New Article in the Canadian Journal of Learning

Looking for research-validated advice regarding designing instruction, e-learning, informal learning, and evaluation—then check out “Using Research to Guide Practice: A Dozen Guidelines from the Research,” my article in the Spring 2010 issue of the Canadian Learning Journal, the magazine of the Canadian Society for Training and Development (CSTD).

The article provides practicing professionals with guidelines in these popular areas, as well as guidance in reading research and the various ways they can use and conduct research in the boundaries of their jobs. The article is influenced by the proceedings at CSTD’s first Research-to-Practice Day,

October 20, 2009 preceding the CSTD-IFTO World Conference.

For more information, visit www.cstd.ca

Upcoming Presentations

Over the next few months, I will be speaking at several events. If you’re there, please stop by and say hello.

• Spectrum 2010, the annual conference of the Rochester, New York chapter of the Society for Technical Communication (April 9), where I’m delivering the keynote speech. http://www.stc-rochester.org/category/membership_benefits/conferences/spectrum-2010/
• The Society for Technical Communication Annual Summit (Dallas, Texas, May 1-5)), where I’m scheduled to give a two-day certification program for technical communication managers. http://conference.stc.org/program-info/preconference-courses/
• Spring Symposium, of the Canadian Society for Training and Development (Calgary, Alberta, May 27-28), where, in a general session with Louise Grummit of Benchmark Performance, we’ll be unveiling the revised Competencies for Trainers and explaining how professionals can use them as a tool for guiding practice. http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Agenda.aspx?e=09116527-da28-46f7-be38-4995889f7668
• The Canadian Association for the Society for Adult Education (CASAE) Annual Conference, where I’m presenting three academic papers on various aspects of adult education for the workplace. CASAE’s conference is part of the annual Canadian Congress of the Humanities and Social Science (May 28-June 4), which my university is hosting.
• The Canadian Association for the Study of Discourse and Writing (CASDW), where I’m presenting two academic papers, as well as a workshop on creating powerpoint capture presentations. This event is also part of the Congress, so I’ll be rollerskating between events.
• ED-MEDIA (Toronto, June 29-July 2), a conference of the Association for the Advancement of Computers in Education, where I’m presenting an advanced instructional design workshop for e-learning, as well as several academic papers. www.aace.org.
• International Professional Communication Conference (IPCC), the annual conference of the IEEE Professional Communication Society (University of Twente Netherlands, July 7-9), where I am presenting a workshop on conducting research across occupational cross-cultures. http://ewh.ieee.org/soc/pcs/index.php?q=node/843

Truth versus the Web

Saw this priceless quote in a profile of a couple that runs snopes.com, a website that checks the facts behind urban legends on the Web:

“It’s not like, ‘Well, we have to get out there and defend the truth,’ ” Mrs. Mikkelson added. “When you’re looking at truth versus gossip, truth doesn’t stand a chance.”

To read the rest of the profile, visit "Debunkers of Fiction Sift the Net" by Brian Stelter at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/05/technology/05snopes.html?src=linkedin.