Using social media to improve learning and performance in the workplace Jane Hart Social Media & Learning Consultant Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies www.C4LPT.co.uk

What is social media? “ Social media is an umbrella term that defines the various activities that integrate technology, social interaction, and the construction of words, pictures, videos and audio.” Wikipedia

What is social media? Sites and tools like Blogs Wikis Social Networks Social Bookmarking Podcasts Podcasts RSS Micro-blogging Photo sharing sites Video sharing site

How does social media differ from traditional media? Previously … Content publishing Expert-generated content One-way communication aka Read Web Web 1.0

How does social media differ from traditional media? Previously … Content publishing Expert-generated content One-way communication aka Read Web Web 1.0 Now … Social interactions, connections and networking Collaboration and sharing User-generated content aka Read-Write Web Web 2.0

Why is social media important for learning and performance support? It supports new approaches in the workplace including: Informal learning Performance support Self-managed learning Learner-led rather then instructor led Group learning aka Social Learning Learning 2.0

What is driving the use of social media in the workplace? One The workforce is made up of 4 (of the 5) generations and the younger generations (who have grown up with technology) are demanding more up-to-date, relevant tools and solutions …

Veterans Baby Boomers Gen X Gen Y Gen Z Born 1925-45 1946-64 1965-79 In the workforce? 1980-95 1996- Most are in retirement but youngest still in the workforce although they will leave in next 5 years Influence of digital technology Hold significant positions in the workforce but large numbers retiring early Out of full-time education and in the workforce Some in education others in the workforce. In full-time education; they will start to appear in the workforce in about 5 years. Have come to technology late in life; now biggest growing Internet user group Overview of the Generations Introduced to technology in 30s and 40s Digital technology emerged during their late teens Never known a world without the Internet Have enjoyed digital technology their entire lives

Generation Y Biggest generation since the Baby Boomers and 3 times as large as Gen X. Generation Y will outnumber Baby Boomers by 2010 They are: Self-confident, self-reliant, social, opinionated, goal-oriented multi-taskers Hyper-connected (with web and mobile devices) Want work tools to mirror web tools

What is driving the use of social media in the workplace? Two: More technically-savvy people across ALL generations are demanding more relevant up-to-date tools and solutions …

It is no longer a matter of being a digital native (someone who grew up with the technology or a digital immigrant (someone who has learnt to use the technology) but about digital fluency – the level of experience with: computers, the Internet, mobile devices digital information skills More and more people across generations are becoming digitally fluent and engaging with social media

It is no longer a matter of being a digital native (someone who grew up with the technology or a digital immigrant (someone who has learnt to use the technology)

but about digital fluency – the level of experience with:

computers, the Internet, mobile devices

digital information skills

More and more people across generations are becoming digitally fluent and engaging with social media

Universal McCann’s Comparative Study on Social Media (2008) shows: 83% of Internet users have watched videos 73% have read a blog 57% have joined a social networking site 55% have uploaded photos 43% have started a blog 39% subscribe to an RSS feed 22% have uploaded videos

How do you engage with social media? There are a number of levels of engagement …

BROWSE websites podcasts, File-sharing sites ((videos, docs, presentations) blogs, wikis SHARE LINKS collected in a social book marking tool or items managed in an RSS reader CONTRIBUTE Review/rate items on websites and file0sharing sites, comment on blogs, edit wiki articles and shared documents CONNECT using instant messaging, email, micro blogging or social networking sites (CREATE &) SHARE CONTENT (text, images, audio, video) using file sharing sites, online office suites and other online services CREATE COLLAB OPPORT- UNTIES set up a blog, wiki or social network Aggregate resources and tools in a personal (shareable) learning environment Increasing levels of engagement with social media PARTICIPANT CREATOR READER

NOTES Not everyone needs to be a Creator All people will need to be Participants There are different degrees of participation – from the reactive to the proactive Those who have high levels of engagement will be the drivers for use of social media in organisations; their skills should be harnessed Others will need help and support in increasing their engagement with social media

How can you assess your level of engagement with social media? Use our profiling tool to assess your current level of engagement with social media

How can you increase your level of engagement with social media? Work through (the relevant Activities) in our Engaging with Social Media programme to increase your level of engagement

How can you social media be used to improve learning and performance ONE : To improve individual learning and performance TWO : To improve team learning and performance THREE : To improve organisational learning and performance and relationships with employees, customers and suppliers Although inter-dependent, each of these can be addressed independently

Which social media should you use? There are a number of contributing factors ONE : The changing technological landscape …

Influencing factors in the technological landscape Consumerization of IT - the increasing use of personal tools and devices for business use Cloud computing - the increasing use of hosted services Open source and freeware - the increasing use of non-commercial tools and systems Perpetual beta - the fact that systems and software are in a constant state of development and evolution

Which social media should you use? There are a number of contributing factors TWO : Organisational factors, like security of data, budget, level of IT support, etc

How can we help you? ONE : We can help you understand more fully the factors (both generational and technological) driving the use of social media for learning and performance support TWO: We can help you experience social media to understand and appreciate its potential THREE : We can help you identify the ways that social media can be used to improve individual, team and organisational learning and performance FOUR : We can help you select the right social media toolset for learning and performance improvement and support FIVE : We can help you assess your workforce’s digital fluency to help you identify the Readers, Participants and Creators AND increase individuals’ engagement with social media (from Reader to Participant level; from Participant to Creator level)

Want to find out more? VISIT: www.c4lpt.co.uk/socialmedia and/or EMAIL: Jane Hart [email_address]