Aligning Social Learning

Research in adult learning shows that as much as 80 percent of what people need to learn to perform their work is done informally, through social relationships in the workplace or from sources outside the formal work environment. These social learning relationships are not typically aligned with client learning strategies using traditional instructional design (ID) techniques to shape learning programs.

We align social learning with clients' instructional design strategy in three ways:

Social learning embedded in formal courses

Some formal courses benefit from social networking techniques such as learner-generated content, polling, discussion forums, or social bookmarking resources that provide learners with a social ecosystem of others currently experiencing the same course.

Social learning wrapped around formal courses

Some formal courses benefit when learners are provided ongoing support from a social ecosystem involving others who currently, or previously, experienced the same course, or content covered in the course. The online resources for this social learning are provided through communities of practice, using social networks, wikis, or discussion forums. The key distinction is that this social learning strategy can involve learning from people who are not part of the client organization.

Social learning supporting collaboration and performance on its own through online communities

Clients interested in bolstering social learning processes independent of formal courses in current learning programs benefit by expanding beyond their organizational boundaries to include customers in brand communities, business partners, other employees, or outside experts in communites of practice.

In each instance, the learning strategy is designed to deliver experiences that increase the capability and willingness of people to share knowledge and co-create learning.