I was so excited when Karl Kapp and Tony O’Driscoll invited me aboard the blog tour, I took the liberty of inviting some friends to the party. So today, you get 4 for the price of 1, as we have multiple perspectives on Karl and Tony’s book, Learning in 3D. Joining the conversation today are regular contributors Dr. Dawn Francis and Sherry Engel, as well as a guest contributor, ace instructional designer Robin Harmony.
I’m grateful to Karl and Tony for beginning to define what has largely been an undefined learning space. Much as Clark Aldrich did years ago for the crazy-quilt space that was Simulation, Karl and Tony have begun the process of transforming 3D learning from “emerging technology” to “learning strategy.” Good, good stuff and I’m thrilled to be part of the process.
Click this link to purchase the book at a 20% discount using code L3D1. No financial interest for me or my organization, but why shouldn’t you save some money?
On to the posts!
Hi Rich, great intro onto the Learning in 3d discussion, especially so that we get 4 for the price of 1!
Do you truly feel that the publication of this book marks a transitional point from learning technology to learning strategy?
Although this seems like a great facilitator for further discussion on the topic of 3d learning simulations, it does not, to me, seem like the catalyst that will cause the tipping point for organisations to start seeing 3d as a real strategic route for training solutions.
Whilst this adds a loud voice to the chorus of 3d simulation and training advocates, there’s still a long way for us to go yet!
Great question! Does the book mark a transitional point? No, probably not. But what the book does is begin to create the common vocabulary that allows us to have the conversation. One of the biggest limiting factors for emerging technology adoption is the lack of a common language. Learning professional and business stakeholder can’t have a good conversation if they can’t understand each other. I think this book gets moves us down the continuum from “cool idea” to “potential business practice.” Those conversations still need to happen, but now maybe we can actually have them!
Great conversation!
There is no doubt a long way to go to “cross the chasm” and get to “main street” for Virtual Immersive Environments (VIEs). In writing the book Karl and I wanted to answer the five W’s and the H about this technology:
– What is a Virtual Immersive Environment?
– Why is it important to Enterprise Learning and Collaboration?
– Who is using it today and seeing benefit
– How do I launch a VIE project within my own organization
– Where is the best place to pilot this technology?
– What are the instructional approaches that work for VIEs?
It is very gratifying to see that your discussion positions the book in exactly the spot we had aimed for. The beginning of a standard set of language, models, processes and practices to help others along at a more rapid pace than the pioneers.
Thanks for taking the time to review the book!
Rich,
Awesome, 4 for 1 deal! Thanks for getting the gang involved. I do think this book is a milestone in the discussion of the field of 3D learning but, alas, it is probably not the straw that will break the camel’s back and get 3D environments into mainstream corporate strategy.
I think we are a little ways off on that. I think Erica Driver at ThinkBalm mentioned being maybe 3 years out from that point as she sees these environments hitting the early majority around 2013. And, as William Gibson is credited with saying, “the future is already here. It’s just not very evenly distributed.”
We hope the book will more evenly distribute the future of virtual immersive environments. Thanks again to PDG for hosting this stop on the tour and for getting so many great people involved in the discussion.
On to the comments!