Epic - blended learning and knowledge solutions

Ever noticed how the ~6 year in a decade marks a cultural and popular shift? 1956 - Bill Haley's Rock Around the Clock heralds the new year at number 1, while containerised shipping revolutionises freight. 1966; the Beatles blew modern popular music away with Revolver as the National Organisation for Women (NOW) was formed. In 1976, punks emerged and probably spat on prog-rock posters produced on the new ink-jet printer. In 1986, Chicago house proved the forerunner to the late '80s dance scene while Fuji introduced the first disposable camera. 1996 saw the peak of the Cool Britannia movement amid the hype of the world's first talking map for the visually impaired. What will 2006 bring musically and technically?

We expect that 2006, more than any other year, will see the learner become paramount in the design of e-learning programmes. Individual learning styles are ignored all too often when it comes to training strategy and the forthcoming launch of the Epic learner-centric design White paper will seek to raise the profile of this issue.

We also expect that bandwidth will continue to broaden, allowing content rich programmes to be accessed through the internet and increasingly on mobile devices. Why don't you come and visit us on stand 62 at Learning Technologies on January 25th and 26th when we will be demonstrating some of our recent mobile learning programmes delivered on PDA. See what these latest innovations can offer your organisation's learning strategy. Furthermore, in the wake of our takeover last Summer by Huveaux plc, we have undergone a rebrand. At the show, we will be unveiling our new look and feel and discussing our improved service offering. In addition to a streamlined consulting service, which builds on our partners in learning stance and aims to improve and sustain performance excellence we will be offering an implementation service so that you can really make the most of your e-learning.

If you can make it to the show and you would like a ticket, please contact us through marketing@epic.co.uk. If you are unable to attend but would like further information about mobile learning, blogs or our new services, contact us using the same address.

CONSULTANT'S CORNER

E-learning has suffered in the past from a failed implementation strategy - knowing how to encourage your learners to adopt e-learning and more importantly, to champion the medium, is every bit as important as selecting the right supplier and gathering all the requirements. If you want to make sure that your next e-learning programme works properly, is applied to the appropriate business need and gets the required take up and you have 8 spare minutes why not give us your opinions through this confidential e-learning questionnaire? Help us to help you.

WHITE PAPER

Of what relevance are blogs to learning? In this new White Paper, Donald Clark (also a blogger at http://donaldclarkplanb.blogspot.com/), looks at the paradigm shift towards informal learning, blogs in business and blogs in learning (both formal and informal). Although blogs can be part of the formal learning landscape, they largely exist in the now massive world of informal learning, along with wikis, podcasting, feeds and other Web 2.0 and Learning 2.0 phenomena.

SHOW REPORT

The BETT show took place at Olympia from the 11th to 14th January. I attended on Thursday 12th and I have to report that it was one of the most intense exhibitions I have ever attended.

BETT is a feverishly busy show with a real sense of an old-fashioned costermongers market. It is a melting pot where some of the biggest international names in publishing and technology vie for elbowroom with wild-eyed one-man bands. At most shows you can steer clear of the attentions of the exhibitors if you are in a hurry, but not here - there are too many people for whom the show is vital to their survival and that can make for a stimulating but extremely full-on experience. After all, unless someone grabs you firmly by the elbow and squints at your badge, how do they know that you are not a head teacher with a bundle of e-learning credits burning a hole in your pocket?

BOOK REVIEW

Authors: David Kleine and Dan Burstein
Publisher: CDS Books (2005)
Review by Donald Clark, Epic

Want to know more about this now famous four letter word? Then check out Donald Clark's review of the book that covers politics, business and media blogs through interviews with many of the world's most famous bloggers and commentators.

JOBS

6. Job vacancies

Among other roles, Epic is looking for Sales Executives. Do you have what it takes?

Check out the latest vacancies

BLENDED LEARNING COURSE - BOOK NOW

7. Next workshop: 8 February 2006

Learn how to develop an Effective Blended Learning Programme. This unique course from Epic, centred around a practical, hands-on workshop, gives a step-by-step methodology for designing effective blended programmes, and tools to help with the decision-making process.

Click here for full course content and booking

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E P I C T H I N K I N G

Issue 49: January 2006 - pre-Learning Technologies issue

INTRODUCTION