E P I C T H I N K I N G
Issue 42: May 2005
This month:
1. White paper:
Learning Objects
2. E-learning Interview: Professor Roy
Leitch
3a. Article: Trump University
3b. Article: Epic at G8 summit!
3c. Article: An Epic adventure
4. Book review:
Lessons in Learning, e-Learning, and Training : Perspectives and
Guidance for the Enlightened Trainer
5. Hall of Fame: Behaviourists
6. Epic Think Tank: Implementation
7. Jobs: See the latest Epic positions
8. Blended Learning workshops: New dates announced
WHITE PAPER
by Donald Clark, Epic.
In this brand new White Paper, Donald Clark, Epic, looks at the
raging debate between learning object theorists and practitioners.
Comedian Peter Kay describes his dad’s first encounter with
foreign food. ‘Garlic bread, sir?’ said the waiter.
‘Garlic (long pause)...bread?' replied his dad, who couldn’t
possibly imagine how these two ideas could be even remotely connected.
At the end of the meal he had the same problem with cheesecake,
'Cheese (long pause)...cake?! You’re joking aren’t you?'
Some have a similar problem with learning objects, 'Learning (long
pause)...objects?'. What has learning to do with objects?
Read more
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INTERVIEW
2. Professor Roy Leitch
At Epic, we love to hear the opinions and experiences
of influential figures within the learning industry. You may remember
we ran an interview with Jay Cross last month. This month, Professor
Roy Leitch of the Interactive University has generously answered
our questions. The questionnaire aims to get personal views, rather
than general thoughts on the state of the market and the questions
have been designed accordingly.
Q What's your INTEREST in learning/online learning?
I’m the founding CEO of Interactive University
that develops and distributes educational programmes on behalf
of the Scottish Universities and Colleges.
Q What interactive technology do you use and
have at HOME?
Not a lot, tend to leave technology at work.
Q What stands out as your MOST EFFECTIVE learning
experience?
Seeing students learn through the use of very early
interactive learning materials. I can trace the origins of Interactive
University from that experience, about 20 years ago.
Read the rest
of the interview
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ARTICLE
3a. Trump University
No, not me, but my namesake (Donald Trump's) new
e-learning venture, the Trump University. This from a man who
posted this message on the same site, “It’s a known
fact that I’m no technophile; I’m on record as a
being someone who has no use for e-mail.” Well, that’s
that cleared up. He obviously won’t be taking any of the
courses on his own online university.
The home page says it all – Trump’s
face looks you straight in the eye, inviting you to take courses
on Real Estate and Wealth Management. For a billionaire he sure
has a cheap hairdo. A badly designed collegiate logo (heraldic
shield with lion and chevrons) dons every page and the whole
thing looks as if it’s been thrown together as a school
web project. It's a hoot.
Read the rest of the article
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ARTICLE
3b. Epic at G8 summit!
By Donald Clark, Epic.
Barclays Bank organised a
Gala Dinner for HopeHIV, an AIDS charity in London. Epic produced
the awareness programme on AIDS for Barclays Africa.
This was also a chance to pose for photographs
with the Championship Trophy (we’ve already posed beside
the FA Cup, as we did lots of e-learning for the FA). It was
also a chance to hear Gordon Strachan give an after dinner
speech. ‘Gordon Strachan!’ I hear you say. Yes,
the diminutive Scot gave a 15 minute talk on leadership that
started with the words, “What makes a good leader? I
have no idea.” It quickly became clear that this opening
salvo wasn’t a joke – he really didn’t have
any idea. However, his stories about Alex Ferguson were astonishing.
Alex’s leadership style is a mix of psychological and
physical brutality. At several points I had to translate Gordon’s
brogue for the rest of our table.
The charity auction went well with £30,000
raised. Epic bid, and won, a place at the G8 summit! Here
we will boldly propose a solution to all of the world’s
problems - e-learning. We will also recommend that Alex Ferguson
be made the head of the World Bank (that should slow spending)
and that George Galloway gets Kofi Annan’s job at the
UN to fight off US domination.
Thanks to Barclays for a great night out and
supporting a worthy cause.
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ARTICLE
3c. An Epic Arts Adventure
For those of you that don’t know Brighton
holds the largest Arts Festival in England every May.
One unusual feature of the Festival is the Open Houses
where artists across the city throw open their doors each
weekend to the general public. Private gardens become
public tea shops as Brighton residents mingle and admire
the sculptures. This year as part of the Fringe Festival
Epic also became an Open House venue.
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BOOK
REVIEW
4. Lessons in Learning,
e-Learning, and Training : Perspectives and Guidance for
the Enlightened Trainer
by Roger Schank
Review by Donald Clark, Epic.
A new book from Roger Schank is always a welcome
sight in e-learning. He has a habit of cutting through the
garbage, speaking his mind and coming up with fresh ideas.
Generally regarded as ‘mad’ by his enemies and
‘genius’ by his admirers, he likes to adopt
contrary positions. Unfortunately, in his recent role as
Chief Learning Officer for the Trump University (yes, that’s
Donald Trump) and his weird home schooling initiative, he
may be showing signs of the onset of true madness.
I have seen Roger speak many times and on
one occasion he said that he had tried to write a book on
designing e-learning but had found it impossible. He felt
that the subject was huge and that many of the skills were
tacit, making capture difficult. This is a brave attempt.
Read
the rest of the review
HALL
OF FAME
5. Behaviourists
Behaviourism was a school of psychology that grew
from Pavlov’s basic, conditioned reflex theory through to
more sophisticated forms of experimental studies in animal and
human behaviour in learning. Edward Thorndike (1874-1949), the
American animal psychologist, developed the theory of ‘trial
and error’ learning. This he studied using animals in puzzle
boxes to show how learning improves with practice. John Watson
(1878-1958) built on Pavlov's ideas to maintain that the reflex
was the basic unit of behaviour.
But it was B.F. Skinner who established it as the
paradigmatic theory until the late 1950s. Its influence continued,
and continues to this day through the more sophisticated theories
of Albert Bandura and others. Skinner was keenly interested in
technology in education and many of the questions he posed are
entirely relevant to the e-learning we see today.
Next month we’ll look at a group of hugely
influential theorists loosely called the Humanists. These include
Moser, Illich, Rogers and Gardner.
Read more about Ivan Pavlov
Read more about B.F. Skinner
Read more about Bandura
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THINK TANK
6. Epic Think Tank Report - Implementation
This May, a collection of leading UK companies
came together at an Epic Think Tank dinner to discuss the implementation
of blended and e-learning projects. The organisations included
Tesco, Pfizer, Nationwide, BP, Alliance & Leicester, Wyeth,
Kwik-Fit, Telewest, Johnson Diversey and British Airways. There
was a great deal of honesty about their issues and as one delegate
said afterwards “it is good to hear how other organisations
are managing their implementations.”
The group reflected on what they would have liked
to have known when they started on their projects. Below are
their top tips for ensuring a smooth implementation.
Read
the rest of the report:
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JOBS!
7. Job vacancies
Epic is looking for interactive designers and
senior designers. Have you got what it takes?
Check
out the latest vacancies
BLENDED
LEARNING COURSE - BOOK NOW
8. New dates
Epic has announced further
dates for the Blended Learning workshops. 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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RETURN OF POST
If you have:
* a question to put to the Epic Thinking user base
* a response to any of the points raised here
* a suggestion for a topic you'd like to see covered
mail
us right now
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