why organisations need to review their approach to learning and think about
embedding informal and social approaches as a core element in the mix
Charles Jennings
Duntroon Associates
1
Social & Informal learning is:
the learning that occurs
(mostly) Outside the
Classes, Courses, and
Curriculum model
3
Social & Informal learning includes:
Learning through Work
“when working is learning, then
learning is working”
the learning that takes place through work - as part of work - rather than
away from the workplace
4
Social & Informal learning includes:
Learning through Others
“our world is others”
Jerome Bruner
social learning is all about learning with, and through, others
5
I learn best when ……
COLUMN A COLUMN B
Someone who knows something I I dialogue, question and discuss with
don‟t, explains and describes it to me someone who knows something I don‟t
I observe a demonstration I get involved and try things out
What is presented to me is organised What is presented to me is organised
according to the logic of the content according to the logic of how I work and
learn
I am told how things work I experience how things work
are most of your selections from Column A or Column B ?
from Harold Stolovitch
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formal vs informal learning?
FORMAL
curriculum set by someone else
typically an event, to a schedule
completion is recognised with a symbol - certificate or check
mark in an LMS
“pushed” on learners
INFORMAL
informal learners usually set their own learning objectives
learn when they feel a need to know
proof of learning is in ability to do something that could not be
done before
is often is a pastiche of small chunks of observing how others
do things, asking questions, trial and error, sharing stories with
others and casual conversation
learners are “pulled” to informal learning
* from Jay Cross
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Key Drivers
A. We‟re Working
In An „Always-
on, Beta‟ World
B. B. Learning
Often Isn‟t What
We Think It is
9
Our World is Increasingly
Connected
information-rich
attention-poor
11
our lives are awash with information
“In 2009 more data was generated by
individuals than in the entire history of
mankind through 2008”
Harvard Business Review
The Social Data Revolutions
12
Information
volumes are increasing
most is unstructured
half-life of the majority is decreasing
13
People
always connected
having to deal with more complexity
making more decisions further down the hierarchy
14
We simply can‟t rely on the next piece of formal, structured learning to
come around to help us do our jobs. It‟s unlikely to arrive on time.
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some basic business truths
in an ever-changing world, continuous
learning is the only sustainable advantage
Jay Cross and Friends
„Working Smarter Fieldbook: informal
learning in the cloud”
2010
www.internettimealliance.com
16
Structured „Event-Based‟ Learning
is inadequate
in a world of continual change
One of the greatest challenges for our profession is moving from being
designers, deliverers and managers of learning to being facilitators of
learning and performance consultants….
17
How did you Learn to
Ride a Bike?
experience
practice, practice, practice
reflection
understand a few basic principles and then practice, practice, practice
20
As long ago as 1998, the US Bureau of Labor
Statistics reported that people learn 70% of what
they know about their jobs informally*.
* Loewenstein and Spletzer
"Formal and Informal Training: Evidence
from the NLSY”
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the 80:20 model
80% 20%
„INFORMAL‟ LEARNING FORMAL LEARNING
Jay Cross, Internet Time Alliance
“Informal Learning: Rediscovering the
Pathways that Inspire Innovation and
Performance”
24
the 80:20 model
80% 20%
„INFORMAL‟ LEARNING FORMAL LEARNING
“Informal learning is generally more
effective, less expensive and better
received than its formal counterpart”
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the 70:20:10 model
70% 20% 10%
LEARN & DEVELOP
LEARN & DEVELOP LEARN & DEVELOP
THROUGH
THROUGH THROUGH
STRUCTURED
EXPERIENCE OTHERS
COURSES & PROGRAMS
90% = EXPERIENTIAL
LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT
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Ebbinghaus revisited
BEFORE DURING AFTER
CLASS
desired
performance
improvement
knowledge
acquisition
Source: 2005 Stolovitch
& Keeps
31
Ebbinghaus revisited
BEFORE DURING AFTER
CLASS
desired
performance
improvement
knowledge
acquisition
Actual
performance
improvement
POST-CLASS RE-ADJUSTMENT
Source: 2005 Stolovitch (“I try to apply what I‟ve learned,
„THE TYPING/GOLF PRO DIP‟ can‟t remember exactly, have no support,
& Keeps return to old ways of doing things”)
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Ebbinghaus revisited
BEFORE DURING AFTER
PRACTICE
CLASS
desired
performance
improvement
knowledge
+ 1st LINE MANAGER
SUPPORT
acquisition
Actual
performance
improvement
Source: 2005 Stolovitch
& Keeps
33
It takes time to carry out a needs analysis, design the learning, develop
content, then get it out to the target audience.
Once we‟ve spent all that time, resource and budget we‟re not keen to throw
them away…. we want to sweat our assets….
35
some basic business truths
Effective and efficient learning is both a
profitable strategy and the key to business
longevity
40
how do we „formalise‟ Informal learning?
Wrong Question!
Don‟t try to “formalise” informal learning.
Just focus on helping people
do their jobs well and
WORK SMARTER
41
how do we „formalise‟ Informal learning?
open up the possibilities of supporting the
other 80-90% of learning that has been
ignored for far too long
42
how do we „formalise‟ Informal learning?
“..embracing, encouraging and supporting
informal learning is part of a greater
workplace cultural change”
43
„embedding‟ Informal learning
1. Changing mindsets
about how learning
occurs
2. Engaging senior
leaders to support
change
3. Re-aligning L&D to
better support
informal learning
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The Eight Reasons
1. there are imperatives for continual learning
2. learning is a process, not a series of events
3. most learning occurs outside classrooms
4. the vast majority of learning is social
5. A lot of formal learning is ineffective
6. people learn better when they are in charge
7. there‟s inherent inertia in formal approaches
8. informal & social learning are cost-effective
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Charles Jennings
Duntroon Associates
Deakin Prime Seminar Series:
email: charles@duntroon.com
Melbourne 20-22nd September 2010 Web: www.duntroon.com
Twitter: charlesjennings
Canberra 23-24th September 2010
LinkedIn: charlesjennings
Brisbane 27-28th September 2010 Skype: charlesjennings
Sydney 30th Sept – 1st Oct 2010 Flickr: charlesjennings
Blog: charles-jennings.blogspot.com
http://www.deakinprime.com/events/ (or from www.duntroon.com)
Internet Time Alliance
www.internettimealliance.com
Blog: http://internettime.posterous.com
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Editor's Notes
We can provide class after class after class…… but if we can work as facilitators and put experts together with novices.If we can provide people with ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE and teach them how to search effectively – rather than try to fill heads with knowledge – then we’ll stand a better chance of building high-performing teams and workforces….<CLICK>
We, as L&D professionals, should be looking at every opportunity to make learning a profitable strategy and an important key to business longevity…<CLICK>