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Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Come along down to Learning Town


One of the early evangelists of E-Learning, Eliott Masie, has launched a Ning-based e-learning social network called Learning Town - A Village for Learning Professionals. It's free and vendor-neutral, so nobody is trying to push their products or services on you (too much: there's always the odd chancer).

At the time of posting, nearly 3000 people in the learning industry have signed up for the network - in 8 days. I think I'm justified in describing this as an internet phenomenon. We'll see in time whether it maintains this initial momentum or whether it will develop a classic "long tail" but if you're in the habit of contributing to the blogoshere or social networking sites, it is in my view a nicely centralised location to interact with you peers.

The site has a broad range of features including:
  • Personal Page
  • Blog Hosting
  • Forums
  • Discussions
  • Digital Media Content Hosting
  • Audio Player

[my profile page on Learning Town]

For me, one of the most stimulating areas of the site is the innocuously named "Groups" section. Groups provides members with a platform to share, debate, argue, and discuss a range of learning-related topics. I've detailed a list of the most active groups below - as you can see, it's a quite comprehensive range of the types of topics learning professionals encounter while carrying out their work.

Groups
  • Instructional Design: For learning professionals that want to discuss Instructional Design strategies and perhaps how to take a new approach in this area.
  • e-Learning Dialogues: For learning professionals that want to discuss e-Learning strategies, tips, and tools and perhaps how to take a new approach in this area.
  • Podcasting for Learning
  • Rapid Learning Design: A forum for learning professionals on creating learning content quickly and effectively.
  • Women and Learning: A forum for women learning professionals.
  • Mobile Learning Group: For members using/curious about using mobile devices for learning.
  • Neuroscience & Leadership: For members curious about neuroscience and it’s connection to learning and leadership.
  • Boomer Learning
  • 3D Virtual Worlds: This group focuses on learning in a virtual environment.
  • Performance Support Group Description: A forum for discussing strategies, tips, and tools that support "learning at the moment of need".
  • Learning Leaders: CLO, VP for Learning, Learning Managers Network Here
  • Evaluation and Metrics
  • Computer & IT Training
  • Learning Systems '08: A private GROUP for participants in Learning Systems '08.
  • Selling Learning: This is for professionals who are selling or marking learning products or services
  • Learning and Careers
  • What's it Cost?: This group is geared towards people interested in Intellectual Property and Training. Feel free to discuss!
  • Healthcare and Learning
  • Higher Ed & Learning: This is a group designed for colleagues in the Higher Education field to collaborate on learning at the Higher Education level.
  • Learning Standards: This group is designed for Learning Colleagues interested in learning and discussing more about AICC & SCORM
Come on down to Learning Town - you'll be glad you dropped by!

FOGRA: If there's any Irish Learning professionals out there that is interested in setting up a group on this site, or setting up a similar ideas exchange on a similar platform, let me know - I'm up for it.

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