During the hour-long free Webinar, learn techniques for getting the most out of informal learning opportunities involving others. Learn strategies for effective peer coaching and observation session. Maximize your time when attending a conference or workshop. Turn a professional group or community of practice into your personal learning platform. Using the right strategies can save time and energy. • Become familiar with the process to successful peer coaching or observation sessions. • Walk away with a list of key steps to perform before, during, and after attending a conference or workshop. • Identify best practices when participating in a professional group or community of practice. This Webinar will provide valuable tips and best practices for learning how to get the most out of learning opportunities involving others. Because we are involved in informal learning each and every day, these sessions are intended to provide you with ideas and strategies to help you get the most of your learning opportunities and help you excel in your career.

1. Informal learning can often be a team sport
Stan Skrabut
@uwcesedtech
#uwces
http://www.slideshare.net/skrabut

2. Everywhere learners are improving by
interacting with others.

3. You are an educator who is looking to improve
as an educator and subject matter expert.

4. Sometimes you only have a simple question to ask,
but other times you want to get intensive coaching.

5. Because you are working with others, you do
not want to waste their time as you improve.

6. Let me show you five strategies as they vary
across the time needed.
Peer
Coaching
Conferences Communities
Questioning Workshops of Practice
a neighbor Observation/
Shadowing

7. The strategies that
take the least time
and effort but
produce significant
results are
questioning
neighbors, peer
coaching, and
observation.

8. Getting help from more experienced colleagues
is a great informal learning strategy.

9. We often don't ask for help because we are expected
to know it or we do not want to interrupt.

10. Do some research first, and provide as much detail as
possible, so that you get the answer you need.

11. Choose the right time to ask for assistance, if they are
obviously busy, wait until a better time.

12. A peer coach can sit back and observe what you are
doing and offer suggestions for improvement.

13. Find people who you trust and who have the
knowledge and skills to assist you.

14. Effective peer coaching is achieved through a process.
Presession Observation
Meeting Period
Trade Roles Feedback
Session

15. Time, dedication, and resources are necessary
for peer coaching to work.

16. Where peer coaching is more evaluative, observation
is a useful method for learning from others.

17. To get started, simply request to watch a
specific professional in action.

18. Come into the session with a plan of what you
are specifically looking to observe.

19. Take detailed notes, share your notes with the
individual observed, and take time to reflect.

20. Workshops and
conferences take
longer and are
more definitive in
time and results.

21. Taking time to plan ahead will make your conference
or workshop experience smoother.

22. Collect everything you can about the conference:
hotel, travel, schedule, location, etc.

23. Plan opportunities to network with others at
meals, or other events.

24. Prepare your note taking strategy. I recommend
Evernote or live blogging.

25. Take time to reflect on your learning as well as
network with others for future learning opportunities.

26. From each session try to capture the learning
moment.

27. Collect information not only for you but also for
your colleagues.

28. Keep an eye on the backchannel for more ideas

29. Summarize your daily activities by taking a
moment to review on your notes.

30. Share information back to your organization.

31. Post conference,
organize your
thoughts, develop a
plan of action, and
share information with
others.

32. A good trip report helps you take care of all
three objectives.
Share
information
with others

33. Consider sharing lessons and ideas in an email
to colleagues and on a blog.

34. Talk to others about what you have learned, it
reinforces your personal knowledge.

35. Participation in
professional
groups and
communities of
practice take the
longest time and
require the most
energy but also
have the longest
lasting results.

36. Take time to do research on the professional
organization before joining for the right fit.

37. Professional organizations have a number of
great benefits.
Event listing
Publications Web site
Job Listings Chapter Mentorship
& Meetings Opportunities Conferences
Job Fairs

38. To get the most from a professional organization, you
should participate in meetings and conferences.

39. You should also contribute to the organization
through articles and presentations.

40. Many professional organizations and chapters
also use LinkedIn to distribute information.

41. "Communities of practice are groups of people who
share ideas and insights, help each other solve
problems and develop a common practice or
approach to the field." ~ McDermott

42. There are three key dimensions to
communities of practice.

43. The most important part of a community of practice
is the documentation of success or failure.

44. Organizations need to encourage learning and
support communities of practice, but not force it.

45. Here are the sessions for the next couple of
months.

Individual
Strategies
Organizational
Strategies

Collection
Strategies

Creation
Strategies

Interpersonal
Strategies

46. Questions?