Using Social Media Tools to Improve Workplace Learning

Wednesday, August 19, 2009Janet Clarey, Analyst & Sr. Researcher

Brandon Hall Research

We are communicating differently

CommunicationCommunication

Communication

We are communicating through more channels and using more communication technology tools.

We are interacting and collaborating differently.

Interaction and collaboration

We are interacting and collaborating through

more channels and using more collaboration technology tools.

Interaction and collaboration

We are accessing and processing information

differently

We create, share, remix, tag, connect, link, network.

We control it.

Control

Media

Social Media

Google’s worldwide traffic of the term “social media”

What does this mean for learning?

Learning?

Learning is an integral and inseparable aspect of social practice.

– Lave & Wenger, 1991

Learning

We are moving toward a knowledge-era model of education with large-scale social networks

involving complex communities and individual identity construction.

–Wenger, 2004

Complex

It is within complex online communities and networks where social construction of

understanding occurs.–Huberman, Romero, & Fang, 2008

Social

It’s my first day at my new job. I hope I like it here.

People

Traditional

Same old, same old

Predictable

Where do I park?

Where do I sit?

How do I answer the

phone?

Who are the movers and

shakers?

What will I be working on

first?

Who do I need to know in other departments?

Who do I work with?

What day is pay day?

Computer usage?

Process

Network

Non-traditional, unpredictable

e-learning…plus…on-the-job training…plus social

networks…

Conversations get smaller, more

Courses get shorter

Learning gets fragmented

New blend

Differentiators of “Web 2.0 / Social Media”

1. No formal teaching structure2. Situated3. Not dependent on time or

place4. No grades / ratings /

certifications5. Relies on peer-to-peer

interaction6. Relies on interaction with

Internet media7. Not stored in a central

repository8. Folksonomy approach to

tagging vs. standardization9. Unorganized and

unmanaged

9.5 strategies…because you’re SOL without a

strategy.

1.) Blended Learning

2.) Informal Learning

3.) Collaborative Learning Environment

4.) Knowledge Management

5.) As part of a learning plan

6.) Community

7.) Leadership development

8.) Professional development

9.) To develop and

retain talent

9.5)NetGen

Now what?

Further discussion…janet@brandon-hall.comhttp://twitter.com/jclarey

http://brandon-hall.com/janetclarey

Thanks!Kicks ass

Webinar participants collaborative slide – what makes ILT bad

Webinar participants collaborative slide – what makes an ideal online community?