With organizations spending so much money on training their people (and let's face it, that money is going to many of us), how can we ensure that knowledge  gained isn't knowledge lost? How do we get the participants to actually apply what they've learned? This Art Kohn article is an excellent read, as it speaks to boosting both retention and application.

When soldiers in the Vietnam War started frequently assassinating their superior officers, the US Army quickly learned it had to change its preferred style of leadership, command and control. The disturbing practice had become so common, it even earned a nickname, "fragging."  From this dark time in the Army's history to today, where emotional intelligence and informed decision making is valued, the army has really evolved in how it leads its people. This article is an interesting read on leadership, including the Army's focus on training, education, and experience.

Today marks the start of Employee Learning Week (December 7-11, 2015).  You can help promote it in the following ways:

• Encourage employees to attend a course or program that will enhance their skills
• Hold an education fair or “lunch and learn” during the week to remind employees about training opportunities
• Send an email to employees each day of the week with a new learning tip
• Involve the CEO and senior executives in recognizing the value learning brings to the organization
• Submit a proclamation request to government officials within your community, city, or region to highlight your Employee Learning Week events and activities

We'd love to hear what you are doing to promote Employee Learning Week.  Send us your ideas for a chance to win an Amazon Fire, ATD books, among other great prizes.

A Blast from the Discovery Past

We've Gotta Stop Meeting Like This!

A Blast from the Discovery Past

Creativity from Chaos

A New Kind of Gathering for Business

Submitted by Barbara Markoff
October 1993

Imagine a long rectangular room with only chairs around the perimeter.  Attached on one long wall is plain poster paper and in the middle of the room is a small table covered with notepaper, markers and tape.

A meeting has been called and soon everyone files in and takes a seat.  Often people are feeling a bit nervous about the lack of structure or skeptical about whether this is going to be worth anyone’s time.  The leader of the organization welcomes everyone, states why this event is occurring and encourages broad participation.  Absent is any statement about expected outcomes.  Then the facilitator moves into the center of the room and gives the instructions that are to shape the next one to four days.

We are talking about a new meeting methodology called “Open Space.”  It is an alternative to the typical meeting or conference for which the agenda has been painstakingly laid out, often months in advance.  With “Open Space,” the actual agenda is developed on site with all the participants creating it “just in time.”  The only advance planning an event such as this requires is setting a meeting or conference time, inviting the right people to come and arranging the logistics.

Harrision H. Owen, the originator of “Open Space,” credits part of the idea for this methodology from his frequent observation at conferences.  Owen found the most creative and often spirit-filled time was during coffee breaks and between sessions.  He decided to experiment with designing conferences that could produce the good, intense interaction that occurs during a coffee break, while achieving the output and performance that results from a meeting.

The entire conference agenda can be created within one hour even if there are 400 or more people attending.  Participants are invited to think of a topic or issue that relates to the conference theme that he or she is interested in initiating.  The issue is given a title, recorded on a piece of paper, announced and then attached to the wall.  The posted topics are arranged in immediate, late morning, and afternoon time slots and are given locations by the volunteer convener.  Then the participants are invited, en masse, to come to the “village marketplace” to sign up for the session they wish to attend.

It has been said, “Structure happens.”  What may seem like a chaotic process soon transforms into a fluid structure.  People negotiate with conveners if there are simultaneous sessions they wish to attend and new sessions are added throughout the event as new ideas occur to people.  There may be personal computers available on site for the recording and printing of notes so they can be posted for the benefit of the whole community.

While some management systems are designed to boost productivity by reorganizing and controlling, this process edges on chaos, promoting it as a potent, creative force.  “Open Space” is a bit like the “Stone Soup Story.”  The minimal guidance offered is like the rock in a pot of water; everyone offers their ideas to the soup and in the end the group is well fed.  

“Open Space” technology is effective when real learning and innovation are required and using familiar methods will not likely spur that result.  It would assist any organization that knows it needs to make some fundamental changes, but is unsure about the direction in which to go or how to get there. 

Who would agree with this assertion?  Major corporations, government organizations and communities on five continents have used this innovative approach from polymer chemists at DuPont to the U.S. Forest Service.  Most were highly skeptical that the approach would “work for them” and were surprised and delighted when they saw the results.  Many now use “Open Space" for many of their meetings.

You cannot do much better than convene such an event with almost no planning time and expense, and walk out with pages of ideas and plans to a highly motivated group.

Research shows that engaging learners in the learning process can:

• increase their attention and focus
• motivate them to practice higher-level critical thinking skills
• promote meaningful learning experiences

OPEN SPACE can help engage learners, but why would I use this method instead of another?

OPEN SPACE:

• SAVES time and prep because a detailed, advanced agenda, plans and materials are not needed. Participants totally influence the direction, content and outcomes.   

• IS EASY to get started with a very brief icebreaker or allow a few minutes for participants to catch-up with one another. Each participant might introduce themselves by sharing a short story about who they are.

• ELIMINATES the need for tables or desks to be set-up. The environment, however, should be large enough to hold the entire group with space to move around. Participants usually sit in a large circle.

• WORKS for any group size, but less than 20 people may limit a diverse exchange.

• PROVIDES immediate response for the needs of each participant because they decide what they want to learn. Participants consider what burning questions or topics they want addressed.

• GIVES participants control to go somewhere else if they find they aren't learning or contributing to an original group or topic.

• ALLOWS participants to share knowledge with one another. How often have you asked your peers for information or suggestions on something you need? Everyone has some skill or knowledge they can share. Any participant who feels they can contribute to the discussion on the topic should do so. Participants consider what areas of expertise they can offer to others.

• CAN be done in one day, but the most powerful sessions go on for two or three days. Participants gather together briefly to share experiences and announce topics. The rest of the day is spent in intense conversation.

• CLOSES the session with participants sharing commitments, next steps, and observations about what the event. It’s best to conduct the wrap-up in a circle to allow anyone the opportunity to say what was of significance and what they propose to do.

Open Space is a combination of order and chaos that brings together people who are really interested in exploring something they care deeply about.  

Please join your peers for this special event to experience Open Space on October 29 – 30 from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm at the UW-Milwaukee School of Continuing Education downtown.  Register today!

Early Bird Registration Extended!

Did you miss the Early Bird Registration for the chapter special event, “Engage Learners using Whole Brain Thinking and Open Space Technology?” You’re in luck!!! The Early Bird registration period has been extended to Friday, October 2nd.  Register now and save!

Special Event Focus—Whole Brain® Thinking and the HBDI Assessment

Whole Brain® Thinking

Chances are you are familiar with the concept of “left brain/right brain.”  Whole Brain® Thinking stretches that concept further and focuses on showing people how to use their whole brain. There are notable benefits to applying Whole Brain® Thinking since understanding how the brain works helps impact learning outcomes.  As learning professionals, we can then reach our learners by understanding different learning styles that make the learning experiences stick! Whole Brain® Thinking can make organizations more effective as it can bridge gaps between functions, levels, and generations within an organization.

Our presenter for this portion of the event is nationally renowned expert and author, Ann Herrmann-Nehdi.  Click here to read more about Whole Brain® Thinking.

Your event registration includes the HBDI®Assessment!!

Special event participants will be able to take the HBDI® (Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument) assessment.  This is included in your registration fees and is a tremendous value.  The HBDI assessment is 120 questions that define and describes someone’s thinking preferences against the Whole Brain® model. This assessment will help you understand where you are in the Whole Brain® model as well as how you can interact with others in different areas of the Whole Brain® spectrum. We are thrilled  to offer the HBDI® as part of “Engage Learners using Whole Brain Thinking and Open Space Technology.”

 Meet our Presenter! Happy Hour Social

We are pleased to offer a Happy Hour Social at the end of our October 29th session from 4:45 to 6:30 at Port of Call , which is just a short walk from the UWM School of Continuing Education facility. The Happy Hour social will feature complimentary light appetizers and a cash bar. Meet Tom Leahy and network with other learning professionals while you wait out the afternoon rush hour!

                                                                                

You may be wondering—what is Whole Brain Thinking?

Whole Brain® Thinking focuses on showing people how to use their whole brain—not just the parts with which they feel most comfortable. It acknowledges that while different tasks require different mental processes, and different people prefer different kinds of thinking, organizations will get better results when they can strategically leverage the full spectrum of thinking available.

Our presenter for this portion of the event is nationally renowned expert and author, Ann Herrmann-Nehdi.  We are in for a real treat!

But wait—there’s more!

Your event registration includes the HBDI®Assessment!!

Special Event participants will be able to take the HBDI® (Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument) assessment.  This is included with your registration fees! What a tremendous value.  We are thrilled to be able to offer this as part of our already reasonable registration fees!!

 What is the HBDI® assessment?

The HBDI® assessment is 120 questions that define and describes someone’s thinking preferences against the Whole Brain® model. This assessment will help you understand where you are in the Whole Brain® model as well as how you can interact with others in different areas of the Whole Brain spectrum.

Watch for upcoming information on Open Space Technology in our next update!

10. Uncover how to engage your learners using Whole Brain® Thinking courtesy of Day 1 Speaker Anne Herrmann-Nehdi.

9. Experience Open Space Technology first-hand among your fellow learning and development professionals.

8. Receive a FREE personal profile of the internationally renowned Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument® (HBDI®) Assessment with your registration.

7. Obtain a skill or experience that you seek for learning engagement by approaching others using the "law of two feet" during Open Space.

6. There is something for everyone, from Novice to Experienced, to LEARN during the Open Space session.

5. There is something for everyone, from Novice to Experienced, to SHARE during the Open Space session.

4. Rev up for Friday’s session during a Thursday Happy Hour with our Open Space facilitator, Tom Leahy!

3. With so many possibilities to be uncovered, you are sure to attend session topics that best fit your professional needs.

2. It’s the perfect way to celebrate Halloween – bring your bag of training “tricks” and tools to share!

1. 2 days, 2 speakers – it’s 2 Big to Miss!

 

Thursday, October 29 & Friday, October 30

8:00 am – 4:30 pm

UWM – School of Continuing Education

For more information and to register, visit: http://sewi-atd.org/fall-special-event-engagelearners          

Early Bird Registration ends September 26^th!

The Early Bird gets the worm—and significant savings for the chapter special event, “Engage Learners using Whole Brain Thinking and Open Space Technology.” The Early Bird registration period ends earlier than usual. The deadline is Saturday September 26. Register now and save!

Today's Special Event Focus—Whole Brain Thinking and the HBDI Assessment

What is Whole Brain Thinking?

Whole Brain® Thinking focuses on showing people how to use their whole brain—not just the half with which they feel most comfortable. It acknowledges that while different tasks require different mental processes, and different people prefer different kinds of thinking, organizations will get better results when they can strategically leverage the full spectrum of thinking available.

Our presenter, Ann Herrmann-Nehdi, is a nationally renowned expert and author on the subject.

But wait—there’s more!  Your event registration includes the HBDI Assessment.

 What is the HBDI assessment?

The HBDI assessment is 120 questions that define and describes someone’s thinking preferences against the Whole Brain® model. This assessment will help you understand where you are in the Whole Brain model as well as how you can interact with others in different areas of the Whole Brain spectrum.

This tool is included with your registration fees; a tremendous value.  

Watch for our next update on Open Space Technology, the second portion of our 2 Big 2 Miss event!