Comments on: Learning through social networks http://www.jarche.com/2009/10/learning-through-social-networks/ Learning & Working on the Web Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:55:39 -0300 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Harold Jarche » The value of social media for learning http://www.jarche.com/2009/10/learning-through-social-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-191459 Harold Jarche » The value of social media for learning Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:48:15 +0000 http://www.jarche.com/?p=2989#comment-191459 [...] and feelings between people who care. Social networks have been shown to be the principle way that learning spreads in organizations: Individual learning in organizations is irrelevant because work is almost never done by one [...] [...] and feelings between people who care. Social networks have been shown to be the principle way that learning spreads in organizations: Individual learning in organizations is irrelevant because work is almost never done by one [...]

]]> By: Harold Jarche http://www.jarche.com/2009/10/learning-through-social-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-191422 Harold Jarche Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:39:11 +0000 http://www.jarche.com/?p=2989#comment-191422 Thanks very much for your comment, Ellen. First, I would say that learning through social networks does not mean just setting up some social networking software platform. Social networks are many and various, and are not necessarily technology-mediated. My main point is that learning spreads best through social networks, so let's understand and support their use. I've yet to see my social networks get bogged down with too much information. Social networks are a key way that I deal with information abundance as I can connect to the right person who can make sense of an issue for me. Each complex problem requires different base skills. Critical thinking would be a base skill for most complex problems, but I haven't seen a workplace training program that actually helps people develop these skills. Furthermore, if work is evaluated correctly, we don't have to be concerned with how people learn, but whether they can do the job. Employees aren't told how to eat, so what gives anyone the right to tell them how to learn? I think that the training & education professions have for too long focused on the easy stuff - content dissemination. That's the window dressing. The tough stuff is designing work systems that facilitate social learning, are transparent and provide multiple feedback loops. Thanks very much for your comment, Ellen. First, I would say that learning through social networks does not mean just setting up some social networking software platform. Social networks are many and various, and are not necessarily technology-mediated. My main point is that learning spreads best through social networks, so let’s understand and support their use. I’ve yet to see my social networks get bogged down with too much information. Social networks are a key way that I deal with information abundance as I can connect to the right person who can make sense of an issue for me.

Each complex problem requires different base skills. Critical thinking would be a base skill for most complex problems, but I haven’t seen a workplace training program that actually helps people develop these skills. Furthermore, if work is evaluated correctly, we don’t have to be concerned with how people learn, but whether they can do the job. Employees aren’t told how to eat, so what gives anyone the right to tell them how to learn?

I think that the training & education professions have for too long focused on the easy stuff – content dissemination. That’s the window dressing. The tough stuff is designing work systems that facilitate social learning, are transparent and provide multiple feedback loops.

]]> By: Ellen http://www.jarche.com/2009/10/learning-through-social-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-191421 Ellen Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:37:55 +0000 http://www.jarche.com/?p=2989#comment-191421 Harold -- Doesn't one have to have the "learning" part down before the "performance" can take place? Doesn't the "learning" have to be completed -- at some level -- before useful collaboration can occur? Every time I read about the value of social networking in training/education for learners, I wonder how anyone can guarantee that's what's shared in a social network is the best information/guidance/training/etc. For example, I could post a question on LinkedIn and get all kinds of responses, but a fair number of them (maybe all) will be from parties with a vested interest in getting my attention -- vendors selling products or services, for example. Certainly their input is going to be biased to their agenda. You write, "Organizations should focus on enabling practitioners to produce results by supporting learning through social networks. The rest is just window dressing." Internal (white label) social networks will block, to some degree, the white noise of sales-speak, but who's to say someone who's highly engaged in the company's learning network is someone who has his/her own agenda in play? What's in place to prevent misinformation? Doesn't the most effective learning via social networks occur when the participants share the same basic level of knowledge/training/skills? Otherwise, won't there be a lot of repetition of fundamentals? Shouldn't certain basics and fundamentals be covered via other elearning delivery modes (stand-alone tutorials, for example) to keep the social networks from getting bogged down? Seems to me some "window dressing" is necessary, as long as the workforce consists of individuals with different levels of knowledge and skills. What do you think, Harold? Harold — Doesn’t one have to have the “learning” part down before the “performance” can take place? Doesn’t the “learning” have to be completed — at some level — before useful collaboration can occur?

Every time I read about the value of social networking in training/education for learners, I wonder how anyone can guarantee that’s what’s shared in a social network is the best information/guidance/training/etc.

For example, I could post a question on LinkedIn and get all kinds of responses, but a fair number of them (maybe all) will be from parties with a vested interest in getting my attention — vendors selling products or services, for example. Certainly their input is going to be biased to their agenda.

You write, “Organizations should focus on enabling practitioners to produce results by supporting learning through social networks. The rest is just window dressing.”

Internal (white label) social networks will block, to some degree, the white noise of sales-speak, but who’s to say someone who’s highly engaged in the company’s learning network is someone who has his/her own agenda in play? What’s in place to prevent misinformation?

Doesn’t the most effective learning via social networks occur when the participants share the same basic level of knowledge/training/skills? Otherwise, won’t there be a lot of repetition of fundamentals?

Shouldn’t certain basics and fundamentals be covered via other elearning delivery modes (stand-alone tutorials, for example) to keep the social networks from getting bogged down?

Seems to me some “window dressing” is necessary, as long as the workforce consists of individuals with different levels of knowledge and skills.

What do you think, Harold?

]]> By: Harold Jarche http://www.jarche.com/2009/10/learning-through-social-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-191393 Harold Jarche Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:57:02 +0000 http://www.jarche.com/?p=2989#comment-191393 I fail to see how this applies to learning through social networks, but I've allowed your promotional comment anyway. I fail to see how this applies to learning through social networks, but I’ve allowed your promotional comment anyway.

]]> By: lachim http://www.jarche.com/2009/10/learning-through-social-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-191392 lachim Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:49:48 +0000 http://www.jarche.com/?p=2989#comment-191392 Hi, I think that lots of companies focus on things you mention, they are really good at things they're doing for example : Content Value did great job to populate and supporting learning through social networks. Last time they published their demo courses for free on the webside. I think it was great work....you can check this here: http://contentvalue.pl/demo.html Hi,
I think that lots of companies focus on things you mention, they are really good at things they’re doing for example : Content Value did great job to populate and supporting learning through social networks. Last time they published their demo courses for free on the webside. I think it was great work….you can check this here: http://contentvalue.pl/demo.html

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