About
This is my personal site — I also have a blog and a business site, among others. But when the Internet first was born, I was lucky enough to register my name as a domain and have kept it ever since. I’m now running it using WordPress just because I like to.
If you’re introducing me (or looking for something to put in a brochure or program) feel free to use some of this text or these photos. For heaven’s sake don’t use it all, or take it too seriously. And feel free to make things up.
The Bio
Dick Carlson has been managing technical learning content for a very long time. Because of this, he is an opinionated and generally pretty annoying fellow. (And that’s how his FRIENDS describe him.) On the other hand, his projects are described with words like “fantastic” and “incredible”, as customers just love the stuff he does. He’s the Creative Director for the Virtual Content Company, where he helps you create amazing technical learning.
For over 20 years, Dick has been helping people understand and use technology – most recently for the Microsoft Corporation where he where he achieved stratospheric customer satisfaction numbers and frequently got yelled at by management. At Microsoft, Dick developed learning content for 10,000+ customers at their largest show – including hands-on lab sessions, a 100,000 square foot Technical Learning Center, and the online virtual event that brought Microsoft TechEd content to customers around the world.
His past projects include a 25-week online learning program, a complex multimedia curriculum in economics theory and practice, a collaborative book entitled “Creating Learning Content,” facilitation of online courses in adult learning and e-learning design, and research to increase the understanding of how metaphorical images can be used to enhance technology training. Dick and his wife Diane also started the non-profit Institute for Electronic Education in Washington State, providing curriculum and research products for use in development of online learning content.
He has consulted for federal government agencies, healthcare providers, banking, manufacturing and higher education clients. He often presents and keynotes for groups like the American Society for Training and Development, the National Association for Gaming and Simulation, Elliott Masie’s Learning 2007 and the Society for Applied Learning Technology. (ASTD, NASAGA, L7 and SALT — for those of you playing along at home.)
Dick has a bachelor’s degree in Electronic Communications, with an M.Ed. in Adult Education from Western Washington University.
Presentations, Publications and Keynotes
EXTREME E-LEARNING: OUTSIDE THE BOX, BEYOND THE PALE, AND PAST THE BLEEDING EDGE Presentation for the Oregon Society of Association Management on the changes in learning and how to use it to better serve the needs of their membership.
HAVING A WONDERFUL TIME — AND I’M NOT THERE! Keynote presentation for the Professional Convention Management Association, talking about the use of technology to drive new ways of learning in events.
DEVELOP MEETINGS THAT COMMUNICATE TO GENERATION “X” Keynote presentation and workshop for Meeting Planners International on how to develop meeting content that relates to technologically savvy learners, using blogs, podcasting and other social media tools.
THE POWER OF BABBLE: How new social media tools like viral video, blogs, podcasts and wikis have changed the learning model from the traditional “sage on the stage” to a more “many to many” model of learner-built content.
EXTREME E-LEARNING: OUTSIDE THE BOX, BEYOND THE PALE, AND PAST THE BLEEDING EDGE
Keynote presented to the Washington Association of Association Executives, sharing experiences (good and bad) with using tools like wikis, podcasts, discussion groups and other extreme learning techniques.
USING VIRTUAL PC TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE REAL LEARNING — MULTIPLE MACHINES ON A SINGLE PCPre-conference tutorial presented at SALT 2006 conference, sharing out methods for creating and deploying large-scale customer training events.
CREATING CUSTOMER-CENTERED LEARNING Workshop presented at SALT 2005 conference, covering research and pilot programs at Microsoft to establish best practices and techniques for creating learning experiences that focus on customer pain points and challenges.
WITHOUT A NET: DESIGNING AND DELIVERING A SYNCHRONOUS CLASS Developed and delivered live synchronous class covering design and delivery process of creating virtual learning products, focusing on rapid development model and high level of interactivity.
CERTIFICATE IN E-LEARNING MANAGEMENT Project manager and senior instructional designer on 25-week synchronous University of Phoenix Online program in all aspects of e-learning management - program design, marketing, branding, technical development and assessment.
THE 7 LAWS OF BLENDED LEARNING: CREATING COURSES THAT LEARNERS LOVE Created online blended learning experience with discussion, pre and post-session components, and one hour live synchronous presentation. Covered basics of design and delivery of complete blended learning class.
DON’T TEACH ONLINE! DESIGNING AND DELIVERING VIRTUAL LEARNING Developed and presented live synchronous virtual class with Horizon Live. Created presentation contents and delivered one-hour online session.
TRAIN-THE-TRAINER ONLINE: iLearn Facilitated ASTD learning program, using Centra online learning technology. The goal of the sessions was teaching technical trainers how to move to synchronous online environment.
CHOOSING/USING A LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (LMS) Developed and presented synchronous online learning module for Interwise learning tool, developing needs assessment and evaluation matrix tools for potential purchasers of Learning Management software.
THE WASTEBASKET ON MY DESKTOP: USE OF METAPHOR IN WEB-BASED COURSESPioneered new techniques for incorporation of metaphor in online environment, created train-the-trainer series to help university faculty improve quality of courses and learning transfer.
CREATING LEARNING CONTENT: BITE-SIZED LESSONS IN USING NEW MEDIA FOR LEARNING Created and facilitated new concept in book authoring. Developed online delivery and print versions.
UNIVERSITY ONLINE CLASSES Designed and created online classes for regional university; worked to facilitate student interaction and participation; trained faculty in the use of BlackBoard and WebCT software. Repurposed existing content, developed synchronous and asynchronous discussion environments, designed experiential learning projects, created online help systems.