Learning professionals talk often these days about “business impact”. However, not long ago most Executives were satisfied with taking it on “faith” that it was worth making the investment. Now most Executives need to justify all expenses, and they’re taking a closer look – they want data that shows the investment in training and development will pay off.

I was reading an article in Fast Company that discussed the power of YouTube® and how it’s poised for enormous growth. I can believe it. Often when I’m looking for a quick sound-bite of information I either “Google it” or head to YouTube for help. I think many people are like that. Access to JIT (“just in time”) learning is becoming easier and easier, and this changes learner expectations about the traditional linear and time intensive structure of traditional instructor led classroom formats.

Bruce Springsteen said it best in 1992 when he lamented the empty promise of entertainment choices for the masses. Now a communications explosion of multimedia options competes for our attention; you can even get those 57 channels (plus much more) on your phone.

So far we’ve focused on finding the “perfect blend” of learning elements to build the optimal online learning experience. Part of the challenge in creating an online experience with the same richness one gets in the classroom is trying to replicate the feedback classroom students receive from the instructor and peers. This feedback provides critical informal checkpoints that students use to validate their learning and make sure they’re on track.

Creating relevant social interaction in an online learning program solidifies a student’s understanding of the material and provides critical peer perspectives that are often lost when training goes online. That said, social interaction in online learning is not always easy to implement. The old “build it and they will come” approach may work for Kevin Costner in the Field of Dreams, but it rarely works in social learning.

“Where’s the beef?”

I may be dating myself, but this catch phrase from a Wendy’s commercial years ago illustrates a salient point for online learning.

In my first blog post, I talked about trying to find the perfect blend: the holy grail of online learning. So, to begin our quest, we need to acknowledge the importance of the first critical aspect of on-line learning — credible content.

For years, the training industry sought the perfect balance of learning modes to better reach an ever-changing audience. However, with all of this new technology, come new distractions. We remain tethered to the internet (whether by choice or not) 24/7.

With the new year comes new goals and aspirations. One thing I promised myself this year was to more overtly embrace social media technologies. It’s no secret that social media technologies like Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare are changing the way we interact with each other. At any given time, you can know all sorts of details about what your friends are doing for better or worse. If you have kids, you probably witnessed feats of texting prowess you couldn’t fathom doing yourself – it’s as if they were born with texting devices in their hands.