“Learning Perspectives:2010” is an open-source eBook by The MASIE Center and Learning 2010. Over 40 learning leaders from global corporations and government agencies contributed perspectives on how learning is changing (and will continue to change) in the coming years.

It includes articles from our 30 Under 30 Learning Leaders. Contributors are from Google, Intel, Lockheed Martin, Accenture, Alliance Pipeline, Farmers Insurance, Veterans Administration, Cleveland Clinic, CNN, Liberty Mutual, CIA, Luxottica and many other organizations.

I found the chapter by MaryJo Swenson of Novell on the Blended Future of Learning particularly interesting in light of some of the work I’m currently involved with. She contrasts the value of learning that happens in playgrounds, where students learn how to work together to achieve goals, lead and be team players, then explores this metaphor in terms of the new “playgrounds of learning” that are emerging online. She comments,

As an ongoing process, learning appears to be instantaneous and immediately rewarding, but individuals are still driven to look further and deeper. They have easy access to information anywhere, any time; yet, they continue to look for validation from experts, instructors or facilitators.

Swenson argues that learning in the future will inevitably be ‘blended’ (online and face-to-face) taking advantage of what each environment has to offer, saying that as we develop new learning tools, whether online or as eBooks and mobile device modules, we must also continue multi-day, face-to-face training activities with instructors and choices of tools.

Swenson raises the issue of how, in a world of informal learning, do we measure success, going on to argue for a focus on mastery, based around effective forms of diagnostic assessment from which personalised learning pathways are developed and learners taking more responsibility for pursuing goals etc.

She also notes that the job of “course” development is greatly impacted. The focus will not be on the design principles or the actual writing of content, but rather on modules and consumable learning articles delivered via the web or mobile devices.

All good stuff – and there’s plenty more besides. Certainly worth downloading and storing away to read when the time is available.