Join ATD Chicagoland, Fulcrum Network’s Diane Kubal and Instructure’s Steve Arntz as they guide the audience through workshops and discussion that highlight the role of career development within an organization.  Employees are increasingly demanding transparent processes for career growth and this session will provide you with specific tools that will enable you to do these conversations right. 

In this session you will:

• Review research-based models for career development
• Get a deeper understanding of the drivers behind your own career motivations
• Learn tools and techniques to conduct career development conversations in your organization

Event date:  November 5, 2019

Time:  4:30 pm – 7 pm

Location:  Instructure – Chicago

                    130 East Randolph Street, Floor 11

                    Chicago, IL  60601

Agenda:

4:30 – 5:30 pm   Career workshops that you can use

5:30 - 6:15 pm    Fireside chat and Q&A with Diane and Steve

6:15 – 7 pm         Happy Hour

If you are interested in attending, please RSVP here.  If you cannot attend in person, you can participate via livestream.  Livestream participants should RSVP at least two weeks in advance to ensure we can email you the materials for the workshop in time.

with Sue McMahon

November 6 @ 11 am  * Webinar (via Zoom)

Open to ALL ATDChi members and guests

TO REGISTER:  Visit https://atdchi.org/event-3438386

Bring your own "sticky situations" and coaching ethics questions to this session!

Many who work in the Talent Development field remain unaware of the importance of ethics when it comes to coaching or using coaching skills to support those they serve. Whether you align with a code of ethics or not, there remains consequences to both the coach and the client when unethical behavior seeps in. Ethical conduct is not just a set of rules, but more importantly an understanding, and a conscious awareness for showing up in all relationships the same way you would with the most important people in your life. 

After participating in this session, you will be able to:

• enhance awareness of ethical behavior as a professional who coaches others
• recognize potential "blind spots" and "pitfalls"
• describe the value that ethical conduct offers your coaching relationships
• be aware of the impact unethical behavior has on both you and your coaching clients
• discover the most common ethical breaches by coaches
• get answers and guidance on your own sticky situations in coaching others

This session is brought to you by ATDChi’s Executive, Team, & Group Coaching Professional Development Network (PDN).  ALL ATDChi members AND guests are welcome to attend. 

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Sue has been a professional coach for more than sixteen years working with individuals and organizations.  Since 2003, Sue has been actively involved with International Coach Federation (ICF) Ethics, devoting a tremendous amount of time and energy to the promotion of professional integrity and ethical coaching practices.  She has served in many different leadership roles including her current role as the Chair of the ICF Ethics Independent Review Board (IRB). Sue remains highly motivated to support the integrity and professionalism of coaching though continued education and promotion of ethical awareness.  Sue is a Professional Board Certified Coach and founder of Living From the Heart LLC based in Northwestern Ohio.  

TO REGISTER:  Visit https://atdchi.org/event-3438386. Registration is $10 for all ATDChi members and $20 for guests. 

By Susan Camberis

Editor, Training Today

If one of your business partners wanted to have a conversation today about workflow learning, AI, or AR, would you be ready?

It’s not necessary to be an expert in all emerging workplace and learning technologies, but knowing enough to contribute is vital. 

ATDChi’s September general meeting featured David Kelly, Executive Vice President and Executive Director of The eLearning Guild.  Kelly discussed current and emerging technologies and the impact to L&D while sharing the concept of “conversational competence” – being knowledgeable enough to participate in the conversation.   

If you would like to develop your conversational competence, here are 10 workplace and learning technologies you will want to be aware of: 

1. Responsive Design (sometimes referred to as multi-device learning) is design that adapts to the type of screen or device the learner is using to consume content.  According to Kelly, L&D professionals have historically approached new technology with the wrong question in mind.  Instead of asking, “How do I do what I do today with this new tech?” we should instead be asking, “What new questions can I solve with this new tech?”  The smartphone, as one example, is so much more than just a device.  We should be asking, “What will this device enable us to do that we haven’t been able to do before?”
2. Data Analytics (or “Big Data”) is not simply about data or analytics.  It’s really about having data available to inform decisions and solve problems in new ways. xAPI (or Experience API), for example, allows us to track traditional metrics and gain insights to bigger and different questions.
3. Interactive Video (IV) enables a more interactive learning experience by embedding “clickable” areas that perform actions into digital video.  IV also uses metadata – allowing learners to enter a name, phrase, or other data element and quickly search to find specific information.  IBM Watson and Workday both have this capability today. 
4. Game-Based Learning is not an emerging technology, but what is emerging is research around the value of game-based learning.  Related to game-based learning, Kelly said that sometimes our jargon holds us back as a profession.  A few years back, when we thought that games wouldn’t be taken seriously, we changed our language to “serious games.”  Kelly advised TD professionals to avoid jargon all together whenever possible. 
5. Workflow Learning is a buzzword that’s usage has spread faster than our understanding.  Also known as microlearning, performance support, and just-in-time training, workflow learning has become popular because the technology has finally caught up.  According to Kelly, workflow learning was never about content, rather, it’s the context that matters.  What type of resource do people need in the moment?  How can we best support people while they’re doing their work?      
6. Curation is a skill set that we need to get better at as a TD profession.  We are in a unique position to empower users and user-created content, according to Kelly.  That said, it is not always a value-add to create a new solution.  It should be about leveraging what we have, according to Kelly.  “We don’t always need to start from a place of creation.”   
7. Virtual Reality (VR) can convey an experience in a way that no other type of training can.  VR is trending because the hardware has dropped in price so significantly.  A high-end headset now costs $400 versus $40,000.  The software is still very expensive, but the price is coming down.  Kelly believes that VR will have a narrow but powerful use case. 
8. Augmented Reality (AR) will be transformative, but will need to reach a point of normalization.  Google Glass, a familiar and early example of AR wasn’t a failure of technology, according to Kelly, but rather it was a failure of normalization.  AR is not an L&D tool, but it will come in through the enterprise – leaders will buy it as another tool and TD leaders will need to support it.  You’ll need to learn it as a tool for performance support.
9. Wearable Technology is also not a learning technology per se, but one that TD leaders need to be familiar with.  For example, today there are gloves that can measure what people are doing with their hands.  Wearables will generate data that helps us better understand how employees are performing.  Kelly expects that we will see more wearables in medical and sports-related settings.  Wearables will be used in conjunction with company equipment and the IoT (Internet of Things) to provide performance support for the skill level of employees.      
10. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is really about machines doing tasks that they are better equipped to do than humans.  Becoming familiar with how your industry, business, and clients are beginning to utilize AI today is a good first step. 

What else can you do to prepare for the now and next of learning technology? 

Kelly offered these great suggestions: 

• Plug in:  Educate yourself about the trends. 
• Listen:  Where are the conversations that will help you grow; don’t be a fly on the wall; jump in, be an active participant.
• Contextualize:  There is no right or wrong answer; it’s right or wrong for you.
• Play:  “All the things I play with give me a starting point [for understanding],” said Kelly.

According to Kelly, “If you’re not pushing yourself forward, you’re probably limiting where you can go next.  You own your career.”

Keep learning and you’ll be ready for whatever comes next!

To learn more about the eLearning Guild visit: www.eLearningGuild.com.   Follow David Kelly at @LnDDave.

ATDChi is pleased to announce the 2020 ATDChi Executive Board Team. This team will continue to drive the experiences and solutions needed to equip our members with the knowledge, skills, tools and resources necessary to ensure ongoing professional development, and the ability to deliver exceptional value to their organizations.  They will look for opportunities to support and drive engagement with the business community and the next generation of emerging talent development professionals.

Meet the team:

President – Hayward Suggs	In 2019 Hayward worked closely with our current president Eileen Terrell, to prepare for the role of president. Their partnership and the contributions of other ATDChi leadership have him ready to lead in 2020.  Hayward is excited to partner with ATD and ATDChi stakeholders to; expand opportunities for growth, add velocity to the contributions and rewards of existing members, and work inclusively to add new members.  He will utilize his 20 plus years of talent development experience to continue to build on the organization’s massive success. Hayward welcomes feedback and ideas on how to strengthen the organization's value proposition. He looks forward to what we can accomplish together in 2020.
VP of Finance – Bruce Deviller	As a TD professional with more than 20 years of industry experience he has seen the value that organizations such as ATD and ATDChi provide to folks in our profession. He’s benefited from these organizations in professional and social capacities and have seen first-hand the value of their existence. He knows it’s important that the ATDChi organization continues to thrive so that it can continue to offer Chicagoland TD professionals the opportunities to grow in their field and meet peers who share the same ideals and skillsets. As an executive board member, he will be the link in the chain that extends the chapter's legacy, so that the opportunities that he and his contemporaries have enjoyed are available for the next generation of TD professionals, as well.
VP of Marketing and Communications – Leslie Scarpace, CPLP	Leslie is an experienced learning and organizational development professional and has worked in university, community college, and public school settings. Originally a Buffalo-area native, she moved to the Midwest as a teenager and since has left the state and returned to Illinois more than once. Leslie earned a Master’s degree in Instructional Technology and recently earned the CPLP. As the VP for Marketing 2018-2019, she assisted in the efforts to increase the attendance rates substantially at ATDChi events. She contributed to strengthening the brand reputation by providing high-quality assets for ATDChi social media channels and events. Leslie values the knowledge and skills she has gained through her partnership with other Board members and looks forward to another great year.
VP of Programming, Deanna Claerhout, CPLP	Deanna has over 15 years’ experience in the Learning and Development field, in which she has held a variety of positions that have led to a broad background in the industry. These roles include work in the following areas: instructional design, course development, project management, learning program management, engagement management, and learning solutions strategy and architecture. She has ideated and developed several learning solutions aimed at improving human performance, which have led to strategic impact on the businesses she has served. She is passionate about developing others – both personally and professionally. She plans to foster deeper connections by elevating the networking opportunities available in 2020.
VP of Membership – Adriene Summers, APTD	Adriene is an organizational development professional with several years of experience in needs assessment, continuous improvement, and employee engagement, as well as customer service experience. She currently serves as the VP of Membership for ATDChi. This was her first year on the board and plans to continue building on the foundation laid in 2019. A focus of the Membership team in 2019 was gathering feedback on the member experience. We heard from many through the annual survey and call-a-thon in July and the goal is to provide value which meets or exceeds expectations in 2020. She will to find ways to deliver the personal touch to members which can sometimes be lost in a large chapter.

As a true seeker of constant opportunities to learn and engage with other talent development professionals, I attend a lot of events. After attending events, I like to take the time to reflect on the topic that was covered. Some events are more impactful than others. One such event that I am still reflecting on was the chapter’s recent event, “The Now & Next of Learning and Technology” facilitated by David Kelly. 

David Kelly is the Executive Vice President and Executive Director for The eLearning Guild. It has been a few weeks since the event took place and I am still thinking about how to apply what I learned personally and how to share this new knowledge with others. The highlight of the event was a look at learning and technology and how it’s incorporated into people’s everyday lives. As I continue my reflection on this concept, I’ve organized my thoughts into three key takeaways:

1) How to think differently as a consultant about learning and technology to solve a problem.

2) What language I use when discussing learning and technology with others.

3) How I personally stay on top of current and emerging learning solutions and technology.

I started reflecting on how I think differently about learning and technology. As a consultant I want to help my clients solve a problem. Am I consistently taking a step back to really understand the problem and all the potential solutions that would be appropriate? Or, am I recommending the latest and coolest learning solution or technology? I really need to continue thinking about my bias towards new technology, as I like what’s new and shiny- much like other people do. For example, in my personal life, I purchased my mom an eReader (Kindle) for her birthday because she loves to read. I then purchased an iPad for her for Christmas because I thought she needed it. It’s funny that that the potential problem of having more things accessible, internet, email, etc. is not what she uses the iPad for. She simply uses the Kindle app on her iPad to read. I did not take a step back to ask if I was solving a problem, I purchased the new technology because it was cool.

My second key takeaway is around language. I need to ask myself, am I adjusting my language to communicate in a way that is tailored for my audience? Am I using Instructional Design terms? Do I translate the words appropriately so that my messaging or intent is not lost? For example, when I speak with my senior leaders and sharing potential solutions, do I use common terms that my stakeholders understand? Using business language will help influence an invitation to a strategic planning session.

The third takeway relates to my knowledge of current and emerging learning solutions and technology. Do I know enough about current technology trends to have a conversation with my business partners in order to help them understand if this is the best solution? There will be times when they are hearing the latest buzz words related to learning and technology and they will ask for these solutions. What am I personally doing to know the terms and gain a foundational understanding in order to ask the right questions?  At the very least, I should know the description and pros/cons of the relevant technology in order to consult with my clients.

In my professional and personal journey, I find that my membership in local and national professional organizations continue to increase in value on so many levels. It’s the experiences through these organizations that trigger deep reflection moments and great conversation topics. Applying just these three key takeaways from this local event will make me a more effective business partner.

By Susan Camberis

Editor, Training Today

Measuring learning impact is critically important yet knowing how to begin can be a challenge.    

ATDChi’s August webinar featured Olga Polyakova.  Olga is the Learning Analytics lead for BCG North America and a former ATDChi Board Member.  Olga shared her experiences with measuring learning impact in professional services.   

Within BCG, career development is handled by career advisors not line managers.  While the vast majority of training is mandatory, it can still be difficult for team members to find time to attend.  Talent rotates on and off new projects every two to four months.  Everyone is evaluated on every project, but evaluation data is not connected to learning. 

“The best thing you can do is build proof-of-concept,” said Polyakova.  To do this, Olga initially focused her efforts on measuring the impact of a three-day off-site training that BCG offers regularly.  By combining delayed-in-time data with compelling personal narratives and factors that enhance or impede sustained impact, Olga was able to create an impactful and sustainable model. 

Here are 5 code-cracking take-aways:

1.      “Think, then do.”  When Olga first began enhancing learning analytics at BCG, she was also working on her Masters in Training and Organizational Development at Roosevelt University.  According to Olga, this was a “magic time” activity – an add-on to her already packed schedule, so maximizing impact was the only way to be successful.

2.      Keep it simple.  Olga’s objectives starting out were simple:  better data (e.g., more outcomes-focused ways to measure feedback), new data (e.g., over-time quantitative and qualitative impact analysis), and better process (e.g., increased automation).  Olga helped BCG develop a two-pillar evaluation framework based on feedback and impact that she believed would resonate with the organization’s culture.  By analyzing data collected at 3-month and 6-month check-ins, the team identified the most applied learning’s as well as behaviors with lower uptake.

3.      Focus on the value proposition. By improving the data being collected, focusing on application data, and leveraging data to improve the overall employee experience at BCG, Polyakova was able to make a compelling case for how the data could deliver benefits for the learning function and the business.

4.      Streamline impact analysis.  Establishing impact analysis typically involves three steps: Design, Execute, and Report.  Execution is what can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.  One of the best demonstrated practices that Olga shared was to complete the Design and Report steps at the same time, so that you can show your customers what they will get the for data you are asking them to provide. 

5.      Quantify results.  “Even for the most intangible trainings, try to quantify results and support with quotes,” shared Polyakova.  If you can quantify time or cost savings estimated by participants, you can extrapolate broader savings and impact for the organization.  In this case, personal narratives were analyzed for quotes to illustrate impact on performance.  The team also discovered that the data they were collecting provided an amazing source of ideas and suggestions for improving the wellbeing of BCG team members and included peer advice that could be shared with future program participants. 

As with any complex project, getting started is key. 

“You really just need to start and do more than was done before,” said Polyakova.

Want to learn more? 

Follow Olga Polyakova (https://www.linkedin.com/in/polyakova-olga/) and BCG

(https://www.linkedin.com/company/boston-consulting-group/) on LinkedIn. 

If enhancing learning analytics is one of your objectives this year, consider joining ATDChi for a full-day workshop with October 15^th with Ken Phillips focused on predictive learning analytics.  To learn more, visit: https://atdchi.org/event-3276628.

As the summer wraps up, it’s time to reengage and reflect on where you are in meeting your professional development objectives for the year. It’s not too late to create your personal individual development plan. Whether you are creating or updating your plan, are you leveraging the ATD Competency Model to incorporate other areas of expertise? As I update my development plan, I’ve added Coaching as my focus for the remainder of this year, The description for Coaching in the ATD Competency Model,  “apply a systematic process to improve other’s ability to set goals, take action, and maximize strengths”  resonates with me the value of coaching. Specifically, understanding how and when to recommend coaching as a performance intervention and how I can  leverage coaching in my own professional journey.

From the perspective of understanding how and when to recommend coaching, I’ve had the pleasure of increasing my exposure to coaching and many of its aspects through the webinars offered as part of a professional development network (PDN). The chapter has recently partnered with a new PDN, Executive, Team & Group Coaching led by Dan Johnson. This has given me the opportunity to increase my awareness and therefore ask additional questions of myself and my colleagues in better understanding how to incorporate coaching into a learning strategy. If you haven’t participated in one of the webinars offered through the Coaching PDN, I invite you to take advantage of this opportunity. As  Talent Development Professionals, it is one of the areas of expertise identified in the ATD Competency Model.

When I  think about coaching that I’ve received primarily from my manager reflect on the 2^nd perspective and how I have experienced coaching in my own professional journey.  It was just in recent years that I began to hear from my peers about the relationship they have with their coach.  My colleagues have formal coaching relationships outside of their primary full-time job or their independent consultant work. Establishing a formal coaching relationship is the next action step that I plan to take.  More and more people are leveraging the coaching relationship for a variety of reasons. Whether seeking counsel  to determine what’s next in their careers or in starting a business, having a coach is more accessible and considered the norm for most professionals today, and no longer appears to be reserved for C Suite executives.

The key take away I’d like you to receive from my message is that Coaching plays a role in your learning strategy recommendations and as a Talent Development Professional.  In closing reflect on your answers to the following questions:

• What do I personally know about coaching?
• Is there someone within my network that is a Coach?
• Is it time for me to facilitate a formal coaching relationship outside of the manager/employee relationship?

Transformational Presence: Conscious Leadership for a Rapidly Changing World with Alan Seale

September 5 @ 11 am * Webinar (via Zoom)
Open to ALL ATDChi members and guests

Navigating complexity and rapid change in business and organizations today requires new kinds of leadership skills—skills that stretch our capacities for awareness, perspective, intuitive thinking, and resilience. We need skills and tools for cutting through multiple layers in what is happening to get to the core, and to find our next steps quickly.

In this experiential and interactive one-hour teleconference, Alan will introduce three simple yet powerful tools for doing just that. Come with an open mind and intuitive curiosity and expand your conscious leadership skills.   

After participating in this session, participants will be able to:

• Use simple and practical yet powerful and effective tools and frameworks for cutting to the essence or core of complex situations.
• Implement skills to help you expand beyond competencies to core capacities—stretching who we are and how we show up as conscious leaders.

This session is brought to you by ATDChi’s Executive, Team, & Group Coaching Professional Development Network (PDN).  ALL ATDChi members AND guests are welcome to attend.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER:  Alan Seale is the founder of the Center for Transformational Presence and the author of seven books, including Transformational Presence: How To Make a Difference In a Rapidly Changing world, Create A World That Works, and The Power of Your Presence. He is the creator of the Transformational Presence Leadership and Coach Training program, which now has more than 700 graduates from 33 countries.  Truly a global coach, Alan serves clients from six continents and travels extensively throughout the Americas and Europe to teach and speak. His books are published in six languages. He makes his home near Boston, Massachusetts, USA.  www.transformationalpresence.org

TO REGISTER:  Visit  https://atdchi.org/event-3374792  Registration is $10 for all ATDChi members and $20 for guests.

By Susan Camberis

Editor, Training Today

Most talent development (TD) professionals are familiar with web-based learning. 

Organizations may choose web-based learning over face-to-face for a variety of reasons, including cost, sustainability, learning style, a remote workforce, branding, and wanting to ensure internal consistency.  But, effectively combining web-based learning with meaningful digital interactivity can be a challenge. 

ATDChi’s July webinar featured Dr. Nicole Buras and Lauren Merrild, Learning and Development Specialists at Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC). Their focuses are in experiential and collaborative workplace learning, and digital interactivity in web-based learning, respectively.  Buras and Merrild’s session discussed an HCSC case study and included applications and learnings for TD professionals. 

Innovations in Learning

Buras and Merrild shared a number of recent innovations in learning including storytelling, simulations, micro-learning, scenarios, animations, interactivity, and game elements.  They emphasized the importance of 1. Choosing the best solution to address the problem you are training to solve; 2. Good instructional design; and 3. Getting leadership buy-in.  According to Buras and Merrild, “Innovations in learning are not a solution; innovations are concepts to be adapted and incorporated into learning solutions as appropriate.” 

Merrild explained that successful execution of interactivity includes three primary elements:

1.      Physical interactivity:  Tangible interactions such as clickables, rollovers, drag and drop’s, and other methods.

2.      Cognitive interactivity:  Interactions and engagements that occur through the use of scenarios, games, stories, and other strategies.

3.      Interaction enablers:  Components that provide focused and adaptive guidance within a course. 

“Today it’s more of a reciprocal relationship between the learner and the technology,” according to Merrild.  What’s important is being conscious of each interactivity element and understanding how they work together. 

The Case Study

The impetus for using game-based learning at HCSC arose through continuous improvement efforts that identified that new associates lacked industry-specific terminology.  The team chose a web-based solution because it could automatically build in learning challenges and be incorporated into existing new hire training plans.  Game-based learning was also selected because it included multiple types of interactivity, which has been shown to positively impact knowledge gains.  The team used Storyline 3 for course design and Photoshop for editing.

HCSC created their own game-based course design model to meet the needs of their learners.  Their model combines three game tenets (narrative that builds in complexity, conflict & resolution, and characters) with the two enabling features of rules & challenges and awards & feedback.  The result is “play as a learning experience,” in which knowledge gains are achieved regardless of success in a game task.

What did HCSC learn?

In total, HCSC collected data on 121 participants.  Qualitative and quantitative data supported findings related to high levels of engagement.  Learners expressed positive perceptions of the game-based design elements and spoke highly of the activities.  Participants not only enjoyed the course but also demonstrated knowledge gains between the pre-and post-test evaluations.  According to Buras and Merrild, “This aligns with the literature on adult learning which argues for interactivity, and more narrowly game-based elements in WBTs.” (Arnold, 2014; Chatterjee, 2010)

HCSC found that game-based learning was a great fit with their employee-base, and they are looking for additional opportunities to further utilize game-based learning design in 2020.   

Want to learn more? 

Check out the article that Dr. Nicole Buras, Lauren Merrild, and their colleague, Dr. WooRi Kim, wrote earlier this year for Training Today entitled Balancing Game-Based Design and Evaluation: http://sco.lt/7N7IKu    

Deanna recommends:

The Alliance: Managing Talent in the Networked Age

Co-authored by Reid Hoffman, Ben Casnocha, and Chris Yeh 

This book is a quick read, with actionable ideas, for talent managers and leaders who are interested in creating alliances between themselves and their employees in a way that builds relationships and trust. Work relationships that follow this model create a win-win situation that will enable leaders to retain their top talent.

Adriene recommends:

Management Mess to Leadership Success: 30 Challenges to Become the Leader You Would Follow

Scott Jeffrey Miller

This is a great book that not only addresses some great leadership principles, but illustrates both good and bad examples of this in practice. Leadership is challenging and Scott does a great job of sharing the lessons he has learned along the way so that we can learn from his experience. It is a short read, easily accomplished in one sitting with a 30 day plan to practice the challenges.

DJ recommends

Find Your Fit: A Practical Guide to Landing a Job You’ll Love

Sue Kaiden, Editor & Foreword by Dick Bolles

This book was free with the ATD membership. It’s an easy read and a person can easily skip to specific sections, should they choose. The information is all great and, I imagine, helpful, even if you think you have found your fit already. Knowledge from a pool of people was collected to shape this book and there are a number of helpful tools at the end!