It goes without saying that the switch by law firms to Windows/Office XP is a huge driver for training and technology spending. Firms are taking the opportunity to upgrade a wide variety of software packages to take full advantage of the power and multimedia capabilities that XP makes possible. The question that I have for firms is, how are you going to make sure that your users are as competent in the new applications as possible? Several AmLaw Top 200 firms are incorporating e-Learning into the budgeting and rollout planning for this all important transition.

Something else that our firm has noticed from both a staffing perspective and an IT perspective. Within a law firm considering a migration, there is a tremendous amount of angst on the part of word processors, secretaries and paralegals whose lifeblood are these technology tools. Having been so loyal and dependent on Word Perfect for so many years and now finally faced with reality of true change, we have even heard of legal office professionals that would rather quit rather than switch.

I will put it to the group. Is managing the change to XP as much of a cultural change as much as a technology change? If so, how do you manage both changes?

I've been in the adult learning industry for 15 years and it's fun to watch Way2Smart talking and teaching to the people, here at the show. They have a great story to tell about bringing e-learning into the law office. People are excited about the opportunities this new form of employee enhancement can bring to their own firms. Wish you could be here with us to partake of the atmosphere.

Posted by DENESE SCHMELZKOPF

Last day of ALA....we are inviting different e-learning folks to join in on a round table discussion...but until that time - most of the by-lines will be mine.

So to jump in today - before we set up all the names - I would like to introduce Denese Schmelzkopf of ElementK - who is present with us in our booth at ALA...Take it DENESE:

Day 2 of ALA and things have been going a mile-a-minute.

Joining us in the booth today was Denese Schmelzkopf with Element K. Element K is one of the firms that supplies content to Way2Smart. Interestingly enough, firms have expressed interest in the interpersonal skills training like the Harvard Leadership Line of training by Element K as well as the more traditional IT and desktop applications skills. Regardless of what passers-by were interested in, interest in e-Learning was the highest we have experienced and it finally seems like firms are really grasping the concept that e-Learning will be a major part of the operations of their firms in the future and that they need to gain experience quickly, even if it is isolated to small projects and pilots.

We have had the fortune of having several good friends visit the booth. Stopping by from Intelliteach was Lance Waagner. Intelliteach is a full-service training and integration firm based in Atlanta, GA. However, they service a wide range of firms nationwide. We are beginning to see the same firms engaging traditional instructor-led firms are also approaching e-Learning firms so that there is a true blended training component to their pending technology migrations.

Bonnie Speer McGrath, CEO of Perfect Access Speer and noted legal industry technology expert also spent some time illuminating us on the peaks and valleys of e-Learning in the legal space.

We will have a complete wrap-up after tomorrow's events.

Well, it's opening day at the ALA Conference in San Antonio! Last night's welcome function was filled with mexican food, margaritas, sticker trading and catching up with old friends. Our group was engaged in several conversations about law firms undertaking new training initiatives along the lines of vertical practice areas and e-Learning as it involves support for the ubiquitous Windows/Office XP migration that people are either planning or are in the middle of.

There are several training firms here at the ALA that are beginning to incorporate e-Learning into their corporate training approach. Intelliteach (formerly Next-Step.com) is one of the leaders. Lance Waagner and his team are beginning to preach the gospel and will be someone to watch in the legal training space.

More later as we have it!

Getting ready to jet off to the ALA conference in Texas and noticed a new posting to the ALA website. Reads as follows:

"If you can't make it to ALA's 31st Annual Conference & Exposition in San Antonio, be there virtually beginning Tuesday, May 21. Review recaps of Warren Bennis' keynote address, Erin Brockovich's general session, Stephen C. Lundin's general closing session and various educational sessions posted for your virtual Conference experience. Winners of the ALA Chapters' Awards, Silent Auction results and happenings in the Exhibit Hall will also be highlighted." There's something to be checking out if you are not headed that way.

The group from Way2Smart will be attending and we will be bringing you a daily posting of activities....If you are interested in particular sessions, events or any of the folks hanging out - drop us a quick line at erobinson@way2smart.com and we'll report back to you.

Woo Hoo! This morning I received an e-mail blast from LLRX.com - "a unique, free Web journal dedicated to providing legal and library professionals with the most up-to-date information on a wide range of Internet research and technology-related issues, applications, resources and tools." I'm sure you are familiar with this journal - but if you're not - then you've got to sign up for the Update. LLRX is powered by Sabrina Pacifici and Cindy Chick - law librarians with 46 years of collective experience...These ladies RULE!

Anyway, the Update had an article written by Cindy Carlson - the Electronic Resources Librarian at Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson. Cindy's column E-Learning: Lessons from the Winston & Strawn Experience is a great read and includes an interview with Amy Wharton and Trish Uhi. Get into the section where Trish starts to explain the variety of tools that are available. These women have wisely spent time looking at the choices made by the corporate world.

Should we at least address the question?- What is a blog? Really it's a weblog - online diaries and commentaries...a continual tour with a human guide or so weblog news says in "A History of Weblogs".