Social Learning Chatter

[Kevin D. Jones]

This is the first of the weekly questions!

We hear a lot about Web 2.0 in the news. Less frequently, however, we hear about how it can be used for learning in a business environment. What have you heard about 'Social Learning' or 'Learning 2.0' or 'Informal Learning'? Are others talking about it? If so, what are they saying? Are they using it? Or are they more confused by it?

[Sean Harry]

Kevin, I'm just learning about Web 2.0. It really is cutting edge for the business environment. I've been gaining some traction using my webpage and blog, looking into podcasting and something utilizing YouTube (but not sure what yet). With some intentional effort we have doubled our website traffic in just a couple of weeks. I'm certain revenue will follow as word of our value proposition gets spread throughout the blog-o-sphere.

As for web 2.o in a learning environment, I really don't know yet how it can be used in this way. I'm open to pioneering this tool, but will need some folks to come with me. This forum looks like a good place to start. Thanks for asking, I'm interested in hearing about everyone else's ideas and experiences.

Sean Harry, www.orcms.com/blog

[Christine Martell]

It depends on where I am. This is the only place I've heard the Social Learning descriptor. But Learning 2.0 and Informal Learning are all over the blogsphere. There is a whole connected web of blogs that talk about these issues on a regular basis, many of them coming from the e-learning space.

Outside the blogsphere, I'm still not hearing a lot about the training industry adopting Web2.0 tools. Which is too bad, because they have a lot to offer us.

Personally I have started using blogs, social bookmarking, and wikis this year and have learned a lot. I've connected with a whole new circle of colleagues, expanded my network globally, and been introduced to all sorts of tools I didn't know about that I am now using on a daily basis to increase my productivity.

I've had two insights that enabled me to jump in. First, there is always someone who can learn from me, something I can offer. Second, that the blogsphere is a conversation. It's not designed to be a platform to just broadcast. So, you can actually talk to people who you might never have the opportunity to talk to in daily life offline. Pretty much, if someone is blogging, they'll usually talk to you....at least in the training world.

[Kevin D. Jones]

re: the Social Learning descriptor:

When creating a name for this SIG (Special Interest Group) for our local ASTD chapter we looked at all the names. Learning 2.0 we felt was too fad-dy. Is there going to be a learning 3.0 and a 4.0? We wanted something that would last. Informal Learning, from the title, could be reading a book or other forms of learning that don't fit this model (as loose as it already is). So we left that alone. We kicked around a number of other names as well and felt that this was the best fit. It describes this type of learning especially since everyone now has a new meaning of what 'social' means.

Christine, which SL/L2.0/IL blogs do you subscribe to?

-KJ

[Christine Martell]

I just posted on BlogCascadia an example of how learning can emerge from blogging. It also points to another webinar which will most likely be helpful to this audience since e-learning encompasses this Web 2.0 world we are talking about.

[Loren Wertz]

Good discussion.

Frankly, I think there are some negative pre-conceptions that many of us will either need to overcome or determine an effect method of working around.

For instance, we're seeing a pretty heavy resistance to social networking and knowledge sharing. The thought seems to be that the information and/or delivery methods can't easily be trusted. Most social networking sites are blocked by our IT, even those that are primarily business related. Ditto for many heavily used blogging sites. In fact, I was able to access this site on a Friday and found it blocked on the following Monday. The site had to be verified and scrutinized by IT before I could access it again. The talk of a wikipedia usually revolves more around the infrastructure limitations and reliability of information than the benefits and uses.

If anything, I've noticed a tendency toward tightening the knowledge and learning pipeline. Often we seem to be pitting the rationale of security against the rationale of open-sourcing, even though they don't have to be at odds. Breaking through this old school mentality will likely be key, at least for me.

I'm thrilled any time I find information touting the benefits of open information and knowledge sharing, particulary if the methods used are in line with our definition of 'Social Learning'. I envision this SIG being an exellent place to turn to for ideas, but I'm really looking forward to seeing concrete examples of implementation and results. It would be great if we had a library of success stories we can turn to if we need to grease the wheel.

Additionally, what are the most appropriate delivery and reference methods for sharing within our SIG? Should one of us locate a particularly useful blog, wiki, sandbox, etc., we can certainly post that information. However, we want that information to be available long after the post has dropped off the page. What's the best method for ensuring that these tools are aren't forgotten in the archives?

[Kevin D. Jones]

A couple thoughts, Loren.

Step #1 to get them to open up? Get them to use it. Our company was very resistant to SL. They didn't block any of the sites but the thought of using it! YIKES! Just think - if they are that resistant to using it outside, think of what it will take to get them to use it inside. To tell you the truth, it might not be as difficult as one might think.

When my company was resistant, I started using BaseCamp for one of my projects. They had to use it if they wanted to be up to date on what was going on. Then they started seeing - first hand - the benefits inside the corp.

Concrete examples: although not in a learning sense, these help: http://cases2.com

NING used to have a 'pages' wiki style, but I don't see it. I will ask and maybe we can turn that into a case study review. Right now we are implementing ours and it has been going very well. Adoption has spread like wild fire.

[PaulaW]

I've been in software delivery for a number of years; I'm trying to apply social learning in this context.

I think we are just beginning to see the possibilities of Web2.0 technology in learning. I am convinced social learning concepts are applicable, but don't really see (from my very small world) organizations jumping on the bandwagon as quickly as they did to "build a Web presence" in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It's going to be a tough sell to organizational leadership simply because it can "open" the organization to more outsiders.

It seems logical to me that the advent of the Internet has actually increased technology budgets. Will Social learning as intentionally presented by organizations do the same? We all know training is the first place cuts are made in down economies. Will organizations be willing to up training staff/spend more to keep the learning site going? Or maybe they won't need to because customers share what they know making internal teams obsolete?

It's scary to "open" organizational knowledge to customers... I've heard comments (OK, I've made them, too) about the company being trashed via blogs, customers not knowing (wrong!), don't be early on the tech front, customers aren't there yet so it will be a waste of money and time... etc.

I am really interested in how the intentional application of Social/informal learning will change instructional design, how knowledge can be measured (it is working) and how organizations will chose to deliver and staff training/content delivery.

[Kevin D. Jones]

You bring up some very common questions and worries.

I would agree that orgs are not jumping on the bandwagon. Really, Web 2.0 itself has only been around for a short time. Using in the org is even shorter (see my latest post). But helping others understand the value is not like helping them understand the value of a new CRM system. It really is a fundemental shift in thinking of learning because we are so used to a traditional way of learning - whether it is online or in a classroom, it uses a lot of the same principles. This is very different.

Fortunately, most of the software that helps us here is CHEAP compared to any other software, so I don't see it dropping because of monetary reasons.

And while it is true that customers are not there yet, if we don't get it in place and ready for them when they are used to it, we will have to play catch up with everyone else. Get to know it now. How it functions. How to build it. How to keep it (not I.T. but the principles that make the 'social' work) going. Make it a competitive advantage.

I did some more training on this to our company today. As I explained it the best questions (a lot like yours) were coming out. But what if...? How would you...? But the light bulb went on and they saw the possibilities. But that is only the first step. A few steps down we want to make it into as much of a part of how they work as email.

[Sean Harry]

From these posts it appears that this topic is as broad as the many companies and industries that we represent. Currently Web 2.0 is primarily used as a marketing tool. It is a conversation that some folks are willing to enter into, while others are not. I wonder, how does corporate and individual willingness to participate relate to other factors such as age of the user, organizational structure of the company or even industry? I suspect there is a relationship.

Maybe one way to approach this topic is to determine what organizations, departments, or positions would be more likely to be open to using this medium for training. Then focus on an area where Social Learning could be used to enhance the training function of these companies/departments. Finally, I recommend the development of specific tools with a mechanism for measuring their effectiveness. We could start with some of the "soft skills" like networking (important within organizations as well as externally). Some functions and companies would not be suited to these new tools.

A new Social Learning model will not fit every individual or company. Just as there are different learning tools for people who process information visually, orally, or kinesthetically, we will probably need to a variety of tools for different types of Social Learning situations.

[Kevin D. Jones]

I agree that SL will not benefit all workers equally - just as email does not. But SL does encompass a lot of different type of learning. Visually and orally it is covered by podcasts, vodcasts, webinars, blogs & wikis, etc. Kinesthetic learners, however, brings up a good point I had not thought about before.

Do the rules change with SL? I know they do in many other ways, but does it here as well? For example, let's say I learn by doing. Sitting in a class all day I may not get as much as someone who learns visually or orally - proven time and time again. BUT, one characteristic of SL is that you find the information you want in the amount you want. AND, then you share what you know. When learning is so focused, cannot the kinesthetic learner use bite sized pieces and then perform their own hands-on learning? Maybe even, to contribute to the learning, they video themselves doing something and then upload it. Is this not learning by doing for this person?

Just a thought.

[Shari Ward]

Kevin, I just this week attended a webinar called "Learning 2.0: Using Web 2.0 to Create Informal Learning" that was presented by Chief Learning Officer magazine. The presenters referenced a white paper from IBM called "Unlocking the DNA of the Adaptable Workforce" and spun their presentation to address the characteristics of an adaptive enterprise - focused on ways to make our organizations more responsive to the needs of employees and customers. If anyone is interested, you can find an archive of the webinar and a link to the slide deck at http://www.clomedia.com/events/Webinars/2007/December/105/index.php.

Shari :-)

[Kevin D. Jones]

Thanks! I wanted to attend this but didn't get a chance. I appreciate the post!