Start with good writing, the learning will follow.

I recently had the pleasure of collaborating with 22 other writers on "How to become an eLearning Professional," an eBook for professionals . The group I participated with included the likes of Christopher Pappas, Cammy Bean, Connie Malamed, Diane Senffer, and many others. The key objective of the eBook was for our group of seasoned professionals to share anecdotal stories of what we felt were important skills, characteristics or behaviors required to be an eLearning professional.

Most of us by now have heard of or have some idea regarding the concept of rapid design and development. Christopher Pappas decided to see if the same approach could be used to create a professional level book. Instead of becoming an expert on all things eLearning, he sourced our group to each write one chapter in one month. Not only did this create the book in "record" time; it added sincerity and passion behind each topic that only comes from true experiences, not academic postulations.

My topic is more primordial ooze than rocket science. I chose to focus on a fundamental issue that actually kills more learning programs than "buggy" technology. Somewhere along the technology superhighway, learning professionals decided that proper writing is optional; that grammar, spelling and punctuation just do not matter in the 21st Century. Armed with anecdotes of learning disasters, I composed my chapter and submitted it as my contribution for future eLearning professionals.

As storytelling re-emerges as a dominant feature of learning, I hope to see more of this type of collaborative publication. The voices of many will help us all recognize and acknowledge the accomplishments of today and our visions for tomorrow. The format democratizes the field of knowledge and empowers the next generation of learning professionals to build up from the foundations we have laid and create solutions for the future.

You can read the results of this rapid collaboration here at http://elearningindustry.com/how-to-become-an-elearning-professional#ken-hubbell

Enjoy!
-Ken

Time is generally relative...

Punctuality used to be an important part of who I was. If anything, I was habitually early - air travel, my classes, basically anything I had to do I was there with plenty to spare. That part of me is now locked in the past. These days with the exception of work, I arrive when I can. It started a few years back with all the traveling I was doing, and as the kids got more and more involved with activities that required them to be on a schedule, I found myself with less and less accountability for my own time. In fact, I found the closer the relation to me, like my children or my wife, the more their time means and the less I worry about what hour or minute I find the the hands of the clock.

It is with this concept of the relativity of time that I find myself this evening realizing that it has been over six months since I last posted to my blog. Six months! So much has happened in the interim it doesn't even make sense to try and recap. Just know that we are all well and doing fine. 

Time appears to be in fast forward. Last month I celebrated my three-year anniversary with Ingersoll Rand. In less than 18 months, Alex graduates from college. Isaac will have his real driver's license in a month. We have to dive into the college selection game soon for him. And Darby is nearing the end of her freshman year of high school. 

Very soon, it will just be Trudie and me making our own time; and making up for lost time. And, generally, wait patiently for the relatives to spend time with us.

- Ken