Calculating Your Learning Footprint

I'll admit that I had initially decided to subscribe to "Jane's e-Learning Pick of the Day"

1. because we share the same first name

2. she, also like me, thinks learning technologies are cool...and our slightly geeky little bunch should stick together.

But I am constantly inspired by the little tidbits and tools she brings to my attention.

Case in point. While perusing the posts from the past couple of weeks, I ran across this great site and self proclaimed "fancy pants calculator" for people to use to estimate the cost savings of moving from traditional classroom delivery to e-Learning.

http://www.learningfootprint.com/calculate.html

Besides being easy and insightful, you can print off a .pdf of the results to use in your business case for e-learning.

Learn the Most Scientific Business Modeling Method & Earn Professional Development Credit

BusinessGenetics' Learning Center is just weeks away from becoming a Registered Education Provider with the Project Management Institute (PMI). This means that when you, a PMP professional, complete our most popular course, Business Modeling Using xBML, you will soon be awarded 24 Professional Development Units (PDUs) for your efforts. Do you have remaining training budget to spend before the end of the 2009 fiscal year? Do you need to earn some PDUs to maintain your certification? We have traditional classroom AND virtual options of this course available in September. Register now for the best availability!

BusinessGenetics Announces xBML Certification Program

BusinessGenetics Education announces the addition of their xBML Certification Program to their Learning Center. Certification is available at three levels, xBML Modeler, xBML Facilitator and xBML Master. BusinessGenetics continues to enrich and promote the profession of business analysts and business process professionals through their education, toolset and proliferation of their scientific methodology.

Each level of BusinessGenetics’ certification involves a combination of education, application, observation and skill assessment providing the students a comprehensive understanding of the BusinessGenetics solution toolset and methodology. The base certification level, xBML Modeler, validates an individual’s proficiency in using and manipulating the W5 Editor, a critical component in defining and modeling any organization correctly and completely. The second level, xBML Facilitator, confirms an individual’s ability, not only the methodology and the W5 editor, but also how to facilitate work sessions, manage group dynamics, conflict resolution, interpretation and translation of business information. The highest certification level, xBML Master, is the culmination of the program. The Master practitioner is a recognized expert in the BusinessGenetics methodology, the W5 Editor and has significant experience leading facilitated sessions. Additionally the xBML Master practitioner is qualified to deliver project outcomes through either business improvement analytics or business requirements generation.

“BusinessGenetics is thrilled to launch our certification program. This program is not only about book knowledge but about the application and practice of a discipline,” shares Jane Johnson, Director of Education for BusinessGenetics. “As an organization we strive to promote the advancement of the business analyst and business process professional. We designed this program to support their professional development while formally recognizing their expertise.”

Weekly Web Wead - Blogs

I am sure you have heard the famous saying, “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer” (Sun-Tzu), well this week’s web wead is all about a little competitive intelligence… Blog style.

The following links are company blogs of some of our competitors:

IDS Sheer – ARIS
http://www.arisblog.com/

Web Methods Chief Technology Officer
http://www.ebizq.net/blogs/bpmblog/

Lombardi
http://blog.lombardi.com/

You may want to add them to your RSS feeds so you can keep tabs on what they are contributing and working on.

Are there more? Or at this point are you scratching your head and asking ‘what the heck is a blog and why should I care?’

Here is my personal recommendation for learning more about the power of blogs for business:

Naked Conversations: How Blogs are Changing How Companies Talk with Customers
Preview the Book

Weekly Web Wead - LinkedIn

LinkedIn is an interconnected network of experienced professionals from around the world, representing 170 industries and 200 countries.

Besides building and maintaining your professional network, here are some other ideas of how you might leverage this popular tool:

Smart Ways to Use Linked In
http://www.linkedintelligence.com/smart-ways-to-use-linkedin/

You Should be Using LinkedIn for Demand Generation
http://www.louisgray.com/live/2009/03/you-should-be-using-linkedin-for-demand.html

Recommendations Are Feel Good Business for a Recession
http://www.louisgray.com/live/2008/12/linkedin-recommendations-are-feel-good.html?obref=outbrain

Browse LinkedIn Answers
The LinkedIn site now allows you to broadcast your business-related questions to both your own network and the greater LinkedIn community.
http://www.linkedin.com/answers

Weekly Web Wead - Twitter

What are YOU doing in 140 characters or less??? Twitter has become such a phenomenon as a new communication channel that it is worth gaining a little understanding of this web sensation.

Here’s a little head start to catching up with what Twitter is and how it is being leveraged in the sales and marketing arenas specifically:

Why Twitter Matters
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/may2008/tc20080514_269697.htm

Twitter: A Guide for Sales Professionals
http://www.passivepipeline.com/resources/feature-articles/109-twitter-for-sales-professionals.html

eMarketing Tips Using Twitter
http://www.consultingpulse.com/2009/04/emarketing-tips-using-twitter.html

To Tweet or Not to Tweet, That Is the Question
http://www.clickz.com/3633252

BusinessGenetics to Offer Virtual Training and Other "Green" Options for Their Education Courses

BusinessGenetics, a pioneer in the Business Modeling, Business Requirements, Business Improvement and IT automation markets, is proud to announce the expansion of their virtual training class schedule. Currently BusinessGenetics offers their foundational course, Business Modeling Using xBML, over eight, three-hour, virtual sessions held monthly, and on an open enrollment basis. Students learn how to use the xBML modeling language to create and manipulate business models using the xBML W5 software, practice Document Co-formulation, Facilitated Co-Formulation and Project Co-Formulation. Virtually delivered versions of the advanced courses will also be available beginning in September 2009.

As with other decrease their carbon footprint. Historically, BusinessGenetics has supplied each student participant with a 100-200 page binder of course materials. Now, as part of BusinessGenetics commitment to reducing their carbon footprint, students will be provided with a personalized flash drive containing electronic files of all course materials as well as access to the same files on demand, stored on the BusinessGenetics practitioner community site. For those clients who may still request a printed binder, a portion of the $150 per binder fee will be used to purchase carbon offset credits.

"Expanding our efforts to reach our geographically dispersed client needs through our virtual training options was our first step," says Jane Johnson, Director of Education for the Englewood-based company. "Reducing our reliance on hard copy materials delivery is the correct next step in support of both our business and environmental sustainability."