Individuals can learn by using courses, textbooks, online tools or notes scribbled on the back of a cigarette pack.

Depends how deeply you have been institutionalized.

The product of some research could be a white paper or a phd, the product of training expertise a course with a specific set of specifications to it such as how many hours, course objectives, course content, certificate, MBA etc.

This is sort of the ‘standard’ in the learning industry.

What I mean with products is though a duplicable, reproducable learning product or concept like for example the concept of Pecha Kucha.

To deliver such a presentation calls for mastery on behalf of the presenter, is a great learning experience because of concise thoughts, concise English, concise presentation techniques,t pace, pausing etc. and the ‘learning outcome’ is a presentation in a speedy presentation format, a product that can be published and shared.

So we have a learning experience, a learning process, a learning outcome AND a learning product.

Similar to this, I think that more learning products other than courses or certificates are out there.

Can you think of any?

Spontaneously a mindmap comes to mind. This is also a great learning product I find.

Or is it a product?

My intent in this post was to show a separation between tools and what is created by the person. In that way, we don’t think “wiki”, but “collaboratively developed document” instead.

Thank you for reflecting on this and thank you for engaging in such a discussion which is prompted by my own simple observations that I am forever suprised why in e-learning there seems so much fuzz about tools so that often we talk about nothing but tools.

Compared with the building industry, architects do not pride themselves with which kind of tool they used to create their products: buildings, suburbs, streets, towns.

I am a little confused because what you describe above is what I would call ‘Learning outcomes’.

But are learning outcomes really the same as learning products? Is the learning process (discussions, reflective writing, learning to learn etc) not like the building process, a needed discipline on how to get there but where? Are our learning products MBAs, diplomas, certificates, are the CD Roms, WBT or gadgets?

Thank you for allowing me to think out loud. I am aware that I sound confused.