online - Blogs - DPG Community2024-03-28T18:29:31Zhttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/blog/feed/tag/onlineBe a sponge with the Big #SpongeHangouthttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/blog/be-a-sponge-with-the-big-spongehangout2016-07-21T17:03:18.000Z2016-07-21T17:03:18.000ZAdy Howeshttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/members/AdyHowes<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2216954?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>This week has been the Big #SpongeHangout. Hosted by Sponge UK this has been a four-day event consisting of online resources and live sessions with an online learning focus. Don't worry if you've missed it all. <a href="http://community.dpgplc.co.uk/members/LucyBolton" target="_self">Lucy</a> and me have been on hand capturing the key points for you. Here's a summary of our write-ups.</p>
<p>Please do have a read through what takes your fancy. We're appreciate you joining the discussions by commenting under each.</p>
<p>I'd like to also take the opportunity to thank Sponge UK for organising a great week of development.</p>
<p></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://community.dpgplc.co.uk/learning-professionals/the-big-spongehangout-it-s-a-small-e-learning-world" style="font-size: 1.17em;">The BIG #SpongeHangout: It's a small e-learning world</a></li>
<li><a href="http://community.dpgplc.co.uk/learning-professionals/the-big-spongehangout-transformation-through-innovation-with-inte" style="font-size: 1.17em;">The Big #SpongeHangout - Transformation through innovation with interactive video</a></li>
<li><a href="http://community.dpgplc.co.uk/learning-professionals/the-big-spongehangout-online-induction" style="font-size: 1.17em;">The Big #SpongeHangout - Online Induction</a></li>
<li><a href="http://community.dpgplc.co.uk/learning-professionals/the-big-spongehangout-bringing-compliance-training-alive" style="font-size: 1.17em;">The Big #SpongeHangout – Bringing compliance training alive</a></li>
</ul>
</div>Keeping your children safe in a digital worldhttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/blog/keeping-your-children-safe-in-a-digital-world2016-07-15T08:54:16.000Z2016-07-15T08:54:16.000ZAdy Howeshttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/members/AdyHowes<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2216969?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>He was just eight years old when Mum and Dad decided to go away for the weekend and leave him in the house on his own.</p>
<blockquote>‘Do what you like whilst we’re away and have anyone you like around. We’re not leaving you a key so don’t bother locking the door. If you do go out, go anywhere you want with whoever you want. Trust everyone and come back when you like, if you like.’</blockquote>
<p><br />
What a load of nonsense. You’ll be pleased to hear this story is made up. There can’t possibly be a parent in their right mind that thinks this is right. But, whilst we all agree this made up scenario should never happen, the sad thing is in real life, amazingly it does. Not in the context of ‘in real life’, but in the context of digital and online.</p>
<p>I hear of this happening a lot. Often, it’s when Santa has just brought along an array of tablets, laptops and mobile devices for excited children. I see them all too often handed out with no thought to what and who could be accessed in the big wide world of the internet of things. When you think about it, potentially, it’s scarier than the real world.</p>
<p>But you see, there lies the point. It <em>is</em> the real world. There’s nothing virtual about this at all. Just like letting your loved one wander around the street, talking to whoever they like, whenever they like.  I don’t believe this blatant disregard happens intentionally. Who in their right mind would allow this to happen? I think it’s more likely the case of a lack of knowledge. Parents not knowing what they don’t know. Naivety.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-908" src="http://adyhowes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/piles-of-technology-shutterstock_278967893.jpg" alt="piles of technology shutterstock_278967893" width="1000" height="667" /></p>
<p>I’m hoping this blog goes someway to helping. Please share with other parents that may find this useful.</p>
<p>So what do you do? Do you listen to your inner older generation? The one that tells you it wasn’t like that when you were their age and that they should be building things out of twigs and leaves and stuff instead. Or do you listen to your other side? The one telling you that technology is a big part of the world now. Would we really put our kids at a disadvantage by not allowing them to develop digital competence whilst accessing knowledge, learning about new stuff as well as having fun? We <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLu-S8pSgJ8" target="_blank">need those digital skills</a> more than ever; of course all in moderation balanced alongside other useful things like eating, washing, talking, walking, exercise and fresh air.</p>
<p>Even with my reasonably robust technical background and digital skillset, it had me scratching my head as to what the solution was. Let no-one be embarrassed by not knowing. But please <em>do</em> be concerned as a parent if you choose not to take the time to find out what the solution could be.</p>
<p><a href="https://family.norton.com/web/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-909" src="http://adyhowes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Norton-Family-Parental-Control.jpg" alt="Norton-Family-Parental-Control" width="725" height="643" /></a></p>
<p>The solution is this. A product by Norton called <a href="https://family.norton.com/web/" target="_blank">Norton Family</a>. In my opinion, it is the most essential app by far for children. Top of the ranks towering higher than Minecraft and Google. An absolute must. According to <a href="https://family.norton.com/web/" target="_blank">Norton’s website</a>, the award winning software ‘offers an impressive range of parental controls and monitoring features for parents of today’s hyper-connected kids.’  The free service provides features including web supervision, time constraints, reports on what is being searched for, social network activity, personal information protection and much more all in real time. The premium version, a steal at just £29.99 a year, adds on many more features like multiple device protection, virus protection, cloud storage and identity protection to name a few. By the way, Norton are not paying me to tell you these things. I just feel the need to let you know.</p>
<p>As a parent, you have access to a web-based control panel available on your computer or mobile, allowing you to see activity on your child’s devices as well as set up the rules on what can and cannot be accessed and when. The simple interface is easy to use and <a href="https://twitter.com/adyhowes/status/753512645169410048" target="_blank">Norton’s support team</a> are a great help when you need a helping hand.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone wp-image-911" src="http://adyhowes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Internet-crime-shutterstock_177132158.jpg" alt="Internet crime shutterstock_177132158" width="493" height="390" /></p>
<p>It’s not the fault of the kids who fall foul to the ever growing scams, manipulative adverts and unscrupulous links out there. So I followed Norton's advice and use it to have open conversations about what is being accessed and why. If things are attempted to be accessed that shouldn’t be, you’re presented with opportunities to educate and advise on how to stay safe. Cyber bullying by text or social media? Perhaps this is the answer to nip that one in the bud too.</p>
<p>It’s not always about the bad stuff though. It’s quite enlightening to see what they’ve been searching for and looking at.  There are great conversations to be had about what they’ve learned and discovered.</p>
<p>By far, this is the app that I’d most recommend to any parent. It’s a must. But whatever we do, let’s not kid ourselves. This virtual world stuff isn’t virtual. It <em>is</em> the real world. Our role as parents is no different when it comes to protecting our loved ones online as it is offline. So let's get this right.</p>
<p>You should check it out. It’s called <a href="https://family.norton.com/web/" target="_blank">Norton Family and you can find it just here</a>.</p>
</div>Online Learning Evaluation Surveyhttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/blog/online-learning-evaluation-survey2016-03-24T13:35:38.000Z2016-03-24T13:35:38.000ZElena Eleftheriadouhttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/members/ElenaEleftheriadou<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2216829?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Hello everyone, I am currently researching the impact that online learning has on employees and organisations on behalf of a training company to enable them to implement new learning strategies. Can you please spend 10-15 minutes answering a short anonymous survey to help me with the research. I would really appreciate your feedback. Thank you</p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" href="https://lnkd.in/dUETnpv" target="_blank">https://lnkd.in/dUETnpv</a></p>
</div>Using Flipboard for professional developmenthttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/blog/using-flipboard-for-professional-development2016-03-16T17:21:38.000Z2016-03-16T17:21:38.000ZAdy Howeshttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/members/AdyHowes<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2216799?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>I've had a couple of questions come in this week that's prompted me to make this short video. One was asking me how to access DPG's free online 21st century magazines. The other was asking for my tips on how best to curate content to share with people in an organisation.</p>
<p>We use Flipboard in each of our zones. There's the 21st Century HR professional in the HR Zone, the 21st Century L&D professional in the L&D zone as well as the 21st Century leader in the Leadership zone. You can access these on the Flipboard website and there's a pretty neat free app for both IOS and Android devices. These magazines are designed to help you keep up with the very latest thinking by providing you with access to articles, vidoes, websites and resources. It's a great addition to your CPD.</p>
<p>Flipboard is also a great tool when it comes to sharing useful resources with others too. At no cost, you can setup your own online magazine, quickly curate content and share with others.</p>
<p>The video below helps you to get started.</p>
<p>I'd love to hear your comments below. How could you use Flipboard in your own organisation?</p>
<p></p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fw4xjaICWPg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
</div>Learning Now TV - August Programmehttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/blog/learning-now-tv-august2015-programme2015-08-25T10:13:35.000Z2015-08-25T10:13:35.000ZAdy Howeshttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/members/AdyHowes<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2216593?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span><span>This Thursday, from 7.45pm UK Time is the August broadcast of Learning Now TV, a global TV channel with content dedicated to Learning and Development. If you're not yet <a href="http://learningnow.tv/" target="_blank">signed up to Learning Now TV</a>, it's free to do so and you'll get details of how to access the live programme, details of future programmes and access to a library of on-demand previously broadcast episodes and segments.</span></span></p>
<p>This month the show is presented by <strong>Kim George</strong> and <strong>Lisa Minogue-White </strong>who bring us great L&D interviews, features and issues.  </p>
<p>There is an interview with <strong>Kate Rash</strong> of Getty Images about the importance of communicating information. We have a strong <strong>Learning Awards</strong> theme this month with winners <strong>Corrina Jorgensen</strong> of Afiniti, a joint interview with <strong>Fiona Chapman</strong> from Aintree University Hospital and <strong>Marie Rees</strong> from Unison and to finish <strong>Glen Butler</strong> from Tesco. It's well worth tuning for these to see what these award winning L&D teams are doing in their organisations. Perhaps this will give you some ideas for your own organisation.<br />
<br />
Also this month, we have the <strong>Learning Designers</strong> feature, spotlighting Simon Rupniak from Kineo, the ever popular <strong>Trainers Tips</strong> from <strong>Jon Kennard</strong> talking about Social Media tips for freelancers, and returning for a <strong>'Your Say</strong>' feature - <strong>Michelle Parry-Slater.</strong> <br />
<br />
No show would be complete of course without our intrepid overseas reporters and this month <strong>Helen Blunden</strong> joins us from the Australia Wool and Sheep Show showing us how Social Learning is everywhere and thriving across all industries. If you want to know about Meerkat and Periscope but are too afraid to ask then from the US <strong>Brent Schlenker</strong> takes us through the features and benefits of both applications.<br />
<br />
<strong>I'll be kicking off the live broadcast at 7:45pm when our Social Stream goes live! The Programme starts at 8:00pm</strong>. <strong>This is great CPD from the comfort of your own armchair!</strong></p>
<p>You can access the programme on laptop, tablet, smartphone (IOS or Android) or even a Smart TV.</p>
<p><span class="font-size-4"><a href="http://learningnow.tv/" target="_blank">To find out more details, head along and register at Learning Now TV by clicking here</a></span>. </p>
<p><span>If you encounter problems logging into the programme, </span></p>
<ul>
<li>email <a href="mailto:marco@learningnow.tv" target="_blank">marco@learningnow.tv</a></li>
<li><a href="mailto:marco@learningnow.tv" target="_blank"></a>DM @learningnowtv on Twitter or</li>
<li>text <a href="tel:%2B44%20%280%29%207456%20223324" value="+447456223324" target="_blank">+44 (0) 7456 223324</a> </li>
</ul>
<p>To register FREE for Learning</p>
</div>It's Time to Move: Digital Learning is Here at DPGhttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/blog/digital_learning_is_here2015-05-11T13:00:00.000Z2015-05-11T13:00:00.000ZAdy Howeshttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/members/AdyHowes<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2216497?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span class="font-size-3">Shopping, banking, listening to music, watching films, booking holidays, keeping in touch with friends, sharing photos, campaigns against political decisions, raising customer service complaints… The list goes on in the ways that digital has had an impact on the way we lead our lives.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Marketing, finance, customer service, IT, operations, HR and L&D have all shifted some of what they do to make use of new technology. But no doubt, there’s much more to do to embrace the tech that’s out there let alone the stuff that’s coming around the corner that we don’t even yet know about.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">There’s a massive buzz around the word “digital” in L&D right now. Whilst I’m not a huge fan of finding yet another word to tag onto the front of the word learning, there’s something about the word digital that gets me excited. It plays to my skills. It’s online as well as it is offline. It’s social as well as isolated. It’s mobile as well as static. Live or on demand. It’s a great word that seems to encompass everything.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Digital has been a feature of my career for many years. I’ve got myself involved in all manner of digital things. Video production, audio production, animation, online learning, live learning, <a href="http://www.learningnow.tv" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">on demand learning and broadcast learning</a> to name a few.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">So it makes total sense to me to embrace this whole world of digital in a brand new opportunity that has come my way. It is one that was just too good to miss. I’m delighted to let you know that from the beginning of July, I’ll be starting a new role as a Digital Learning Specialist. The role is here working for DPG PLC where I studied both my level 3 and level 5 CIPD qualifications. </span><span class="font-size-3">With us all needing to embrace the world of digital, where better to be than in an organisation that plays a huge part in developing people that are responsible for developing others?</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1357673?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="252" height="252" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1357673?profile=original"></a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">In many respects, it’s been an easy and straight forward decision to go for the role. On one hand, I love the job that I currently do, the people I work with and the organisation. I was certainly not looking actively to move on. But at the same time, my new role is perfectly aligned to what I do and what I aspire to do. It’s all very exciting and I’m like a coiled spring ready to get started.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">In the meantime, you’ll be able to see some of my digital work next week as DPG promote the great work that they do at next week’s CIPD event in London. </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Sadly, I’ll not be there physically, but I’ll certainly be following the digital footprints that they leave.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p></p></div>MyLearningWorxhttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/blog/mylearningworx2014-12-03T14:00:00.000Z2014-12-03T14:00:00.000ZAdy Howeshttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/members/AdyHowes<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2216336?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.learningnow.tv"><img class="size-full wp-image-506 alignright align-right" src="http://adyhowes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/LNTV-Logo-GREY-S.jpg" alt="LNTV-Logo-GREY-S" width="199" height="127" /></a></p>
<p>During the November 2014 broadcast of <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.learningnow.tv" target="_blank">Learning Now TV</a>, <a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/kategraham23" target="_blank">Kate Graham</a> joined <a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/colinsteed" target="_blank">Colin Steed</a> to talk about <a href="http://www.mylearningworx.com" target="_blank">www.mylearningworx.com/</a> which is described as the UK's first crowd-sourced hub for online learning. It's a powerful, cost effective resource that offers a whole library of courses and resources to develop yourself in and outside of work. It also allows users to turn their knowledge into online courses very easily which they can share with the world. In doing so, the courses that are created can be provided free to the users of <a href="http://www.mylearningworx.com" target="_blank">www.mylearningworx.com/</a> or sold to generate additional revenue.</p>
<p>I joined My Learning Worx almost straight after the programme to have a quick sneak peak. I was amazed by how many courses are on there spanning a whole variety of topics in and out of work. Kid in a sweet shop sprung to mind so I'll definitely be using that for some of my development going forward. Who knows, I might even have a stab at building a course on there too. Well worth checking out.</p>
<p>You can hear more from <a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/kategraham23" target="_blank">Kate Graham</a> on the November 2014 episode of <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.learningnow.tv" target="_blank">Learning Now TV</a> by visiting the past programme section and of you can of course see more about <a href="http://www.mylearningworx.com" target="_blank">www.mylearningworx.com/</a> on their website too.</p>
<p>But for now, here's a great little video clip that explains what it's all about. Enjoy</p>
<p></p>
<div class="SP_Video_Container"><iframe width="479" height="511" style="border: 1px solid #CCC; border-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 5px; max-width: 100%;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/BFt5BQMtH8c" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
</div>Delivering Engaging eLearning through Virtual Classrooms - Live from the CIPD L&D Show 2014https://community.dpgplc.co.uk/blog/delivering-engaging-elearning-through-virtual-classrooms-live2014-05-01T11:00:00.000Z2014-05-01T11:00:00.000ZAdy Howeshttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/members/AdyHowes<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2216177?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=340"></div><div><p><span class="font-size-4"><strong>CIPD Learning and Development Show</strong></span></p>
<p><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1357470?profile=RESIZE_320x320" class="align-right" width="299"></p>
<p>It’s Day 2 of the CIPD Learning and Development Show in Olympia London and there’s been some great sessions today. As I write this I’m sat in the session on delivering engaging eLearning through Virtual Classrooms.</p>
<p>Lisa Johnson from Barnardo’s talking about their story of introducing live learning. Lisa kicked off explaining that the delivery methods that they use in their L&D offering which includes Face to Face, eLearning, self-service, performance support and virtual classrooms.</p>
<p>“The adoption of this learning technology doesn’t mean that we have ditched traditional approaches” says Lisa. “It just means we’ve got wider options within our L&D toolkit and we can pick and mix the delivery methods based on the business need and content we need to deliver.”</p>
<p>So how did Barnardo’s implement this? They started to introduce this technology in 2005. Lisa goes on to say that there were five core stages in getting live online learning up and running.</p>
<ul>
<li><b>Identifying Use</b> – Lisa says that “..it’s important to understand what new technology is going to help you to achieve in your business. For us this was around immersing ourselves in the use of the technology as if we were a learner” says Lisa. They approached this by the trainers signing up for sessions with various suppliers as learners and then critiqued these afterwards. What was good? What did they like? What would they do differently? Each six weeks they met as a group and shared what they have learned by using this technology. They built a matrix that showed topics on the left and delivery methods along the top. From this they identified where they could potentially deliver some topics (or parts of some topics) online to support face to face learning.</li>
</ul>
<p></p>
<ul>
<li><b style="font-size: 13px;">Choose the right product</b> <span style="font-size: 13px;">– “We started to play about with a few free products and we played with a tool that we found our IT department were using. If you’re in the early stages of looking at this, talk to your IT department, because it may be that they have something they are already using” Lisa says. When Barnardo’s went through that process they settled on Webex. “The reason…”, said Lisa “…was that they were the leaders in the field.” It also integrates with Outlook, a feature that they particularly like. It also offered the ability to brand their site. “Our learners like to think that our products have been designed specifically for Barnardo’s” Lisa went on to say. They also liked the functionality it can offer, such as desktop sharing, whiteboards, online chat, uses a number of visual cues which you need in a virtual environment – such as emoticons and engagement indicators. “We also liked the fact that it included a recording and playback facility” said Lisa. “The learners can replay the experience as many times as they want.” Lisa also went on to say it’s also good for trainers to record themselves so that they can critique their own skills in virtual delivery.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul>
<li><b style="font-size: 13px;">Train the Trainers</b> <span style="font-size: 13px;">– The next stage in the cycle was to train the trainers. In research Lisa and team looked at, 78% L&D teams were using some sort of live online technology, however only 29% felt that they had the skills required to use it to its full potential. “In our experience it is absolutely essential to train you r trainers in the use of this technology. Even those that have years of classroom training experience have to make this transition. “It is different, your trainers need to understand how it works, they need to understand the benefit of using this”, says Lisa. “Our approach was to send our trainers on a course to learn these skills.” Lisa makes reference to the</span> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.learningandperformanceinstitute.com/colf.htm" style="font-size: 13px;">Certified Online Learning Facilitator</a> <span style="font-size: 13px;">(COLF) course currently run by the</span> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.learningandperformanceinstitute.com/" style="font-size: 13px;">Learning and Performance Institute</a><span style="font-size: 13px;">. Lisa then showed us a</span> <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYu_bGbZiiQ" style="font-size: 13px;">great video about a real life conference</a> <span style="font-size: 13px;">to demonstrate the real need to learn these skills. You can watch this video by clicking this link.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul>
<li><b style="font-size: 13px;">Playing</b> <span style="font-size: 13px;">– This stage was where the trainers, with their new found skills and the chosen product. “During the play stage we were able to experiment with different functionality, different numbers of learners and different interactions” Lisa explains. This helped the trainers get really comfortable with how to use live learning. “I’d hate to think we were expected to come straight out of training and be expected to use it straight away. You need that opportunity to consolidate what you’ve learned and practice using the technology” says Lisa.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul>
<li><b style="font-size: 13px;">Finding the Hook</b> <span style="font-size: 13px;">– was the next stage. They had identified the use, chosen the product, done some training and played with it. Lisa says “They were ready to rock!” Next was to find the hook that would get people interested to get them engaged in live learning. They set up an introduction to learning technology as part of the induction process. Included in this was a show around the Virtual Classroom and information on where to access online learning resources etc. It was a full introduction to learning technology tools in Barnardo’s. They made this part of the regular training for new starters. “Following the event, we made sure that each learner got an email which signposted them to other sessions that would be useful to them”. So with new starters sorted, the next question was; what about our existing employees? They created short, 15 minute sessions, for existing employees to show them the virtual classrooms. They gathered feedback from the groups and then shared that feedback with future groups to really get the message out there through peer to peer conversations. “If it’s engaging, they will come back for more”, says Lisa. “We made sure it was easy to access the Virtual Classroom, easy to access descriptions of the sessions and easy to book on. “We also created a catalogue of events for people to sign up to” says Lisa.</span></li>
</ul>
<p></p>
<p>In designing sessions, Lisa mentioned that they think a lot about how many should be in the group and how long the session should be. They tend to ensure sessions don’t last any more than one hour. Lisa went on to describe anything longer than that would be chunked up into separate sessions. For example, if you have content that takes a long time, you might run one session for an hour and then give people a practice sheet to go and try out their new skills before meeting back up for the next session. Learners can tap into all sessions or just the ones they need.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Some great advice here and a great process to follow when implementing live online learning into your organisations.</p>
<ol>
<li><b>Identify use</b></li>
<li><b>Choose the product</b> that best suits</li>
<li><b>Train your Trainers</b> the skills for live online learning</li>
<li><b>Play</b> with the technology and give your trainers the chance to do so</li>
<li><b>Find the hook</b> that will get people coming to and talking about your sessions</li>
</ol>
<p></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13px;">Lisa kicked off her presentation by saying that live online learning “…means we’ve got wider options within our L&D toolkit and we can pick and mix the delivery methods based on the business need and content we need to deliver.” It’s important, I believe, to choose the right method for the content and business objective.</span></p>
<p>You can find more about <a rel="nofollow" href="http://adyhowes.podbean.com/2014/03/11/why-is-online-learning-great-news-for-face-to-face-training/"> “Why Live Online Learning is good news for face to face training” in this podcast from DPG Student Ady Howes and DPG’s Mike Collins</a>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13px;">For more Tweets from me from the Learning and Development follow </span><a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/DPGplc" target="_blank" style="font-size: 13px;">@dpgplc</a><span style="font-size: 13px;"> on Twitter.</span></p>
<p>Tweet you there! See you there.</p>
<p>Ady</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p> </p></div>Implementing Blended e-Learning and Offline Strategies for Greater Impacthttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/blog/implementing-blended-e-learning-and-offline-strategies-for2014-04-28T09:30:00.000Z2014-04-28T09:30:00.000ZAdy Howeshttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/members/AdyHowes<div><p><span class="font-size-4"><strong>CIPD Learning and Development Show</strong></span></p>
<p><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1357522?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="299" class="align-right"></p>
<p><strong><span class="font-size-3">Implementing Blended e-Learning and Offline Strategies for Greater Impact </span></strong></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">Wednesday 30th April 09:30am at CIPD L&D Show 2014</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">My first session at the CIPD L&D Show is this Wednesday on Implementing Blended eLearning and Offline Strategies for Greater Impact. </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">Speakers include Tim Drewitt, Head of Online Learning for Vodafone as well as Alison Innes-Farquhar, Head of People at HC One.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13px;">With several new technologies introduced that have an impact on learning today and this trend set to escalate over coming years, there’s never been a better time to pick up tips to overcome the challenges of getting your employees to embrace new learning technologies. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13px;">But blending online learning to work hand in hand with our offline (workshop, classroom) learning to provide a seamless learning journey is key. I'm hoping to pick up some great advise in this session. You can follow my tweets <a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/DPGplc" target="_blank">@dpgplc</a> from this event on Wednesday.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13px;">But in the meantime, I'd love to hear what questions you have about blending eLearning and offline learning. Leave us your comments below...</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13px;">Thanks</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13px;">Ady</span></p>
<p></p></div>How can ONLINE learning add VALUE to Face to Face Learning?https://community.dpgplc.co.uk/blog/how-can-online-learning-add-value-to-face-to-face-learning2014-03-12T10:30:00.000Z2014-03-12T10:30:00.000ZAdy Howeshttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/members/AdyHowes<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2216153?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><strong><span style="color: #008000;" class="font-size-4">Online Learning versus Face to Face Learning</span></strong></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;" class="font-size-4"><span class="font-size-3">Would you rather listen to this article?  <a rel="nofollow" href="http://adyhowes.podbean.com/2014/03/11/why-is-online-learning-great-news-for-face-to-face-training/" target="_blank">You can do so by clicking here.</a></span></span><strong><span style="color: #008000;" class="font-size-4"><br /></span></strong></p>
<p></p>
<p>Online learning versus face to face learning is an ongoing debate that's been taking place for years.  Both seem to exist in organisations, but often in isolation and independently from each other.  It's kind of an us and them sort of feeling where on one side of the fence is ONLINE and on the other is OFFLINE.  They're not often the best of neighbours!</p>
<p>First of all I should point out that I LOVE face to face learning.  You can't beat the personal touch, the social aspects and the discussions that take place.  There is absolutely no replacement for Face to Face learning.  But at times, online learning offers a range of benefits, usually around COST and TIME.  And with more and more businesses taking advantage of and better tools to deliver <a rel="nofollow" href="http://community.dpgplc.co.uk/profiles/blogs/live-online-learning" target="_self">Live Online Learning</a>, the gap between on and offline has definitely narrowed. Online learning definitely has a place in our learning mix.  But that's the key.  It's part of the mix, not a replacement.<a rel="nofollow" href="http://community.dpgplc.co.uk/profiles/blogs/live-online-learning" target="_self"><br /></a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong><span class="font-size-4">What are the FEARS organisations have with ONLINE learning?</span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;" class="font-size-2">A few months back, I needed to pitch LIVE ONLINE LEARNING to some people in our business as a sensible approach to a challenge we were facing.  We had just over 100 people to train on a particular topic, spread nationally from Edinburgh to Plymouth and had just a four day window to do so.  There really wasn't another option.  Knowing what I know about live online learning, I couldn't really ignore this viable option.  Ahead of putting this forward, I started having some informal conversations to test the water and see what people thought.  I particularly focussed on the barriers and concerns that people had.  After all, this was kind of a sales pitch I was doing so I needed to understand what objections I would face.  There was a common theme in every conversation I had.  It was a FEAR that live online learning would be seen as a replacement for face to face learning.  For many reasons, that was certainly a perception that I wanted to quash straight away before it started.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong><span class="font-size-4">Why does ONLINE learning add value to Face to Face learning?</span></strong></span></p>
<p>I decided that I was going to reach out externally and get some external expertise on how best to help my organisation overcome these FEARS.  DPG's <a rel="nofollow" href="http://community.dpgplc.co.uk/profile/MikeCollins" target="_self">Mike Collins</a> kindly agreed to have a conversation with me on the subject and even more generously agreed for me to record the conversation, which I have since shared with some key people in our organisation.  It was a great conversation where we discussed all sorts of aspects of live online learning.  There was a particular snippet that was so powerful in communicating the message I wanted to share that not only emphasised that online learning should not be a replacement to face to face learning, but actually described how online learning actually adds value to face to face learning.</p>
<p>The result: I now have a level of awareness in our organisation that live online learning exists, it is a viable sensible option to use, but it should be used as part of a blended approach and not in isolation to other learning methods.</p>
<p></p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong><span class="font-size-4">Would you have a listen and let me know what you think?</span></strong></span></p>
<p>I did post the clip on here at the time, but it's been so popular I've recently added this onto my <a rel="nofollow" href="http://adyhowes.podbean.com/" target="_blank">podcast channel</a>.  It's just a five minute clip.</p>
<p>Would you mind having a listen to it and letting me know what you think?  You can listen in by clicking on the link below and clicking the play button</p>
<p>Here's the link: <span class="font-size-4"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://adyhowes.podbean.com/2014/03/11/why-is-online-learning-great-news-for-face-to-face-training/" target="_blank">Why is online learning good news for Face to Face Training?</a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p>Thanks loads</p>
<p>Ady</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong><span class="font-size-4"> </span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong><span class="font-size-4"> </span></strong></span></p>
<p></p>
</div>Voice Training - Why is it usefulhttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/blog/voice-training-why-is-it-useful2014-02-10T11:16:12.000Z2014-02-10T11:16:12.000ZAdy Howeshttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/members/AdyHowes<div><p>Hi All,</p>
<p></p>
<p>As a bit of fun, have you considered a small budget for voiceover training? I had purposely considered this to help me with my online learning delivery skills, but actually, it's been of massive benefit in my face to face delivery too.</p>
<p>So to save me typing too much (being lazy or some could argue creative!) I've recorded a three minute clip for you to explain more...</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1357601?profile=original" target="_blank">Ady Howes Voice Training Overview 10th Feb 2014</a></p>
<p>Let me know what you think</p>
<p>Ady</p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://undefined" target="_blank"> </a></p>
<p></p></div>Live Online Learninghttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/blog/live-online-learning2013-12-11T20:38:15.000Z2013-12-11T20:38:15.000ZAdy Howeshttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/members/AdyHowes<div><p>Evening All (or morning depending on what business you work in!)</p><p>I'd love the views of you good HR and HRD people on the subject of <strong>live online learning</strong>. </p><p>What's your views on it all?</p></div>Making the brave step towards learning technologyhttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/blog/making-the-brave-step-towards-learning-technology2013-11-28T09:30:00.000Z2013-11-28T09:30:00.000ZAdy Howeshttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/members/AdyHowes<div>Technology. How many of us have the privilege of being taught how to use some of this by our young children? I can't imagine many of themeven beginning to consider what was it like before the smart phone, the internet, social media, cloud computing and all that jazz. How many of us though can remember life before the telephone (showing age now!) yet here we are relying in it today like it has always been around?And the fact is the young ones don't even need to worry too much about life before this digital era. The fact is it's here to stay. We all know it even if some of us are still in denial!So what does that mean in the world of HRD and the traditional training approaches? How many professionals fear this new technology thinking that these computers will take over the world and write us off as no longer required? After all, the powers that be recognise the huge cost and time savings of using technology.Well, let me give you my take on this:Number 1: Face to face training will NEVER DIE! Period! It's here to stay. Some situations, some topics absolutely are best delivered face to face. Can you, for example, learn how to drive using a computer? Well yep, some of the theory definitely, but the actual practical aspects of driving er no! There is always a place for face to face.Number 2: Regardless of how training is delivered some HRD expertise is required in designing that to hit the mark. A HRD professional is fundamental in ensuring material in any form is engaging, relevant and effective whether it's on or offline.Number 3: Our society expects technology to be around. Schools, colleges and universities seem to be leading the way. How many of those have got fancy new smart boards compared to us in the business world still with our flip charts and pens? How much more time have we got before people coming into our face to face training in the business world feeling like they're stepping back in time because we haven't kept up?Number 4: We are pressed today, more than ever before, to deliver more, but in less time and with less cost? Surely technology has a place in helping us with those challenges.So is the trick here to continue burying our head in the sand stating that we don't get this technology, have any interest in using it kidding ourselves that we'll never need it anyway?Or is it time that we rise to the challenge, get to understand it, use it, and figure out how we can work with this stuff to be at the cutting edge of leaning provision.I'm even going to go as far as to say if we don't do the latter we're seriously going to be left behind.So what does that mean? How do we even begin to pick through how it all works, what we should look at and what skills we need to develop? After all, if people are leaning using technology, shouldn't we learn about how this impacts on the way we design, deliver and evaluate this content to ensure that we're ready to lead the way?I'm looking at live online learning at the moment as a serious consideration. Given the cost savings associated with a particular project, I simply can't see how it can be ignored. As a trainer I need to get myself ready for that. Whilst my face to face delivery experience and skills will be relevant to the online learning space, I'll be kidding myself if I believe I can move from an off to an online environment and expect it to be exactly the same. I need I learn about new and different ways of interacting with my online audience.So what's the first step in learning online live learning delivery skills? Personally I think a great step is to start from the beginning and become an online learner. I will find some time and opportunities to attend some live online sessions. There's loads out there for free. I will make this time, attend, listen, learn, watch, share, participate. I will evaluate them for myself. What did I like? What worked well? If I were leading that session would my approach be the same? How was the interaction in the session? Was it enough to keep me engaged or did I get bored? What would I do differently if I were running it? Let alone what system is being used, what are the best ones out there from a cost and usability perspective.It's just like observing a face to face training session and picking up tips from your fellow trainers but just online instead. I'll pick up many ideas that will help prepare me for the future of learning technology. And when I get started, I'llsoon realise it's not as bad, scary or threatening as perhaps some might have first thought. Oh and I'll no doubt learn new stuff too.My next steps. Well I've already begun this process. I've both attended and facilitated online live leaning sessions. I don't consider myself to be an expert, but I'm getting there! It's a continuous journey.My journey today continues with DPG's online learning event today at 12pm. You'll find details on this site. I'll be grabbing a coffee and taking some time to soak up and learn even more about online learning.Who's with me today?Sent from my iPhone not by carrier pigeon, fax or post!</div>Effective real time live online learninghttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/blog/effective-real-time-live-online-learning2012-06-01T04:59:42.000Z2012-06-01T04:59:42.000ZMike Collinshttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/members/MikeCollins<div><p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1357082?profile=original"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1357082?profile=original" width="370"></a></p>
<p>I was really pleased and proud to be asked by <a title="@Kategraham23" href="https://twitter.com/#!/kategraham23">@Kategraham23</a> to be part of the panel on the recent <a title="eLearning Network " href="http://www.elearningnetwork.org/">eLearning Network</a> webinar entitled <a title="Ten things you always wnated to know about live online learning but were afraid top ask!" href="http://www.elearningnetwork.org/events/effective-real-time-online-delivery">Ten things you always wanted to know about live online learning but were afraid to ask!</a></p>
<p>I was in illustrious company with <a title="@Viv_Cole" href="https://twitter.com/#!/viv_cole">@Viv_Cole</a> , <a title="@Philipgreen " href="https://twitter.com/#!/philipgreen">@Philipgreen</a> and <a title="@Brighttweet" href="https://twitter.com/#!/BrightTweet">@Brighttweet</a> making up the other panel members, and whilst I don't consider myself to be an expert I was looking forward to sharing my own adventures into live online learning.</p>
<p>There were over 40 questions submitted and these were then whittled down to 10, 3 of these questions were given to me and I wanted to share the notes I made on my journey back to Manchester after the session.</p>
<p><strong><em>Q1) What virtual classroom technology would you recommend?</em></strong></p>
<p align="left">Following Learning Technologies in 2008 I set up a free 2 weeks trial of WebEx and designed a session that used as much of the functionality as possible and made it as interactive as I could and delivered it to my then leadership team. We agreed a permanent licence and since then have used it to facilitate focus groups, team meetings, workshops, systems training both on and off shore and we are now transforming a selection of traditional courses & workshops in to online format. Last year we did some more thorough research and looked at</p>
<ul>
<li>iLinc</li>
<li>Adobe Connect - which we'd had a free trial of in the past</li>
<li>Dim Dim</li>
<li>Ivocalize</li>
<li>Eluminate</li>
<li>MS Live meeting</li>
</ul>
<p align="left">Whilst some had unique differences (including cost & licence model) we have continued to use WebEx has our preferred supplier due to its simplicity and it gives us everything we need. We use Meeting Centre the most and you could argue that this isn't a specialist VC tool, it certainly isn't as advanced as Adobe Connect the tool we were using. However it is flexible and cost effective and we have combined it with other tools such as Genesis teleconferencing to add more flexibility and we can record the sessions. I've put the tool through its paces and really pushed what can be achieved, some things have worked really well and others haven't but we've learned along the way and shared our successes. Everyone will have a personal preference based on their experience so there is no right or wrong answer just go with what works for you.</p>
<p align="left">The last thing to mention that was a contributing factor is our existing technology, different operating systems, versions of IE and Flash did have a bearing on what tools worked effectively.</p>
<p align="left"><em><strong>Q2) What factors influence the success & failure of a Virtual Classroom in terms of effectiveness?</strong></em></p>
<ul>
<li>Totally dependent on the size of the class, content and length of the session. Background noise (distractions) and experience of facilitator and class attendees.</li>
<li>Design of the session, structure & visuals important - limit amount of text on screen & use images where possible</li>
<li>Engagement & interactivity e.g broadcast / push info then polls, emoticons /chat only - we also use two facilitators where possible to ensure questions aren't missed</li>
<li>If smaller group then the aim is to base it on conversation and use the whiteboards, chat, voice, polls, sharing applications and where appropriate allow individuals to take ownership of presenters computer</li>
<li>Breakout areas can be used effectively in the right situation for group work</li>
<li>Peoples attitudes and willingness / confidence in using the technology - spend time at the beginning for 5 minutes acclimatising ppl to the tools - make it fun & human - be yourself , yes there are differences to online facilitation to face to face but being yourself is important and just like in face to face situations things won't always go to plan - don't panic it happens.</li>
<li>Before session starts I like to allow drawing and take screen shots of the finished screen, we play wacky races, do text twisters and know your geography (group size permitting)</li>
<li>Practice and rehearse</li>
<li>Set expectations and recognise different levels of experience</li>
<li>Pre-work / reading & positioning - if possible relate to things that have been done or in the process of being done then it's more relevant and not just theory</li>
<li>Follow up - we record most sessions and more recently we personalise the chats (so they can provide evidence of participation) and add all resources to a shared online community to continue to the conversations and do follow ups via line managers.</li>
<li>Keep it simple - Failure = trying to do too much or using tools for the sake of it, 1 way traffic (facilitator talking)</li>
<li>Use polls to gauge feedback and use both multiple choice and freetext</li>
</ul>
<p align="left"><em><strong>Q3) How effective is Virtual Classroom compared to face to face training?</strong></em></p>
<p align="left">Wow, big question this.....in my humble opinion and experience they can be more effective than face to face training - but it of course depends on situation and content. Some benefits we've found:</p>
<ul>
<li>Big difference for us is reduction in travel and the ability to connect and use SME expertise</li>
<li>Just in time performance support - can organise and get people together much quicker</li>
<li>Much easier than organising a face to face event - reduces time away from role, enables us to be more proactive and specific in terms of learners.</li>
<li>Some learners who aren't has confident in f2f situations are more comfortable using chat and engage more in online learning events</li>
<li>Obviously not appropriate to use where human interaction is needed e.g role plays or behavioural stuff where reactions are critical.</li>
<li>System training imo opinion is much better online - why you would organise a face to face session to cover a new system when you can facilitate , share system, use show me try me and record the session all online to use as reference</li>
<li>It's a cultural shift for many, my journey started 4 years ago and I'm still learning and trying new things. There is STILL a huge barrier to overcome and that is peoples' perception that VC is just not an effective means of learning. This goes for L&D professionals as well as learners...</li>
<li>Maybe the two shouldn't be exclusive or indeed compared and instead be used to compliment one another where ever possible to make the learning process more effective</li>
</ul>
<p>That's it, they were my 3 questions and there were also some great points made by the other members of the panel. You can catch up on other tips via <a title="@elearningnetwk" href="https://twitter.com/#!/elearningnetwk">@elearningnetwk</a>. I really enjoyed the session and would like to thank <a title="@Kategraham23" href="https://twitter.com/#!/kategraham23">@kategraham23</a> and the <a title="@elearningnetwk" href="https://twitter.com/#!/elearningnetwk">@elearningnetwk</a> team for the opportunity to be involved.</p>
<p><em>I hope you've found this useful and I'd love to hear where you are on your own journey towards using live online learning?</em></p>
<p><em>How would you answer those questions yourself?</em></p></div>WARNING socialnetWORK AHEADhttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/blog/6624286:BlogPost:196822012-04-06T10:51:21.000Z2012-04-06T10:51:21.000ZMike Collinshttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/members/MikeCollins<div><p align="left"><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1357078?profile=original"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1357078?profile=original" width="225"></a></p>
<p align="left"></p>
<p align="left">I’ve been reading with interest recent articles and blog posts proclaiming that social practices won’t work in the enterprise. Posts such as ‘<a href="http://andynathan.net/2011/11/you-ready-to-fail-at-social-networking/">You ready to fail at social networking</a>’ and the excellent post from Jeevan Joshi <a href="http://www.learningcafe.com.au/2012/03/2011/11/4-reasons-why-employee-social-learning-will-fail-at-work/">’4 reasons why employee social learning will fail at work</a>‘, have really made me think and reflect on the hype surrounding social business and more specifically the rise of social networks / communities within the work environment.</p>
<p align="left">Whilst I agree with everything in respect of the challenges of adopting social tools, I disagree with the notion that social won’t work in the enterprise. My own experiences, which began in 2008 after attending the Learning Technologies Conference, have shown me that it is HARD work, even painful at times but the journey is a deeply rewarding one. I am not finished on that journey, personally and professionally, I never will be but I believe that it’s possible to bring social behaviours and a cultural change to the workplace.</p>
<p align="left">So what have I learned along the way that I can share with you?</p>
<p align="left"><strong>1) </strong> <strong>Focus on what the tools</strong> <strong>will provide</strong> <strong>you in terms of value</strong></p>
<p align="left">Rather than the tool itself, look to solve a problem or make things easier for people so it answers the WIIFM upfront and people are clear this isn’t a fad or the latest ‘jump on the bandwagon’ activity. Be sincere that this will change the way that you communicate and work together. Don’t just drop social tools in because it’s cool or because you think you should because other people are doing it.</p>
<p align="left"><strong>2) </strong> <strong>Platform / application selection is important</strong></p>
<p align="left">Yes I know I said focus on the value and not the tools but you can’t bring any sort of platform or system in to the enterprise without it meeting security requirements or satisfying information security policy. I can speak from experience and have learned the hard way. I do appreciate this depends on the nature of your organisation but you must provide an environment where people can share and discuss work without worrying about security or employee data being in a public space. You cannot do this on your own so if you haven’t already engaged with IT, Information Security, HR, Risk, your Intranet teams and anyone else with a vested interest in social tools, pick up the phone tomorrow and have a conversation. You never know these conversations might be happening already and you’re just not part of them yet.</p>
<p align="left">3) <strong>Be clear on what you want to achieve</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Do you want to provide a social space for your people?</li>
<li>Are you looking to provide more effective ways for people to work together?</li>
<li>Are you looking to improve methods of communication?</li>
<li>Do you want to develop a more open culture of sharing?</li>
<li>Do you want to easily identify & reward expertise across your business?</li>
<li>Is it for better and more efficient knowledge & document management?</li>
</ul>
<p align="left">Is it all of the above and more? Whatever ‘IT’ is, don’t set out to achieve and deliver social learning. It won’t work, what’s more, if you go out with the “we’re going to deliver social learning” line, I’d re-think your approach entirely.</p>
<p align="left">Social learning is a bi-product of ALL of the above; it isn’t something you can deliver. It’s something that will happen when you create the right conditions and it will happen over time. It won’t be something that is visible or even tangible, I believe it’s a cultural shift that will emerge in ways those traditional approaches to evaluation and measurement won’t come close to. It’s something that is deeper than transactional tasks, it’s what happens at work every day and has helped me put in to context the <a href="http://www.learningcafe.com.au/2012/03/2012/03/70-20-10-approach-is-it-new-is-it-different-this-time-learningcafe-theme-of-the-month/">70/20/10 framework</a> better than anything else.</p>
<p align="left">4) <strong>Be prepared for setbacks, challenges and old school mentalities</strong></p>
<p align="left">Just because you ‘get it’ and have a social account or two and are tech savvy doesn’t mean that other people will be in the same space. Be prepared, be prepared for setbacks and challenges but more importantly be prepared for people. People, who are set in their ways, people who, no matter how much value you can demonstrate, will push back. People WILL put obstacles in place either physical or mental barriers to the approaches you’re looking to adopt. Do NOT be disheartened and give up, instead understand that you are on a journey and that you need to take everyone on the journey with you, for some the journey will take longer than for others. Peter Senge said it best with the line “People don’t resist change, they resist changing themselves”. How right he was, however people can and do change, just keep demonstrating how much more engaging work can be and stick to what you believe.</p>
<p align="left">5) <strong>Role model the right behaviours</strong></p>
<p align="left">This one is debatable in terms of most important, but I believe this is <strong><em>THE</em></strong> most important point of all. Regardless of tools or platforms, setbacks or challenges keep demonstrating the behaviours that you believe make social practices so important that your organisation can’t do without them. If you have tools already in place then use them, demonstrate how and why openness, transparency and trust is key. Demonstrate the power of openly sharing information and knowledge to others, even if it seemingly falls on deaf ears. Make sure you have a <a title="community management strategy" href="http://www.feverbee.com/2011/06/difficult-community-management.html" target="_blank">community management strategy</a>, even a small presence makes all the difference when getting others to adopt new tools and working practices.</p>
<p align="left">If you don’t have the network tools within work then use <a href="https://twitter.com/">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/">LinkedIn</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/">Google +,</a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/login.php">Facebook</a> or any number of sharing tools like <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/mikecollins007">Diigo</a> or <a href="http://delicious.com/">Del.cio.us</a> to share resources and information with your colleagues. Why not start a <a href="http://www.scoop.it/">Scoop.it Magazine</a>, there is a fantastic article here on curation by <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/burrough">@burrough</a> on <a href="http://clearlylearning.wordpress.com/2012/02/28/ld-need-to-get-on-the-curation-bandwagon-heres-why/">why L&D need to get on the curation bandwagon</a> . The point is be creative, be brave and invite your colleagues to groups or circles or harass them in to following you and share information that they might find interesting. Look at this as a form of coaching as if people don’t see these behaviours anywhere else then how are they ever going to adopt them and start to role model these behaviours themselves. One of the challenges that you may face is the access to these tools within the workplace therefore it immediately becomes something done ‘outside’ of work and in personal time. This approach therefore may need some positioning but look to discuss what you’re doing and how you’re doing it at every opportunity – even at times if it feels like you are the lone voice and sound like a broken record. Celebrate any successes with your colleagues, breakthroughs will come, usually at a time when you least expect it from people you don’t expect it from.</p>
<p align="left">So in conclusion, next time you read posts that state social will not work in business; appreciate them for what they are. They are useful reminders that help us recognise the challenges and things that we need to overcome first, before we evolve the way we work. I firmly believe that regardless of your business and present culture, social tools WILL work and networks will PREVAIL….you just have to work at them.</p>
<p align="left"><em>Can you share anything that may help others on their journey to the ‘impossible’?</em></p></div>