I picked up a copy of Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time by Jeff Sutherland because I am investigating different project management methodologies for developing learning and development. The present project management methodologies that we use to develop learning lack in agility that our clients are demanding.

Jeff Sutherland is the co-creator of Scrum framework and a leading expert on how the framework has evolved to meet the needs of today’s business. The methodology he developed in 1993 and formalized in 1995 with Ken Schwaber has since been adopted by the vast majority of software development companies around the world. Could the more agile methodology apply to learning development? [Read more…]

I just read presentationzen by Garr Reynolds. It is a quick read with terrific graphics. I think the book is mostly targeted to business people who have no graphic or instructional design background, but it has valuable information for people who design training materials every day.

One of the concepts carried throughout the book is simplicity. Here’s a great thought on how simplicity relates to appearance/design. There is a difference between design and decoration. Decoration is noticeable, like icing on a cake. Design is unnoticed. Design starts at the beginning; it is not an afterthought.

Another observation drives home the point about how important it is to start out strong. The author references Seth Godin, “Often, people come to a conclusion about your presentation by the time you’re on the second slide. After that, it’s often too late for your bullet points to do you much good.” Wow, do you really want your second slide to be a list of learning objectives? I don’t.

Here’s some more great advice. Do only what is necessary to convey what is essential. Clutter, bulk and erudition confuse perception and stiffle comprehension. Simplicity allows clear and direct attention. Clarity and simplicity are often the only things people want or need.

It would be easy to go on, but if these topics interest you, your time would be better spent reading the book. This is a good one.

I have been working on developing an E-Learning Strategy and ran across a great diagram for the E-Learning value chain on the web.  I traced it back to a free Ebook called Theory and Practice of Online Learning from Athabasca University.  The first edition of this book does a great job of describing the value chain in Chapter 3:  Value Chain Analysis: A Strategic Approach to Online Learning. 

Please note a second edition of this book is also available.  with updated content