Moved!

This blog has been moved to:

http://jamhall.wordpress.com/

j.

Now What?

Another semester over, another grad class under my belt.  Only 3 classes left to complete my program. 

I have been taking classes since Fall of 2007.  I generally take one class a semester as I work full time and find any more overwhelming.  However, I will not be taking a class in the Winter 2010 semester.  The offerings in my subject area are limited.  Plus, none of the electives appealed to me.  I am at a point in my program where I want to get it done but I still do not want to take a class just for the sake of taking a class.  I want my studies to be relevant to my career and program.  Therefore, I have decided to sit this one out.

What am I going to do with all that spare time?  I have a few ideas....

1. Read all those books I felt too guilty to read because they weren't related to research for my courses.
2. Work on my photography.  Maybe I will do a 365 day photo challenge.
3. Plan my trip to Italy (August 2011!!).
4. Continue to expand the Resource Centre I created for my final ECI 831 project.
5. Blog

I am sure I will find enough stuff to fill my time, it is going to be strange not having a class and assignments to worry about.

j.

Summary of Learning

It is hard to believe that it is the end of the semester already. The final task for ECI 831 was to create a summary of learning. Last week, we had part of the class present their summaries. We had a wide array of mediums that were used. All the presentations were fantastic. Most of my classmates have posted them on their blogs and you can use the blog roll on the right to access them if you are interested.

Below is my summary:



After some debate, I chose to use Animoto to create my summary.  Initially, I was going to use Windows Movie Maker but I have developed a love for Animoto creations and decided to give it a shot.  I had to use some creative thinking to overcome a few hurdles in putting this together.  The biggest road block was how to add text as Animoto has limited capability in this area.  I overcame this by creating images using Photoshop that are just text.  I also used Wordle to create a word cloud from my blog.

The next difficulty was ensuring that none of the slides were cut off at the end.  Animoto creates the final video based on the pace and music you select.  Of course I did not realize this till after two or three tries and a great deal of frustration.  In the end I had to weed out a few images that were not as significant as the others.  I also condensed the pictures of my classmates into one collage using Photovisi  I think that this has made the summary more focused and succinct.

In terms of content, I tried to break the video into sections to have some sort of organization to the summary.  The first part of the video is intended to show how I made connections during the duration of the course.  For me this was done mainly through this blog and Twitter.  Twitter became a big part of this course for me.  I have realized that Twitter is not just a place to tell people what you had for dinner but also a place to reach out gather resources and share your wisdom with others.

In the words of wisdom section,  I wanted capture some the wisdom that was imparted on us by our mentors and presenters.  The quotes that I chose to use in the summary are those that will stick with me throughout my career as a student and professional.  To me the words of Zoe, Sheryl, Stephen, Richard, and Dean accurately summarize some of the key ideas that I have taken away from the course.

The next section was dedicated to some of the tools that I have learned to use during the course.  I was unable to list all of the tools that I have become familiar with but I chose those that I felt had the biggest impact on me throughout the course.  The only tool that I wanted to include that I had to leave out was the image of Animoto.  As I mentioned I had a limited number of images that I could use and felt that since Animoto was the medium I used to create the summary that I did not need to include an image of it.

Similar to the words of wisdom section, my final thoughts at the end of the video are what I feel I have gained from this course.  Here is a brief summary of each.

SHARE!
I have learned that collaboration is a key element in any network.  I have been amazed at how much sharing goes on between educators.  I have looked at my own field(s) and not seen the same level of sharing.  I hope that this will change in the field of HRD and would like to help initiate this change.

Don't blame the medium.
One of my favorite blog posts that I wrote this semester was titled Don't Blame the Medium.  The premise is around people blaming social media for bullying and deviant behaviour.  I firmly believe that this behaviour would exist regardless of whether or not people have access to social media like Facebook or Twitter.

I am the director of my own learning.
We create our own learning and in doing so it will be a more meaningful experience.  I realized in this course that I need step up and direct my learning rather than just waiting for someone to do it for me.

Social media is relevant to all fields.
At the start of the course I was unsure how I would apply the concepts to my field.  I have since realized that the tools and ideas that were being presented are relevant to all areas.  I have begun to apply them to my current job and the remainder of my graduate program.

It is OK to ask for help.
In my previous classes I have not experienced the same degree of support that I have in this class.  Alec has encouraged us from the start to seek assistance when we need it.  I have found that Alec, my classmates, and the mentors have been more than willing to lend a hand when you need help.

At the end of the video is an image that lists all the credits.  I have realized that it is rather hard to read on the video so I have also posted it here.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone that has contributed to this course.  I have found this experience challenging in the most rewarding way.  I have gained knowledge that I will continue to use throughout my career.

j.

My Final Project

When I started thinking about my final project I had two ideas.  Both were useful ideas but upon further reflection I determined that a Training/Resource wiki specific to my place of employment would be more useful than a resource wiki for the field of Human Resource Development (HRD).  I felt the Training/Resource wiki would be used more than the HRD wiki as it would be more specific to individuals.  

Context and Rationale

For my final project I have created a Resource Centre for Immigration Officers assessing applications through the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP).  The Resource Centre is intended to be both a training and reference tool.  More specifically, the Resource Centre was designed to address knowledge management concerns related to the position of Immigration Officers working with the SINP. 

The Resource Centre has been designed within the context of the SINP.  The SINP is housed in the Immigration Services Division (ISD), of the Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment, & Immigration, Government of Saskatchewan  The SINP works in conjunction with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to facilitate immigration to Saskatchewan.  The program operates under Canada-Saskatchewan Immigration Agreement.  Under the SINP, the province can establish immigration priorities and selection criteria that reflect the particular needs of its employers and that can help to expand and diversify the provincial economy.  If applicants meet the selection criteria of one of seven categories, the SINP issues a nomination certificate that applicants then use to apply to CIC for Permanent Resident status and in some cases temporary work permits.  Under the agreement with CIC, Saskatchewan nominations are reviewed by the appropriate federal visa post for any health, security or criminality concerns.  CIC has the final say in issuing authorization to enter Canada.

The SINP has experienced a rapid growth rate and therefore has experienced many growing pains.  The SINP has often been reactionary rather than proactive in areas of planning, training, and management of information.  One issue that has been consistent is the access to information and resources used to evaluate applications to the SINP. 

Immigration Officers (IO) review applications to the SINP to ensure that they meet criteria. IOs review files against the program criteria and make an eligibility recommendation.  This involves reviewing application forms, civil status documents (birth certificates, passports, etc), work experience documentation, and education documents.   This requires a wide base of general knowledge on world systems.  It is impossible for the IOs to remember all of the information needed to assess an application.  Therefore, the IOs have created a number of documents that house information such as websites, document requirements, and the like.  These documents are shared in some cases but in others, IOs have created individual documents that they have not shared with the collective.  The information stored in these documents is difficult to navigate, contradictory, and unsearchable. 

The purpose of the Resource Centre is to bring all of the resources used by IOs into a central location accessible and eventually editable by all of the IOs.  This will allow everyone to access the resources and update information as necessary.  It also helps to retain knowledge within the organization in the event that staff leaves.

Research and Preparation

Throughout the creation of my project, I did a number of searches on the use of wikis in organizations, knowledge management, and using wikis training tools.  You can view the list of articles I found through my delicious tag eci831project.  I have even included some articles that take a somewhat negative few on the use of wikis in organizations.

I had contemplated surveying the IOs and their managers on what information should be included in the Resource Centre.  However, I ran out of time to properly conduct this type of survey.  I have incorporated a Suggestions and Feedback form into the Resource Centre that will help to overcome this over sight.  Additionally, it was evident that the key was creating a central location for information.  Information can be added or deleted at a later date.

I also had a number of conversations with my director and colleagues regarding the content of the Resource Centre.  All of these conversations were informal were often over coffee or at random in the corridors at the office.  The one theme that emerged was that the tool had to be easy to access and update.   

Format  Review

Initially, I was going to create a Wiki that housed all of the information.   Even though this appeared to be the most logical choice, it was soon made evident that I would have difficulty protecting any sensitive information.  Upon reflection and consultation with Alec and the mentors, it was suggested that I try Google Sites.  Google Sites allowed me to build a site that had multiple layers of pages.  It is easily customizable and relatively self explanatory.  Most importantly, it would allow me to grant access to specific users therefore eliminating the privacy issue.

Overall, I have had a very positive experience using Google Sites.  I have experienced some formatting frustrations but that has more to do with the format of the documents that I was transferring into the site.  I have been able to easily insert or attach documents on pages, link to outside resources, create table of contents, and link to pages within the site.

The one major complaint that I have about Google Sites is the inability to password protect a specific page.  Ultimately, I would love to open the Resource Centre to the world.  However, this is impossible as there are pages with information that need to remain secure.  I am unsure why they have not developed this feature.

Next Steps and Final Thoughts

At the start of this project, I figured that I would easily be able to create a site that contained all of the information needed by IOs and included training on how to use that information.  I quickly realized that even if I worked 24/7 that I would not be able to create what I had ultimately envisioned.  I had to scale back my plans and focus on the resource centre aspect of the project.  This is something that will continue to evolve over the coming months.

This project is the starting point of a much larger initiative within my division. 

I have already given my Director a briefing on the project and have shown him the site.  There are a number of events that will take place in my organization related to this project:

1.      Present the concept to SINP staff.

2.      Present the concept to the ISD.

3.      Deliver training to the IOs on how to access (i.e.: sign up for a Google Account) and use the Resource Centre. 

4.      Develop guidelines and procedures on updating and adding information.

5.      Consult with other positions within the SINP and ISD to develop similar Resource Centres. 

Site Access

I am unable to share the site fully as it contains information that is not available to the general public.  However, I created a screen casr that is posted on the home page of the site that explains the content of the site and how to navigate it.  I have posted it here to give you an idea of what I have created.

j.

What I Have Been Reading

This post was inspired by Angela's post about blogging resources.

This semester I have been following a few blogs and websites outside of the class blogs and the mentors.  As part of summarizing the course I have put together this list of sites that I have found particularly interesting. 

eLearning Technology - "This blog covers trends in eLearning and more broadly the use of technology that aims to improve human performance."  This is one of the first blogs that I found that discussed using technology in Human Resources. 

Fistful of Talent - Kris Dunn has assembled a group of contributors to create this blog. The "center of the conversation is talent - which includes recruiting as well as everything you do with the talent once you've got it in the door."  This is more of a general HR blog but it has had some good posts on development.


Steve Boese's HR Technology - Another of the first blogs addressing the use of technology in HR that I found.  Steve says: "I started this blog mainly to try and get the students another avenue for information and resources beyond the traditional curriculum, from the perspective of someone they knew and (hopefully) trusted."

Social Media Today - This site covers a wide range of topics related to social media.  It is run by Social Media Today LLC, a company that specializes in  helping "large companies leverage the enormous power of social media to build deeper relationships with potential customers and other constituencies that influence the development of new business."  They have submission guidelines that can be found here.

Culture By - Grant McCracken - Grant is an anthropologist by trade and studies culture and business.  I have found his blog to be an interesting view on American culture.

Mashable - Specifically, the Social Media section.  I have been reading articles on this site prior to taking ECI 831, however I have found that I am paying more attention to the site since taking the course.

Learning Solutions Magazine - A good resource for those involved in the management, design, development, and implementation of e-Learning.

And that is some of what I have been reading this semester.  I wish I had thought of sharing this before.  A big thank you to Angela for inspiring this post.


j.

HRD: Open or Not?

As I have said before, I am not a classroom teacher in the traditional sense.  My field of study is Human Resource Development (HRD).  I mention this yet again not to harp on the fact that I am different but because it is relevant to this post.

Open education, as I understand it, is a concept that strives to eliminate barriers to learning by freely sharing knowledge and ideas.  This usually happens over the Internet.  This concept was introduced to me when I registered for ECI 831.  This was something that I had no experience in.  I have embraced the concept because of this class.  Further, this class has allowed me to observe openness in more general terms.

I am seeing learning and sharing extend beyond an organized class.  Through the connections that have been made in ECI 831 I have observed people freely sharing ideas.  I have witnessed people taking time to answer questions through blogs and twitter to assist with a project or idea.  I am especially impressed with the mentors taking time out of their busy schedules to provide feedback to the students in this class.  They are truly trying to transfer their knowledge on to learners.  They also see their role as a learning experience for themselves.  I have noticed that most of these individuals are teachers or school administrators.

I have not been experienced the same openness in the HRD field.  I have only been able to find a few HR Professionals on Twitter and most are generalists or recruitment specialists rather than HRD specialists.  Also,  I am finding that most resources in the field of HRD are for purchase.  In terms of training, most organizations will hire firms to create training tools.  These firms do not share their creations as freely as it is how they make their money.  Training is big business these days.

Is this an accurate observation?  Or is it because I not been able to connect with the right networks to experience the openness in HRD?  Do I need to work harder at connecting?  Or is there no one to connect to?

j.

Wiki - Based Training Videos

When looking for examples that would be similar to my project I came across a series of videos entitled Wiki-Based Training: Adding Interactivity to Wiki Content.  I still have a few to watch in the series but so far I am impressed.  These are the first videos that I have come across that are related directly to training.  Links to the videos are below.


Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4


Part 5

j.