This document provides an overview of social learning and how social media can be used to enhance training within an organization. It discusses social learning theory and how leaders should encourage positive behaviors through their own example. It also outlines how Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Google Plus can be implemented as social learning tools to help achieve organizational goals and foster collaboration. Key aspects of a successful social learning program are identified as improved efficiency, comprehension, and retention. The document emphasizes the importance of resource allocation to support an effective social network and establishing trust and accountability when using social media.
1. Self Guided Social Media
Training Manual
Samuel Gaytan, Tabitha Perryman, Michael Purcell, Monica Macias, Edrick Gregory
AET/562
03/19/2018
2. Intro to Social Learning.
• Social Learning
Theory
• Social learning in
the workplace.
3. Social Learning
• Lead by Example
• Leaders Should Encourage Employees to
Imitate Positive Behaviors
• Leaders Should Monitor Employee Behaviors
4. Social Media and the Business.
• How does social learning affect an organization’s goals and objectives?
Social learning changes the way that a company thinks about
training. Collaboration is going to be the main goal and objective using
social media tools to achieve this. The company is going to use four main
social media tools to enhance training and learning, these include
Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Google Plus. Social learning is going to
be used in order to achieve better and higher goals. The company’s goals
and objectives will not change but how we achieve them will. The
company will also need to foster a change in its culture and these are the
first steps toward that change.
• What are the indicators of success when assessing the effectiveness of
social learning?
Success will be determined by taking note of how efficient
employees become. Retention will be determined by analyzing the
messages and work done using the social media tools. Comprehension
and retention are key to ensuring employees gain new skills and that the
tools are being used correctly. Some more indicators of success will come
when we tie our new social learning to the goals of the company.
5. How does resource allocation affect the overall
effectiveness of social learning within an
organization?
The way that we use our resources is going to determine how effective our new social system
will work. The company will need to focus its resources in building and nourishing a social network.
This network should be led by everyone as a way of communication. This network of people can help
the change of our company’s culture. We will also need to focus our attention on taking advantage of
the social media tools that can enhance our social learning. When all is said and done take the time
and money to invest in these tools and strategy can only be beneficial for the company and everyone
in it. Business is a social environment where every can learn from each other but, if we don’t practice
that then how can we improve ourselves? Harold Jarche, an expert in the field of L&D, says that
companies need to invest in a social network that is similar to a wirearchy which works to build trust
among the employees. He uses examples of other companies doing this by using social media. Our
company will work in a similar way so that our own social network will mimic this wirearchy and we
can build a two-way trust between our management and employees (Jarche, 2010).
6. Accountability and the Perception of power
• How is accountability handled through social learning, such as
with usage or policy considerations?
Accountability will remain a number one concern for
the company as we move to using social media as a tool. We
need to ensure that everyone is trained on best practices and
that there are rules on how we can use these new tools. The
company will make it clear that divulging sensitive information
as well as misrepresentation of the company and/ or
inflammatory comments will not be allowed. We need to use
these tools in the ways that the company sets them up and not
to use company time or resources to do as we please. We will
encourage innovation and initiative but as long as it helps the
company move forward. There are many ways that social media
can harm a company and all employees with access to social
media at work will be held to a high standard.
7. Accountability and the Perception of power
Cont.
• How does the social learning environment establish employees’ perception of power or
hierarchy?
As stated earlier we would like to establish a wirearchy rather than a hierarchy.
We hold a belief that the social network that we are creating needs to have co- leaders
and establish trust amongst everyone. We as a company will need to make some changes
to our management style in order to accommodate this new system. Instead of being the
ones in charge management will need to be guided that allow the employees to achieve
our goals on their own. The employees need to be trusted that they can manage
themselves. The management team can focus on teaching tasks to make the employees
under them more self-sufficient. We will continue to aim for new and higher goals which
will change so that the company stays competitive. Communication will also be key in
establishing this wirearchy because without it how can we build trust? This will be a
major step for this company and a step away from a traditional hierarchy (Jarche, 2010).
8. The Relationships and Trust in the Workplace.
• How does the social learning environment foster richer
relationships among staff with diverse skill sets?
There are two networks of collaboration that will come
out of this new way of approaching social learning. First will be the
creation or adding to our own personal learning networks. This is a
network of personnel that we as individuals set up so that we can
collaborate and learn from. With the use of social media inside the
business and our networks of collaboration increasing so will our
PLN’s. The other network will be the foundation for most of our
innovation which will be the Enterprise Social Network. This will be
a network that connects us all via social media. Jane hart gives us
some tips about how to use this network which will foster more
relationships amongst our staff.
9. The Relationships and Trust in the Workplace
Cont.
One of these would be social mentoring which will different slightly from the traditional
way of doing it. Rather than taking management or established leaders and putting them
in these spots, the employees will get to select their own mentors based on their own
needs. This will engage employees with one another make use of everyone’s diverse skill
sets. Social learning experiences will also be the main goal in any future training. These
will be activities on social media that will focus on collaboration and learning from one
another. This can also be done in what Jane calls a drip-feed training that allows for
continuous learning. Rather than creating a class or training with a bulk of information
we can create small activities and build on them over an extended period of time. This
can be great for the company as it will allow for small bits of learning rather than taking
an hour or two in one sitting. This allows for repetition and higher comprehension and
retention (Hart, 2016).
10. Facebook
• What is facebook?
• Perhaps the most popular social media network, Facebook allows
you to communicate with others around the world. Similar to
other sites, you can share video, photos, connect with family.
Facebook initially started as a college website for college students
only, but has opened up for everyone.
• Pro: Most commonly used so there is more of a chance to
connect and find what you need
• Con: information may be mixed with fact and opinion
11. YouTube
• YouTube is social media site where users can upload videos on
anything they choose. Artists use it for music, people display their
talents or videos of humor. It also serves a purpose as it helps to
teach learners.
• Pro: Visual learning
• Con: No sort of censorship, which could be necessary at times.
12. Twitter
• What is Twitter?
• Twitter is a social network that allows for the
exchange of information with a limited amount
of characters. Early on it was 140 characters per
tweet. It is now 280. You can share links,
photos, communicate via hashtag.
• Pro: Can find information pertaining to a topic
if you use a hashtag
• Con: Limited tweets
13. Google Plus
• What is Google Plus?
• Similar to other social media outlets, google
plus is a network where you can share links,
and communicate with others. You must
sign up for a google account to access
google plus
• Pro: Allows to connect with others and
communicate and have different circles
• Con: Must have a google account to access.
14. References
• Learning Theories. (2017). Social learning theory [Bandura]. Retrieved from
https://www.learning-theories.com/social-learning-theory-bandura.html#references
• Schreiner, E. (2018). How to apply the social learning theory in the workplace. Retrieved from
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/apply-social-learning-theory-workplace-12860.html
• Pappas, C. (2015). Eight important reasons of why youtube should be a part of your eLearning
course. Retrieved from https://elearningindustry.com/8-important-reasons-youtube-part-
elearning-course
• Pappas, C. (2015). Seven tips to use google plus for social learning. Retrieved from
https://elearningindustry.com/google-plus-for-social-learning
• Pappas, C. (2015). Using Facebook for eLearning: The ultimate guide for eLearning
professionals. Retrieved from https://elearningindustry.com/using-facebook-for-elearning-
ultimate-guide-for-elearning-professionals
• DeLoatch, P. (2015). How to use twitter for teaching and learning. Retrieved from
http://www.edudemic.com/how-to-use-twitter-for-teaching-and-learning/
Editor's Notes
A world famous psychologist, Albert Bandura, termed the phrase social learning theory. Bandura believed that humans learned from each others by observing, imitating, and modeling after one another (Learning Theories, 2017). His social learning theory is linked to the behaviorist and cognitive learning theories. Social learning also takes place in the workplace when employees observe the actions of others and imitate those actions. Since most people learn by observing the behaviors of others, business leaders should lead by example (Schreiner, 2018). When members of the workforce see a perfect example of the expected modeled behavior then they will mostly imitate that positive behavior.
Business leaders should continue to watch their employees’ behaviors in the workplace. This will help them to determine if the employees have learned the modeled behaviors (Schreiner, 2018). Employers can create policies and guidelines that explain what they expect of their employees. For example, they can create policies of how they expect their employees to behave when they use their social media accounts or the company’s social media accounts online. Corporate trainers should set the example of how employees conduct themselves online , and they should ensure that the employees do not post negative information online that can put the company at risk. They will have to set the examples of whatever behavior that they expect their employees to follow.
Social Learning requires collaboration between several social media sites in order to achieve such goals along with a change in its culture. Success can be obtained upon identifying an employees increase in efeciency.
Employees should focus on understanding the new social system in order to obtain an increase in productivity.
The company should ensure that policies and regulations are presented, discussed and understood, when working with social media and/or any online presence.
We collectively learn, yet employees must comprehend how to learn and achieve goals without relying on others.
Two main networks for collaboration are Personal Learning Networks and Enterprise Social Network.
Employees will get to select their own mentors based on their own needs.
Facebook is a powerful social media tool that allows for ongoing interaction among peers. Although the website was not created as an educational tool, learners can still use Facebook to connect with other professionals and share information. Facebook is accessible to anyone, anywhere, and anytime (Pappas, 2015). Facebook is inexpensive, and it promotes open communication, and socializing. There are a few drawbacks from using the tool such as security issues or cyber attacks. That is something corporate trainers and business leaders should consider when encourage their employees to use the tool to connect with other professionals. Perhaps, the leaders should take extra measures to ensure the privacy and safety of important information that is posted online in Facebook platforms.
Corporate trainers should consider using YouTube because they can use videos from the social media website to introduce the employees to key topics of interests (Pappas, 2015). YouTube is home to a multitude of instructional videos that employers can use to teach their employees new skills. The videos can also be used as visual aids to help improve the employees comprehension of key concepts. Employees can also upload videos online for others to view and provide feedback.
Twitter allows users to post links to videos, other websites, and links to other resources that may provide important information on topics of discussion. Corporate trainers should consider using YouTube because they can connect with other professionals to get their perspectives on subjects that will enhance lessons (DeLoatch, 2015). Learners can connect with other career professionals and follow them on Twitter. This will often times lead the followers to other professionals and sources that can help them develop professional skills for the workplace.
Some employers are now turning to Google Plus to because it provides peer-based support and to improve team building skills (Pappas, 2015). Google Plus offers fantastic features that allows their users to create circles. Therefore, the users can decide on who they want to follow them. In addition, Google Plus allows users to create online communities. The communities can be open to the public or they can be closed groups. Employers can even schedule meetings online in Google Hangouts. They can share live videos of important events in Google Hangouts. Employers can even access other social media sites through Google Plus.