Blending Formal & Informal Learning: Utilizing New Technologies in the Workplace to Connect, Interact, and Sustain Learning by Buthaina Al-Othman Language Center, Kuwait University, Kuwait “ New Learning for Sustainability in the Arab Region” New Approaches for Informal Learning Alexandria Bibliotheca, Alexandria, Egypt Friday, August 31, 2007 IUCN – CEC - AB

Outline Definitions of learning Learning approaches Informal learning Case Study: Phases Case Examples Results of program evaluation & recommendations Barriers Final word

Definitions of learning

Learning approaches

Informal learning

Case Study: Phases

Case Examples

Results of program evaluation & recommendations

Barriers

Final word

What Is Learning? “ Learning can be defined formally as the act, process, or experience of gaining knowledge or skills. In contrast, memory can define the capacity of storing, retrieving, and acting on that knowledge. Learning helps us move from novices to experts and allows us to gain new knowledge and abilities”. (From How Adults Learn, by Marcia L. Conner )

What Is Learning? According to Eric R. Kandel, M.D., vice chairman of The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, “learning is how you acquire new information about the world, and memory is how you store that information over time. There is no memory without learning, but there is learning without memory.” We may have trouble recalling details of what we learned in school, unless we’ve used skills from school in our day-to-day life. This is why brain researchers recognize differences between learning and memory. They are closely linked—but they are not the same thing. ( AARP Magazine, August 2007 )

According to Eric R. Kandel, M.D., vice chairman of The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, “learning is how you acquire new information about the world, and memory is how you store that information over time. There is no memory without learning, but there is learning without memory.”

We may have trouble recalling details of what we learned in school, unless we’ve used skills from school in our day-to-day life. This is why brain researchers recognize differences between learning and memory. They are closely linked—but they are not the same thing.

( AARP Magazine, August 2007 )

Education is a social process; education is growth; education is not a preparation for life but is life itself. (John Dewey, 1859-1952)

Some Learning Approaches Rote learning : repetition / memorizing Formal learning : learning taking place in school systems Non-formal learning : organized learning outside the formal learning system. Informal learning : learning from life and other people

Rote learning : repetition / memorizing

Formal learning : learning taking place in school systems

Non-formal learning : organized learning outside the formal learning system.

Informal learning : learning from life and other people

Informal Learning & Formal Learning “ Most of what we learn, we learn from other people – At work we learn more in the break room than in the classroom. We discover how to do our jobs through informal learning -- observing others, asking the person in the next cubicle, calling the help desk, trial-and-error, and simply working with people in the know. Formal learning - classes and workshops and online events - is the source of only 10% to 20% of what we learn at work.” ( Jay Cross, 2003 )

“ Most of what we learn, we learn from other people –

At work we learn more in the break room than in the

classroom. We discover how to do our jobs through

informal learning -- observing others, asking the person

in the next cubicle, calling the help desk, trial-and-error,

and simply working with people in the know.

Formal learning - classes and workshops and online

events - is the source of only 10% to 20% of what we

learn at work.”

( Jay Cross, 2003 )

http:// www.jaycross.com/informal_book/poster.htm @ 2006 Jay Cross, Internet Time Groups LLC, Berkeley, California The Big Picture Of Informal Learning

Push Learning vs Pull Learning Formal learning = Push learning Informal Learning = Pull learning

Formal learning = Push learning

Informal Learning = Pull learning

LEARNING:100% FORMAL: 20% INFORMAL: 80% Family Gathering Diwaniyah Coffee Break Courses Online Events Classrooms

Blending Formal & Informal learning approaches using new technologies to teach communications skills! Putting Theories into Action In Spring 2006 http://tinyurl.com/2gvprh A pilot ESP program for a group in the financial industry

Case Study: A Pilot Blended ESP, (BE) Program for Branch Managers Phases: Needs Assessment Objectives Program Design Syllabus (weekly activities) Logistics Implementation Program evaluation & Recommendations http://alothman-b.tripod.com/content-gb.htm

Phases:

Needs Assessment

Objectives

Program Design

Syllabus (weekly activities)

Logistics

Implementation

Program evaluation & Recommendations

Building a Collaborative Learning Community http://alothman-b.tripod.com/content-gb-e-community.htm

Connecting to Create a Network for Learning Sustainability & Professional Development

Needs Assessment Organizational Needs Assessment, (ONA) Job-Task Needs Assessment, (TNA) Instructional Needs Assessment (INA)

Organizational Needs Assessment, (ONA)

Job-Task Needs Assessment, (TNA)

Instructional Needs Assessment (INA)

Instructional Needs Assessment (INA): Placement / Diagnostic Testing Oral Skills - (interviews) Personal and general questions Writing Skills: Job-task based questions Computer & Internet Skills (online)

Oral Skills - (interviews)

Personal and general questions

Writing Skills:

Job-task based questions

Computer & Internet Skills (online)

Program Design Objectives Course plan Syllabus (weekly activities) Materials ( a portal home page with links to syllabus, schedule, weekly activities, resources, printed and online handouts,..) Technology (synchronous & asynchronous social and communication tools) Learning environments (c-lab, equipment, internet café, virtual classrooms)

Objectives

Course plan

Syllabus (weekly activities)

Materials ( a portal home page with links to syllabus, schedule, weekly activities, resources, printed and online handouts,..)

Technology (synchronous & asynchronous social and communication tools)

Learning environments (c-lab, equipment, internet café, virtual classrooms)

Different Learning Environments for Performance Support convenient for the busy manager Practicing various communication skills at different environments to support informal learning approach and have fun! Learning from one another

Syllabus http://alothman-b.tripod.com/content-gb-courseplan.htm

Using New Technologies to Create & Support Effective Learning Environments for voice messages and audio activities used as a CMS, for announcements, and to practice email writing, to practice collaborative group-writing for the final project to practice writing through reflection and sharing information

Using New Technologies to Create & Support Effective Learning Environments Delicious - social bookmarking, using the tag (gbk) Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Videoblog to shareand store video clips Blip.tv For formal and informal activities: lessons, meetings, discussions, presentations for voice & text instant messaging & international conversations

Examples of Performance Support Activities formal and informal learning situations: three participants were reflecting and reporting on a seminar using Elluminate

Promoting Informal learning through International Conversation Activities Live conversation with international educators using Skype (Venue: Awqaf Arab Development Institute) Barbara Sawhill Abeer Bouftain

Simulation Activities at the Virtual Classroom Performance support fun activities-(David Winet as Bill Gates  ) David Winet Bill Gates

Summary of Program Evaluation’s Results

Some Results of the Program Evaluation

Barriers HR team & training management IT challenges ( equipments, support) Training / classroom equipment Miscommunication

HR team & training management

IT challenges ( equipments, support)

Training / classroom equipment

Miscommunication

Recommendations / future plans Improve ONA Suggest the use of social networking for HR and training managers Provide orientation for each technology shortly before it’s used

Improve ONA

Suggest the use of social networking for HR and training managers

Provide orientation for each technology shortly before it’s used

The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change. (Carl Rogers) I think everyone should go to college and get a degree and then spend six months as a bartender and six months as a cabdriver. Then they would really be educated. ( Al MacGuire) Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion has no hold on the mind. ( Plato)

One Final Word! Things manage to work themselves out and nature has always confirmed that…. Change is happening; so, let’s let it be Time to Learn how to learn 