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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