Learn to Adapt

• Set in Our Ways: Why Change Is So Hard: Scientific American – A great article from Scientific American on the biology/psychology of why people are naturally resistant to change. Interestingly, it claims people are more tolerant of change during their 20s and then again after 60.
• Pew Internet: Future of the Internet – Pew Internet research releases the results of its survey on the future of the Internet. Much as expected, with the exception of one finding that surprised me: "The transparency of people and organizations will increase, but that will not necessarily yield more personal integrity, social tolerance, or forgiveness." I think we may see more tolerance overall as everyone moves to "wearing a transparent kimono."

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Anyone out there in organizations that are going through a bit of change these days? Oh – right. Anyone out there not dealing with change?

For those of you managing a team going through change, or just coping with change yourself, I invite you to try out our new, free online Progressing Through Change application. It will be especially interesting for all of you in the organizational development field. It focuses on the human impact of change and provides strategies to help yourself (or your team members) progress successfully through changes at work.

The application has you complete a brief questionnaire and then shows you how you seem to be progressing through the four stages of change (Denial, Opposition, Exploration, Engagement). It provides information on each of the four stages and strategies for progressing through that stage. You are also encouraged to create a personal “elevator speech” about your role in the change and to draft questions to ask your manager about the change.

For the next week or so, the application includes a “feedback” box at the bottom of the page. I would greatly appreciate you taking the time to put it through it paces and tell us what you think.

Thanks!

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• The Semantic Web in Education (EDUCAUSE Quarterly) | EDUCAUSE CONNECT – Jason Ohler provides a nice summary of semantic Web and its implications for education. Though he dances adroitly around the technical (standards) problem that will make the semantic Web a challenge, he does nicely scratch the surface of the implications for learning if it does come to pass.
• The Three-E Strategy for Overcoming Resistance to Technological Change (EDUCAUSE Quarterly) | EDUCAUSE CONNECT – A good summary of introducing technology that will improve performance. From the article: "First, a technology must be evident to the user as potentially useful in making his or her life easier (or more enjoyable). Second, a technology must be easy to use to avoid rousing feelings of inadequacy. Third, the technology must become essential to the user in going about his or her business."

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• enterprise 2.0 … it’s this simple, see « pm blog – Mazy Hedayat posts a deliciously complex and confusing diagram that summarizes all the moving parts of Enterprise 2.0. A bit tough to read or use for learning, but it is a great summary…
• Why Companies Need Web 2.0 – Forbes.com – No new news here, but Mike Schaffner summarizes how "Web 2.0" (cringe) technologies must be adopted by companies to remain competitive.
• Tear down the broadcast towers – BuzzMachine » Blog Archive – Jeff Jarvis posits on how Web video and radio "could" make broadcast obsolete. Best part of the post is the comments. The way we consume media is changing dramatically and it will impact how we use media to teach.
• Grockit – About Us – Learning 2.0 – From the site: "Grockit is Learning 2.0. Grockit is about questioning together. To this end, we are developing an online learning game where people can teach each other." I look forward to seeing the game!

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• Field Guide to Firefox 3 » dria.org » Blog Archive – If you're not using Firefox, you should. Help set the world-record of downloads for FF 3 this Tuesday!
• Changing Knowledge Worker Attitudes | Work Literacy – Michele Martin on how we must change the culture where "…many knowledge workers regard training and professional development as the responsibility of the organization, not their own…"
• Wirearchy – Jon Husband's site on wirearchy: "a dynamic two-way flow of power and authority based on information, knowledge, trust and credibility, enabled by interconnected people and technology"
• Boosting Productivity, Innovation, and Growth through a National Innovation Foundation – Robert Atkinson and Howard Wial at the Brookings Institution posit ideas on how to increase innovation (and thereby competitive advantage) in the US in the 75-page report.
• Skills 2.0 by Harold Jarche – A link to Harold Jarche's T&D article that "is geared toward learning professionals who may want to know why it’s important to understand the Web for training and development."

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