When I was in grade school, the excitement and pleasure of knowing The Wizard of Oz would be airing within the month was overwhelming. Neighborhood children delighted in invitations to friends’ houses, where together they would eat Jiffy Pop popcorn and watch The Wicked Witch swoop down on her broom into Munchkin Land.
In those days, if you were careless enough to miss The Wizard of Oz, or Frosty the Snowman’s annual showing, you had to wait an entire year for your next opportunity.
We’ve come a long way from three major networks and a handful of radio stations. We’ve evolved from a few providers broadcasting to many, to the new phenomenon of “Many to Many.”
“Many to many,” in today’s world, quite simply means many people are now chatting, blogging and videoing to many. Gone are the days of a few experts dispensing entertainment or information to an expectant group. Today, all of us are experts, eager to share our knowledge, jokes, stories, and lives with everyone in our chosen communities.
At Levitin Levitin, we believe strongly that training must mirror this new social phenomenon. Why should one person be solely responsible for educating a diverse team? With the right learning platform, like Levitin Learning – one that’s easy to use and is fun – students can be part of the learning process, not subject to it. Learners upload videos of their best practices, presentations, and ideas in an easy-to-use environment.
This shift from a few to many contributors creates buy-in, promotes a culture of growth, and ultimately allows for much richer content. Besides, the good stuff happens in the field, not in the ivory tower. Let’s capture it and share it.
I love these exciting new times. I’m passionate about the sharing of ideas, the increased brainpower, and even the vulnerability that’s taking place. Many of us have assembled talented groups of dedicated and caring people. But we should ask ourselves if we are tapping into this most precious resource. Today’s e-learning technology can’t only bring together great minds; it can bring out the heart that’s necessary to sustain an organization in the long run. As Casey Stengel says, “Gettin’ good players is easy. Gettin’ ’em to play together is the hard part.”