NSW LearnScope Blog & Podcast

MARIE JASINSKI - Design Planet

I think as long as you separate e-learning from learning, the message is that it is something different. And it’s not. It’s just another element of an integrated whole. Alain, July, 2006

Stepping outside your own patch can refresh your thinking and provide new perspectives and possibilities. Recently I spend two weeks in New York. I stayed with my friend and work associate Alain Rostain in downtown Manhattan. He’s fun, smart and so great to work with. Alain runs a business called Creative Advantage which focuses on improvisation, innovation and creativity. He is also a programmer so is definitely a savvy hi tech user. Apart from making mean Margaritas, I also noticed how ubiquitous technology was in Alain’s everyday life – it was an integral part of working, learning and playing.

Alain’s workstyle is an example of e-living–using technology seamlessly to get on with it.

There are two essentials for e-living
1. Great hardware – a high grunt laptop and mobile (cell) phone.
2. Robust and reliable technology infrastructure – high speed wireless broadband network for 24/7 access. Wherever he goes in the city – train, coffee shop, bookstore – Alain is wirelessed for action. (Wherever I go in Adelaide, I have to find a hot spot - and most of them are warm!)

These are the essential specs for techno tools of trade. So how are these tools used and incorporated into everyday life?

An E-LIVING snapshot - working, learning and playing online.

Buying food and groceries – Get it at the online grocery store Fresh Direct. Pick what you want from the huge range and have it delivered the next day.
Playing music – download your favourites from iTunes and play them directly from the laptop, or if you want more grunt, through the wireless surround sound speakers.
Communicating – Skype is on and active 24/7. Do business, socialise and stay in touch with your family and friends.
Hiring DVDs –Order online with the plan of your choice, have DVDs delivered, enjoy for as long as you want, then send them back in prepaid envelopes and automatically get the next on your pre-selected list. Check out the 1001 movies you must see before you die.
Finding your way around – Google Earth provides the level of detail you want.
Reading the newspaper – save the environment and read the New York Times online. You get the added dimension of video, breaking news and links to other papers that might interest you. Just like The Australian . You can still read it in bed!
Eating in and out – check out your favourite restaurants menu, order online and have it delivered to your doorstep. Check out Tossed, the world’s first online salad bar Another favourite is www.menupages.com
Buying technology – it is cheaper online and is delivered within a couple of days. Read all the reviews first to make the right choice and get the best deal.
Buying furniture – use e-bay for some really good bargains.

“So what’s new?” you may ask. “I do that too”. Well, so do I, but not in such a concentrated way. It’s how it was all integrated so seamlessly that was the point of difference. It was no big deal. It’s just what you do - use technology to help you get on with life. The laptop and the mobile phone were like brain extensions!!

So what about learning? – How does a savvy technology user, use those technologies to learn?

I put this to Alain in a Skype conversation and this is his response: (goss edited out).

Alain: I use Skype and Trillian to ask questions of my consultants who I pay
Alain: for example, just had a 10-minute chat with Gary in the UK to solve a development problem
Alain: I do stay connected as much as possible with my laptop . I would find a PDA or smart phone too limiting
Alain: Meet my dates that way too
Alain: Found my apartment that way
Alain: Very little I do non-cyber any more
Alain: Though my cat is real! lol!
Alain: I learn about software development using Google and searching for answers to questions. I learn about what’s new by skimming news web sites, same with technology. I go to online demos to get ideas, I use online applications to see what the competition or others are up to.
Marie: what about formal courses?
Alain: formal courses? no, never - too time consuming
Alain: more info and learning by targeted searches - less time wasted that way
Marie: I notice that your 2 essential pieces of technology are cell phone and laptop. Is one more essential than the other?
Alain: The PC is more essential
Alain: since I could use it to make most calls and receive as well. But the cell phone is pretty damn important too
Alain: it’s also because the PC is my full office, everything..
Alain: all my finances, my emails, my development environment..
Marie: Your PC - It is your office, your grocery store, your DVD store, your travel agent… etc…Alain: all my chat histories…
Alain: my friends…
Alain: my network…
Alain: my notes..
Alain: my thoughts…
Alain: I think that I may exist more in than outside of this computer!
Alain: LOL
Marie: So what five pieces of software are most critical to you?
Alain: Outlook, chat (trillian/skype), visual studio, sql server, IE
Alain: GoToMeeting is pretty darn essential to me too
Marie: Here’s a final question….
Marie: in this day and age, what sort of e-learning is appropriate and would attract and engage you?
Alain: elearning would engage me if it broke through the isolation of being online, and actually created a true experience of connecting with others in the learning process
Marie: is e-living the new focus - working, learning and playing online? IS technology ubiquitous?Alain: yes
Alain: living online
Alain: connecting online
Alain: helping each other online
Alain: I think as long as you separate e-learning from learning, the message is that it is something different. And it’s not. It’s just another element of an integrated whole
Alain: maybe we ought to call it w-learning
Alain: for whole learning!

Reflection point: How well would what we offer in VTE meet the workstyle and learning style needs of someone like Alain? I am still chewing on that one!