Mind Map - What works for me

Ever wondered why it is so difficult to make connections when you are working on large complex solutions with interconnected elements? Because many of us build silos inadvertently between logically independent thoughts or elements as we work through them over a period. These silos blind us to the interconnections that may either improve the solution or shorten the time to get there. A wise soul once introduced me to mind-map, a tool that helps me break the silos of thought. For those that have not heard about Mind-Map - here is some information available on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map.

Recently, I've been working on putting together a set of standards and processes for creating learning content. That is a fairly complex task and I gravitated naturally to using a mind-map to capture my thoughts. This is my first installment post about it. 

Here is a list of things I did/do while working on mind maps. And they work for me every time I use mind maps.

1. I use a paper to draft my mind-map. I erase, rethink, redo parts until they make sense to me.

2. I use the mind map as I build on it. I let the mind map help me get a larger picture, and break the silos between parts of the whole idea.

3. Coloring the nodules helps me identify and mark related ones across branches. Moreover, I love coloring! It is meditative to me.

4. Recreating the mind map using a digital tool, such as MindMeister, helps me collaborate with colleagues and also validate it as I cast it on a digital platform from my paper version. Nope, I do not consider this as a rework and I never discount my first draft on paper. Beginning my mind map on a paper has always made me feel more passionate and real about it.

5. I try to quieten my mind before I resume my work. I build on my mind maps over a few days instead of pressing myself to complete it in 2 hours. However, I set a deadline to bring the map to a logical shape.

Multi Modal Learning

Howard Gardner recently published a note about his Multiple Intelligences. He recommends that his theory should not be read in the context of learning styles. It is however clear that we all have these intelligences but in varying degrees. Hence, the inference is that - when a learning program or material is created, it should take all intelligences into account and try to make the best use of instructional strategies to mix modalities to deliver a balanced learning diet. 

I learnt a lot about this in my recent work. It has been a great learning since the platform itself is iPad based. Its fun, engaging, and very refreshing to see programs emerging to use the full potential of the medium. I've seen a bunch of simulations, podcasts, parables (interactive stories), interactive videos and more. The common thread is interactivity. The team is focussed on building as much interactivity as possible in each modality to make learning a rewarding experience. And, each learning program uses a mix of podcasts, videos, interactive stories to set the context; simulations, and interactive ebooks deliver the content; serious games and formal assessments check the retention levels.

It will be interesting to now watch how learners adopt these programs. I'm looking forward to the analytics report to reveal some pattern.

Difficulties in learning through Podcasts

I have been listening to a lot of podcasts these days. There are podcasts that are mere entertainers and a few others, educative. However I found the following factors playing a critical role in making Podcast an effective learning medium.

1. Voice: Not all experts have a great voice to listen to and not all voiceover artists can pronounce technical words the right way or sound natually knowledgeable!

2. Time: Any educational podcast that runs for more than 8 minutes (average) starts to sound boring (my observation, and I don't want to debate on this).

3. Continuity: The experts who do a good job really don't find time to complete their series. Most of the podcast series hang right in the middle of some part of an episode for want of time!

4. Takers: I'm still not too sure if the learners would find the podcast interesting unless I get some feedback from them. So choosing the right set of audience for the podcasts is a very important factor.

Race to use podcast for training

I read a report on Bersin & Associates on how organizantions have started using Podcasts for training. Here is a gist of what I read in that article.
1. Karen O’Leonard, a principal analyst with Bersin & Associates, says that companies in the US are using podcasts to train their sales forces.
2. Podcasts are used to provide regular updates and company news to workforces and customers.
3. Podcasts are also used as supplements to online courses.
4. Employees in companies that have adopted Podcasting have expressed positive feedback about the intiative.
5. Leonard says that the podcasts should be kept within 15 to 20 minutes and also provide an online help for people to download and listen to the content.

Visit the following link to read the complete report. - courtesey, Bersin & Associates news letter.
http://www.elabs2.com/functions/message_view.html?mid=29281&mlid=73&siteid=15988&uid=568149cdf2

Podcasts to improve communication skills

I consider podcasts to be a really effective medium for learning when it comes to improving communication skills. I listened to ESLpod episodes and prescribed it to a few others who had genuine difficulty in expressing their thoughts. I received fabulous feedback from them.

The hunger to improve communication skills is incredibly high, especially in the rural Indian youth. I get to see so many of them lately. Most of them suffer from constipation of words. But all of them beam with enthusiasm when asked to deliver a talk before a crowd.

I have been experimenting on creating some simple podcasts on communication skills in the last few weeks. The series has been a hit and people have been posting messages asking for more on the podcast site. I think podcast is the right medium to deliver content that requires learners to listen.

I'm back

I just could not pardon myself for not being regular in posting my thoughts on this blog. I have been far from being orderly these days. However, this is my attempt to bring that enthusiasm back in me. I have added one more parameter to my PQI defect chart (will talk about that sometime). I shall blog at least once in two days. That's my promise.
Catch ya

Creating a video cast

Hah! I found a new way to convert presentations into Pod-runnable presentations. I did this using a slightly complex method. Neverthless, you will find it interesting and useful.

Here are the steps to do that.
1. Export your slides as jpeg files.
2. Import them inside Movie Maker, one slide after the other.
3. Add voice narration to each slide in your own voice. Use the Narrate Timeline tool.
4. Export the movie as a WMV.
5. Convert the WMV file into MPEG using any of the free video-to-ipod converter software.

Very easy. I did that with the pictures I took during my vacation!

Is podcasting a good medium for learning?

It has been a very long time now that I blogged. Well, I have a lot of wrong reasons for that :-). These days I've been into podcasting. I have registered for a personal podcasting station with switch pod. Uploaded a couple of episodes as well.
Now that has really made me think of podcasting as a serious medium to deliver learning content. Especially when I know that most of those employed in my organization use iPods or simple mp3 players.
Many of us in my organization travel. When I say travel, they do close to two to three hours of travel every day! Now that is a lot of time. If we can tap that time to get some relevant content delivered right up to their eardrums, I would call it e-learning evangelism.
I've been asking myself this question; is podcasting a good medium to deliver learning content? Why not? Afterall, listening to FM radio programs is becoming a fad in the country I live. So audio medium cannot be branded as obsolete!
However, the success factor is in what we deliver, how we deliver and in what quantity we deliver. I've been studying the possibilities of unleashing the potential that podcasting has in it as a learning medium. I will try to document my findings here in the next few posts.