Learning Light
Second Floor, Gladstone Building,
1 St James Row, Sheffield, S1 2EU
Tel +44 (0)114 223 2442; Web www.learninglight.com
12th March 2007
Learning Light illuminates Silicon Valley
Learning Light (LL), a non-profit organisation seeking to establish
itself as a Centre of Excellence in the use of learning technologies in
the workplace, has begun providing its members with monthly business
intelligence reports from Silicon Valley. The reports are written by
the California-based e-learning guru, Jay Cross.
In the latest 'Letter from Silicon Valley', Cross speculates on
applying e-learning technology in support of strategic transformation.
The full report is available exclusively for Learning Light members.
Cross writes: "Eight years ago, when I coined the term, everyone
thought of 'e-learning' as a less expensive and less cumbersome
alternative to training. Proposals described the benefits of
eliminating travel expenses, cutting time away from the job, shifting
to instructor-free self-study, and closing the IT skills gap.
"It's time to think bigger. Let's explore how e-learning technology
might be repurposed in support of strategic transformation."
According to Cross, appreciative inquiry (AI) challenges people to
answer the question, 'What would our organisation look like if it were
designed in every way possible to maximise the qualities of the
positive core and enable the accelerated realisation of our dreams?'
"My ideal organisation would live and breathe the AI philosophy, not
solely espouse it during a campaign for self-renewal," writes Cross.
"The spirit of AI would pervade every nook and cranny of the
organisation.
"AI would make our values and beliefs transparent: available for
sharing with customers and partners. Interviews would continuously
generate inspirational stories.
"Everyone we touch could be involved in helping us become what we
should be. Many previously formal procedures can be eliminated when
everyone on board understands 'the big picture'.
"Our AI would play a leading role in recruiting talent, orientating new
hires, maintaining top-notch customer service, and positioning the firm
in its markets."
In Cross' view, distance learning technology enables far-flung
organisations to conduct the discovery phase of AI remotely, via
interviews.
People use the positive stories from the interviews as springboards to
their dreams. Stories are shared; patterns emerge.
Then the group turns to design. Destiny means maintaining the momentum
for change.
"The time has come to assess whether the live version of AI is as
effective as the electronic form," Cross writes. "AI may prove most
effective as a blend of virtual and real.
"I suspect we will discover many more organisational processes that
benefit from e-learning support. It's not just about learning any
more."
For further details of AI, along with Jay Cross' 'Letter from Silicon
Valley', contact Learning Light at
www.learninglight.com or
call 0114 201 5703.
end
Notes for Editors
About Appreciative Inquiry (AI)
AI comprises four steps:
Discovery
What gives life? (The best of what is)
Appreciating
Dream
What might be? (What is the world calling for?)
Envisioning Results
Design
What should be the ideal?
Co-constructing
Destiny
How to empower, learn & adjust?
Sustaining
The AI process begins with choosing an affirmative topic, discovering
what gives the organisation life; dreaming what could be; designing
what the ideal might be, and destiny: keeping it alive.
About Learning Light Ltd
Learning Light is a non-profit organisation that builds relationships
between learning technology researchers, suppliers, buyers and learners
providing learner-centric information to encourage the growth of
learning technologies. By sharing comprehensive research, highlighting
successes and failures, Learning Light helps to promote the learning
technologies community.
Learning Light provides bespoke and individual services to help both
buyers and suppliers of learning technologies (e-Learning). Its current
services include:
Research Services
Providing access to expert insights, advice and guidance built on
indepth research. Helping organisations to effectively implement
learning technologies (e-Learning) and integrate them within their
workflow processes.
Membership Services
Partnering with leading thinkers in the industry and providing a
network for all interested in the field to share information,
knowledge, insight, experience and expertise, through utilising online
community tools, networking events, conferences and guru seminars.
Professional Services
Our highly experienced team offers organisations access to range of
competitively priced consultancy services supporting buyers with the
effective implementation of their learning technology (e-Learning)
requirements. And, for suppliers, helping to provide a range of
services to assist market awareness and generate growth.
In addition, Learning Light provides a comprehensive Professional
Development programme to help Learning & Development professionals
understand the significance of learning technologies in the workplace
today and how to effectively implement them within the workflow
processes of their organisation.
Sheffield-based Learning Light is supported by Yorkshire Forward, the
regional development agency for Yorkshire, and the Humber and Objective
1 South Yorkshire.
Further information from:
Mark
Pittaway/ Kay Simpson, Learning Light, 0114 201 5703
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 01727 860405
www.learninglight.com
