtual classrooms and online communities. Therefore, combining various methodologies such as instructor lectures, workbook assignments, independent reading, and small group discussions - and making use of virtual classroom tools - the overall learning strategy is strengthened.

One way of combing methodologies to maximize learning is to use an e-learning approach to provide the fundamental concepts for students and then later bring the students together for in-class exercises and to discuss advanced concepts. This approach utilizes the strengths of both methodologies - basic concepts are delivered to the students in a self-paced, anytime, anywhere and consistent manner while group exercises and advanced topics that benefit from face-to-face or real-time, virtual interactions are conducted in an in-class environment. The “lecture” has already been delivered via e-learning and the students are now ready to put that knowledge to practice. Classroom time can now be used to discuss and refine ideas, work on case studies, hold small group simulations and discussions. The effectiveness of in-class time is maximized.

Blended Learning Resources from SkillSoft SkillSoft's Blended Learning Resources serve as enhancements to SkillSoft's existing business courses and each includes: Set of PowerPoint slides presenting the core instructional content on the key learning objectives in each course Tools and activities for the presenter/facilitator including practice, reflection and discussion questions For selected courses, a detailed User Guide to assist managers on how to leverage the tools and facilitated activities Available within the course, these tools help managers present, engage and reinforce course subject matter and align learning with the needs of their departments and teams. * These resources are not only applicable for a physical classroom/in-person meeting environment, but they can also be used very easily in a virtual meeting setting. They’re short and to the point – with questions to help generate discussion. Click here to access a list of  the current courses with Blended Learning Resources

JANUARY 31ST is the deadline to take advantage of the early bird discount to attend Align, BizLibrary’s Annual Client and Partner Conference, in St. Louis, MO, September 18-20th.

Align is all about networking with peers in HR and Training that  work in small and mid-sized organizations like yours, as well as, learning best practices about maximizing training effectiveness and business impact. Eve Ash, CEO of Seven Dimensions and Keynote Speaker at Align 2011, said, “ An event like Align is very special it provides a whole lot of learning opportunities for people that are already learning experts. Align takes them to a higher level, to become enthused and to implement things afterwards that are really going to make a difference in their organizations.” If you haven't already, take a look at the program and schedule from Align 2011 here. The Align 2012 breakout session schedule will be available in late February. The entire Conference has been approved for CE credit for HR Professionals through HRCI. We’re very excited about the presenter submissions we’ve received so far. Interested in presenting? We’re accepting presentation submissions until Jan. 31st. Submit online here.