This document discusses using a social learning portal to support informal learning in the workplace. It proposes building a portal that allows employees to connect, collaborate, and learn through user-generated content like blogs, videos, and online communities. This portal would complement and reinforce formal structured learning programs delivered through a learning management system. It provides examples of content and features for the portal, as well as recommendations around staffing, measurement, and potential benefits of a social learning portal.

1. David J. Birnbaum
Vice President – Learning
– David.Birnbaum@Realogy.com
– Office: 973 407 5696
– Twitter @davidonwheels
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2.  David J. Birnbaum
Vice President - Learning
Coldwell Banker Real Estate, LLC &
Coldwell Banker Commercial
Practical Applications of Social Learning:
Why, Where and How to Use It
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3. Informal Learning vs Structured Learning
 On the job experience
 Manager Coaching
 Peer Mentoring / Reviews
 SME
 Collaboration
 Intranet
 Info, Documentation, Job Aids
 Learning Mngmt System (LMS)
 Traditional Class,
Virtual/Webex
Videos, Podcast,
Self-paced Online
Continuous,
Reinforced
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Ideas, documents, videos
etc – shared by employees
- not created by the L&D
department

4. Web 2.0 features
 Users interact or collaborate with each other
 Users are creators of content, in contrast to websites where
users are passive viewers of content
created for them.
 Virtual community (e.g. Facebook)
 Social-networking sites, blogs,
wikis, video-sharing sites
Voices.com 4

5. Social Learning (Web 2.0) Portal…
 Support the existing informal learning
 Enable employees to connect, collaborate,
socialize online, and learn
 Reinforce structured learning events.
Social learning occurs in either
formal/structured or informal settings...
– A breakout in a classroom where students discuss their
ideas
– A comment on a blog
(is more informal because there’s no control from a live
facilitator)

6. Informal Learning vs Structured Learning
 On the job experience
 Manager Coaching
 Peer Mentoring / Reviews
 SME
 Collaboration
 Social Learning Portal
** Supports existing Inf Lrn
– UGC, Commenting
– Blogs
– Communities of Practice /
Online Groups
 Intranet
 Info, Documentation, Job Aids
 Learning Mngmt System (LMS)
 Traditional Class,
Virtual/Webex, Webinard
Videos, Podcast,
Self-paced Online,
Recorded Webinars
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7. Social Learning Portal

8. Intranet
Learning Management
System (LMS)
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Most associates do not go into the LMS on a regular basis and they
don’t collaborate with other users in an LMS
Traditional Architecture

9. LMS
Social Learning Portal
(Streaming Video,
Podcasts, Social Learning Blogs, etc)
Intranet
Deep-Link to Structured,
Formal-Learning in LMS
New Architecture

10. Build vs Buy ?
 Buy
•Socialtext
•Socialcast
•IBM Websphere
•Microsoft Sharepoint
•SAP Netweaver
•Oracle’s Beehive
•Cubetree
•Yammer
 Build
– Aptara -> Portal, Integration
– Kaltura -> Video Streaming
– B2Evolution -> Blogs & Forums

11. Social Learning Portal

12. 12

13. 13

14. Social Learning Portal

15. 15

16. Social Learning Portal

17. Video has been used in corporate learning for
many years
 DVDs / VHS
 Intranet Video Links
 WBT Video (LMS)
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18. Streaming Video in the Portal
 “YouTube like” thumbnails of short videos…
– Engaging environment to learn more, explore
– Collaborative:
Comments, Ratings, User Generated Content
 Integrates well with Online Social Learning
– Expert Forums / Blogs / Wikis
 Increased use of recorded webinars and videos (LMS)
– No enrollment. More engaging experience
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19. Content for Streaming Video
 LMS
 Webinars
 Videos
 User Generated
 Learning Staff & SME’s
 Lecture Capture
 OTS or Custom
“Highly Produced” Videos 19

20. Enhancing Learning Player & Menu

21. Staffing / Resources
 eLearning Manager
– POC to all vendors
 P/T Contractor
– Gather authors for blog and monitor all UGC:
Comments, Videos, Forum posts
 P/T Contractor
– Video editing, ingestion, metatags

22. Measurement
 Usage
– Visitors
– Unique Visitors
– Time in site
 Micro Survey
– KA MTM
– Random
 Level-1 Survey
– KA MTM
– Periodic to all users

23. Metrics
% Agreeing With
Statement
Content
The content and resources in the portal addressed my needs. 70%
I can trust the credibility of the content on the Portal. 80%
Job Impact
I have applied knowledge acquired through the Portal back on the job. 87%
My use of the portal will improve my job performance. 81%
Online Delivery
I am able to easily locate resources in the portal. 66%
The technology used in the Portal enhances my experience. 63%
The Portal is an effective way for me to learn. 71%
The Portal is user friendly and easy to navigate. 73%
Return on Investment
I will recommend the Portal to a colleague. 81%
The time I spent using the Portal was a worthwhile investment 78%

24. Social Learning Portal Benefits
 Enables collaboration among peers and experts
(UGC, Coments, Blogs)
 Connects user to resources — quickly, efficiently
 Avoid navigating LMS university site.
Replace w/ engaging site
 Learner decides when they need formal/structured
training (LMS) or a smaller modules of content
(Portal)
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25. .

26. • Bersin &
Associates
Learning
Leader
Award.

27. David J. Birnbaum
Vice President – Learning
– David.Birnbaum@Realogy.com
– Office: 973 407 5696
– Twitter @davidonwheels
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