ASTD's Learning Circuits Express - 5 October issue

TrainingZone

ASTD’s Learning Circuits Express – 5 October issue

By TrainingZone

Learning Circuits Express is an information service provided by Learning Circuits, ASTD’s online magazine about e-learning (http://www.learningcircuits.org). Feel free to 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.

IN THIS ISSUE:
1. Web Education Commission Fields Testimony
2. Special Report: Paying for E-Learning
3. New E-Learning Glossary Debuts
4. Email Turns 30, Goes Postal, Gets Reality Check
5. Free Interactive Tools
6. IBSTPI Online Survey
7. ASTD Wants You!

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1. WEB EDUCATION COMMISSION FIELDS TESTIMONY

A congressional commission chartered to examine the Internet's growing presence in education is being swamped with advice as it nears a November deadline for reporting its findings.

The Web-based Education Commission, which began convening last February and is chaired by Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey (D-Nebraska), has the tall order of sorting through myriad developments in harnessing the Web for educational purposes and providing what Kerrey called a "road map" to guide policymakers. A series of hearings, including one in mid-September in Washington, has allowed interested parties--from education associations to government officials to technology developers--to offer their views.

Robin Willner, director of corporate community relations for IBM, told the panel at its September hearing that it must address more than technology issues to ensure that the Web improves education. "Technology is the easy part; good teaching is the real challenge," Willner told the 16-member commission, which includes members of Congress, education officials, and technology experts.

At the hearing, Senator Kerrey noted the fast-paced development of education technology as part of the problem the panel faces in formulating recommendations to Congress. "I see a lot going on in the private sector that's extremely exciting," he said, noting the recent U.S. Army initiative that earmarks $600 million over six years to purchase e-learning technologies. But he also voiced frustration over coming up with specific recommendations. "We're coming down the home stretch on this," he noted.

The Web Commission's final report will be covered in Learning Circuits. For more information on the commission and to view e-testimony, go to www.webcommission.org.

MORE NEWS: http://www.learningcircuits.org/oct2000(select NEWSBYTES)

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2. SPECIAL REPORT: PAYING FOR E-LEARNING

This month in a special Learning Circuits report, we explore the issues of paying for e-learning. In “Trend Watch: New Price Models of E-Learning,” Tom Barron clues you in to changing pricing models as vendors move from software licensing to service offerings. In “Packaged E-Learning: What You Are Buying,” Brandon Hall and Nancy Bartlett present a quick tool that can help you define some of the features, components, and issues to consider when buying off-the-shelf courses for wired learning.

GO TO: http://www.learningcircuits.org/oct2000

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3. NEW E-LEARNING GLOSSARY DEBUTS

E-learning’s hot, and everyone has something to say about it. But are we communicating in the same language? This month, we introduce a collection of e-terms and definitions to help you "speak" e-learning. It’s a work in progress, so we’ll move it to a permanent home on the Learning Circuits site and keep it updated for you. Have suggestions for listings to include or revise? Send an email to associate editor Eva Kaplan at [email protected].

GO TO: http://www.learningcircuits.org/oct2000(select ELEARNING 1.0)

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4. EMAIL TURNS 30, GOES POSTAL, GETS REALITY CHECK

Looking for information on email legislature, Internet appliances, or downloadable email software? This month’s @Work column shows you the way.

GO TO: http://www.learningcircuits.org/oct2000(select @WORK)

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5. FREE INTERACTIVE TOOLS

Here’s what’s brewing this week in the free interactive tool areas of Learning Circuits online magazine.
* VOTE THIS WEEK….What's the Net’s “killer app” for you ?
* QUIZ THE ANSWER GEEK….Where can I find design guidelines for Web-based training and Websites?
* ASTD JOB BANK….A free personalized search by keyword, job title, geography, and area of practice.
* TRY IT!….Free software trials, presentation resources, ROI calculators, and other online workplace tools.

GO TO: http://www.learningcircuits.org/oct2000

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6. IBSTPI ONLINE SURVEY

The International Board of Standards for Training Performance and Instruction has revised the original set of Training Manager competencies and matching performance statements and is seeking validation of its current draft from training managers around the world. If interested in offering feedback, go to the Website (www.ibstpi.org) and click on Training Manager Survey.

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7. ASTD WANTS YOU!

Learning Circuits offers special content for ASTD members, so grab your membership card and log on for Product Reviews, Web Sights, and Technical Training magazine archives. More good news: ASTD members also receive Training & Development magazine every month and have full online access to its must-read content (www.astd.org/virtual_community/td_magazine).

To access ASTD members-only areas on the Website, follow these log-in rules:
--Your USERNAME is your eight-digit ASTD Membership ID number.
--Your PASSWORD is your last name, with the first letter capitalized.

If you're not already a member, join us! Founded in 1944, ASTD is the world's premier professional association and leading resource on workplace learning and performance issues. Its membership includes more than 70,000 people who work in the workplace performance field in 100 countries worldwide.

MORE: http://www.learningcircuits.org (Click on the JOIN ASTD link under “Interact”)

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HELP DESK

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--OTHER ISSUES: Contact Learning Circuits editor Donna Abernathy at [email protected].