Social Learning - Will it Last?

[Kevin D. Jones]

Yesterday I had a conversation with a coworker who deals a lot with the technical side of our Social Learning environment. I must admit that I feel he is very pessimistic as a person but also in regard to the whole Web 2.0, Social Learning, Social Networking scene that has popped up. His prediction is that this bubble will burst.

I totally disagree, but that is just me. What do you think?

[Sean Harry]

I think it's here to stay . . . but don't take my word for it. Others must think so as well. Check out this article.

"AOL Buys Bebo For $850 Million" -- Social Networking has REAL value. What we are doing is cutting edge, folks!

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/13/aol-buys-bebo-for-750-million/

See you all at 11:00

[Richard Watson]

I would have to agree with Sean. Although the pace at which Social Learning is being adopted is slower then we would like, it will happen.

Changing a company's culture is not something that happens overnight, it takes time. The first step is to make sure people understand that collaboration is more then just a group of people working together and playing nicely. Instead, it's the ability to use the skills, ingenuity and intelligence of the masses to produce products that are more effective and efficient then would otherwise be possible (source: Wikinomics). We can work from the bottom up to get Social Learning tools into an organization but another way is to show executives how other companies are using the social learning tools and benefiting from them. Real-world results!

As Sean states, "What we are doing is cutting edge folks!" It was back in the late 1870s when the commercial phone network went online and filled a need that no one even knew they had until the telephone arrived. Social Learning is very similar. It feels needs that people don't know they have.

I just posted comments about a CEO who was overwhelmed with e-mail in his company. Stop by and read about what he was struggling with and how the article suggested it be addressed. Sad to say, it wasn't with Social Learning tools!
http://richardwatson64.wordpress.com/2008/04/01/one-ceos-approach-t...