Today, I took the design of Learning 2011 on a field trip to New York City. Three fascinating stops and design elements that will influence the design for Learning 2011:
I spent a half hour at a Starbucks on Broadway and 51st Street, designing a high powered element for our event, with Jon Kopp, one of the leading experts in the world on the role of social media within corporations. Since Jon must be at a meeting on the other coast during Learning 2011, we are building a series of 2 Minute Social Innovation Videos.
For example, I will ask Jon to talk about why organizations are turning to Infographics as an alternative to describe complex data and processes. Jon, who is the head of Digital for Ketchum Worldwide, will go into a studio to produce a punchy, short and shareable video on topics such as "Inforgraphics for Learning".
I will embed these in the various keynote segments and we will provide them to all participants as viral "Teachable Minutes" for use in your own organizations. Jon and I started a brainstorm of topics that he would produce - with examples from leading organizations around the world. 30 minutes later, Jon was off to another meeting and I spend some time at Starbucks building these into the 6 keynote sessions at Learning 2011.
Another design conversation just happened at the Blue Fin restaurant in Times Square, where I met with Sharon Kaliouby, from Enterprise Ireland. They are one of 40 groups that are sending delegations to Learning 2011. I wanted to explore the best ways in which her delegates - who represent a range of companies and government agencies in Ireland, all focused on creating new models of learning for the workplace, could get the most out of Learning 2011.
In addiiton, I wanted to better understand some of the Learning Innovations that the Irish Government is now funding, in particular their emphasis on widespread Knowledge Management and content development. Ireland has a rich history in the learning arena - where many of the major eLearning companies were first started - and brings a unique perspective with their love of storytelling, design and global engagement for translation. The Irish perspective is another element that I want to have in my head as we design the keynotes and conversations at Learning 2011.
Finally, I stopped at the Circle in the Square Theater, where Godspell is opening for previews tonight. As an investor, I was fascinated to see the prep parallels as they got the final technology, content and presentation elements tweaked for the first public performance this evening. After 40 years, Godspell is coming back to Broadway - and it gave me some great ideas that we can incorporate into the Opening and other sessions at Learning 2011 - that starts in just 26 days.