If you’re going to integrate learning with work, you had better understand the work. Watch people, talk to people, use appropriate analysis tools, and think like the performer. Understand their world, day to day pressures, tools they use (or could use), and how they use them. Understand the job inputs, processes, and feedback mechanisms for job incumbents.

With less than two months left in 2011, some of you may still have certification goals to accomplish this year. If so, you might have time left to meet your resolutions. What’s important is to start with a game plan. For example, the CISSP exam is scheduled to be updated in 2012, so you might want to look at testing dates this year.

In keeping with the standard of continuous improvement, the ITIL 2011 refresh will incorporate over 500 changes since the release of ITIL v3 in 2007 that includes feedback from the user and training community. Among other places these changes are reflected in the course syllabi and exams.

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 originally wrote this post a few weeks ago for my personal blog: Peformance X Design. As our training expectations and needs evolve, the points outlined here can be useful for any organization in any industry. We have a need for organization specific knowledge and skill, but customized learning does not always meet that need.

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.

I was lucky enough to be asked by EC-Council to participate in the rollout of CEHv7 (Certified Ethical Hacker v7). After sitting in on some of the conference calls and reviewing the updated material, I can tell you that major changes were made.

A glance at the job market might make anyone squeamish, but IT professionals are not among the majority here. A survey conducted by Dice​.com analyzed the current trend among hiring managers and recruiters in the IT field, and the survey showed that 54% of managers anticipate higher demand for tech savvy employees during the coming year.

One of the most challenging aspects of learning about service management in general, and specifically ITIL, is keeping all of the information straight. ITIL v3 consists of 5 core books with each book focusing on a specific aspect of service management. ITIL v3 is organized into a series of “lifecycle phases” that roughly mirror phases in the lives of IT services.