This Week's Herman Trend Alert The Consequences of Virtual Meetings

The Herman Trend Alert February 11, 2004 The Future of Training The future of training is gaming. We saw it coming in some consulting we did with the United States Department of Defense, in our study of the Millennials (born 1985 and later), and in the rise of companies like Discovery Learning (www.discoverylearning.com). The United States Army's success with its challenging computer game, America's Army, is an impressive testimonial to the military's understanding of the younger generation. Although it glorifies violence, the game was such a successful recruiting tool that there is an updated version: America's Army 2.0: Special Forces. The Millennials have a different vocabulary, different ways of relating with each other, different play opportunities and, certainly, different media bombarding their psyches. Accustomed to screen images changing more than 100 times per minute, this new generation simply won't tolerate being "communicated at," as if they were simply receivers. They expect people to meet them on their level, speaking their language, with their vocabulary, engaging them interactively. Marc Prensky, author of "Digital Game-Based Learning" (McGraw Hill) characterizes the difference between this population of learners and their predecessors as "digital natives" versus "digital immigrants." He emphasizes the facility with which this younger generation embraces new technologies. Here's what employers (and teachers) need to remember when working with these digital natives: They're good at multi-tasking and parallel processing. Accessing information in a non-linear fashion comes naturally, because they are accustomed to hyperlinking. Good graphics are vital to engagement. They have no patience for passive learning. (For them, learning is never a spectator sport.) Work must be engineered to be more like play with built-in opportunities for achievement and heroism. Don't expect digital natives to play any game that doesn't have a reasonably immediate payoff. In a subsequent Herman Trend Alert, we'll talk more about the emergence of effective games and simulations. We'll look at present and future uses of this exciting technology. To be successful in the future, leaders must to learn to train, guide, and motivate younger workers, not only by speaking their language, but also by creating games that these digital natives will choose to play. © Copyright 1998- by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: RETENTION SPECIALIST PROGRAM A growing number of people have expressed an interest in attending our Employee Retention Specialist Certificate Program. We'd like to schedule on that's convenient for those who want to attend, but need your feedback to do so. Please place RETENTION SPECIALIST in the subject line and Joyce will personally call you back to schedule the workshop. Or you can call Joyce directly at 336-210-3548 (PDT this and next week). BUSINESS IS PICKING UP Most employers are unprepared. The recovery will bring a new set of challenges for employers that have been in prolonged contracted mode. They will need more skilled workers or will need now to begin to upskill their current staffs. But organizations can not engage in Strategic Workforce Planning, when they don't know how. That's where The Herman Group can help. We can help you with your "People Review"----large or small---so that you will know who you will need and when you will need them. . . and we can also guide you to the best sources for the people you will need. For more information, call Joyce at 336-210-3548 or e-mail joyce@hermangroup.com. FIND OUT WHAT YOUR EMPLOYEES REALLY THINK AND FEEL Discover what’s really going on in the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-416-7066, or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

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