Join Me at ASTD Techknowledge #ASTDTK13

TKLOGONext week I’ll be attending ASTD’s TechKnowledge Conference in San Jose, and I’m honored to be speaking at a few sessions.  Here’s a quick summary of the sessions I’ll be participating in. Hopefully I’ll see some of you there.

If you’re unable to join us in San Jose, I’ll also be posting resources that I share or recommend for each session I’m participating in on my blog.

Twitter 101 for Learning Professionals
Wednesday January 30th
10:45 to 12:00 OR
1:15 to 2:30

Using social media as a tool for learning is a fast-growing trend. One of the most popular social media tools used for learning is micro-blogging, the most popular of which is Twitter. Twitter is an excellent tool to use for both personal and professional growth, and more and more organizations are harnessing it’s power as part of learning programs.And with that, many learning professionals are encountering the same challenge: How can I use Twitter in my learning programs if I don’t even know how to use Twitter myself?Have you not yet used Twitter? Have you joined, but are struggling to understand the platform’s value? Then this is the session for you!In this hands-on session, we will explain what Twitter is, walk through the steps to set up an effective twitter profile, define much of the technical Twitter terminology, and share examples of how learning professionals are using the platform.This will be a hands-on session during which participants will actively complete the tasks reviewed. Attendees will either set up a new Twitter account or fine-tune their existing profile during the session, and will actively use it to participate in the session.

What is Tin Can and Why Should I Care?
Thursday January 31st
10:45 – 11:45

You’ve probably heard something about Tin Can, also known as “the next generation of SCORM.” The Tin Can Application Programming Interface (API) enables the tracking of a new world of learning experiences (online and offline). A wide range of systems can now securely communicate with a simple vocabulary that captures this stream of activities.If you know little or nothing about Tin Can, this session is for you.The Tin Can API has the potential to shift the way organizations look at learning, and in turn, the way we track and evaluate learning. It’s something that all learning and performance professionals should be aware of. The problem is, much of the discussions pertaining to Tin Can tend to be technical in nature.In this session, we’ll be stripping out jargon surrounding this new technology and engaging in a discussion to explore how Tin Can will impact our world. We’ll be exploring simple questions, such as:What exactly is Tin Can?Does Tin Can affect my LMS?I’m an instructional designer; how will Tin Can change what I do every day?I’m a training manager; how does Tin Can affect my organization’s learning strategy?How does Tin Can fit in with an organization’s performance culture? Join Kevin Thorn and I in an open discussion on these questions and more, and leave with a better understanding of how Tin Can may affect the work you do every day.

Curation: Beyond the Buzzword
Friday February 1st
9:45 to 10:45

“Curation” is a term that is becoming more and more common in the learning industry. Unfortunately, many learning professionals do not understand what it is, let alone how to leverage it for their organizations. And yet it is a critical future competency for those in the field.During this session we will define curation, including the various types and levels of curation that exists (including aggregation, filtering, elevation, mash or match-ups, and timelines). We will share examples of each to demonstrate the value that curation adds to learning programs, as well as techniques that will help you use it in your own organization.

TK Chat: 21st Century Skills
Wednesday January 30th
4:30 to 5:15

Using an informal mix of interview and conversation, a series of topical discussions will take place on the Expo floor (inside front door to the right) to give you a chance to connect with both experts and peers and challenge your thinking and knowledge on the latest trends in technology-based learning. I’ll be joining a panel of experts in a discussion about skills that are needed in today’s changing world.