ASTD's Learning Circuits Express - December 7, 2000

TrainingZone

ASTD’s Learning Circuits Express – December 7, 2000

By TrainingZone

Learning Circuits Express is an information service provided by Learning Circuits, ASTD’s online magazine about e-learning (http://www.learningcircuits.org). Forward this newsletter to friends, co-workers, and colleagues to share the latest in e-learning news, trends, and community. Scroll to the end of this message for FREE subscription information.

CONTENTS
1. Predictions for the (True) Millennium
2. An Intro to Metadata Tagging
3. Providers Announce New International Alliances
4. What is XML, and What Does it Mean for WBT?
5. Product Reviews: Office 2000 E-Learning
6. A Look Back at 2000

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////

1. PREDICTIONS FOR THE (TRUE) MILLENNIUM

Ed-tech practitioner and self-proclaimed heretic Patti Shank offers an e-learning reality check for 2001. Here are her predictions, in a nutshell:
1: It's not about e.
2: It's not about distance, either.
3: Bandwidth will increase; convergence is moving along.
4: Our authoring tools will support us, not vice versa.
5: One size fits one; courses will be data-driven.
6: We'll be more in charge.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////

2. AN INTRO TO METADATA TAGGING

Companies can solve a wide range of business problems using courses developed for the Internet. As firms move their training and knowledge management initiatives to the Web, though, instructors no longer control the delivery of material. So content must stand on its own. However, regardless of the time or expense put into creating advanced training simulations, movies, and games, the content is useless unless it can be searched and indexed easily. This is especially true as the volume and types of learning content increase.

Enter metadata tagging. And according to Harvi Singh, MindLever's chief learning technologist, what the Dewey Decimal Classification system is to books, metadata tagging is to e-learning.

MORE: http://www.learningcircuits.org (select Tech Tools)

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////

3. PROVIDERS ANNOUNCE NEW INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCES

Partnership announcements by three leading e-learning providers with overseas companies offers fresh evidence of the growth of e-learning in international markets.

MORE: http://www.learningcircuits.org (select Newsbytes)

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////

4. WHAT IS XML, AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR WBT?

According to Brian Maschhoff, vice president of technology at AdvanceOnline, XML will soon be the standard for how computer systems exchange information, and all e-learning products will eventually incorporate the language.

MORE: http://www.learningcircuits.org (select Answer Geek)

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////

5. PRODUCT REVIEWS: OFFICE 2000 E-LEARNING

Are you looking for Office 2000 e-learning courses? Here's the lowdown on NETg's offering.

CHECK IT OUT: http://www.learningcircuits.org (select Product Reviews)

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////

6. A LOOK BACK AT 2000

What a year it was for the wired workplace. We made it through the Y2K scare, then scurried on to portal mania, e-learning standards, the Digital Divide debate, and online privacy, among other issues. Here's a retro look at the much-ballyhooed Year 2000.

MORE: http://www.learningcircuits.org (select @Work)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NEW E-LEARNING KNOWLEDGE PLUS PROGRAM

Expand your knowledge and expertise in the rapidly growing field of e-learning through ASTD's E-Learning Knowledge Plus program. On top of classic membership benefits, you'll receive Training Media Review Online and Newsletter and the ASTD Distance Learning Yearbook. For more information, call ASTD Customer Care, 1.800.628.2783 (international 703.683.8100). Or, select Join ASTD Now on the LC Website.

JOIN: http://www.learningcircuits.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HELP DESK

--FREE SUBSCRIPTION: Sign up for LC Express on our Website (www.learningcircuits.org).

--EMAIL ADDRESS CHANGE: Cancel your old subscription (see CANCELLATION below). Then, subscribe with your new email address (see FREE SUBSCRIPTION above).

-CANCELLATION: Send an email to LCExpress-request@lists.astd.org. In the body of the message type the word unsubscribe. (Note: Leave the subject line blank.)

--Please take a moment to tell us what you think of LC Express. Email your feedback and suggestions to LCExpress@astd.org (subject line: feedback).