Learning in a 
Social Workplace 
Jane Hart 
Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies 
Modern Workplace Learning Centre 
Keynote at Learning@Work 
Sydney, 27 October 2014 
1
@C4LPT 
2
What is social learning? 
What social learning takes 
place in the workplace? 
How can L&D can support 
social learning? 
What are the implications 
for L&D? 
How do YOU get started? 
3
4 
Social learning is 
not new - its the 
way we’ve always 
learned … 
at home
5 
… 
with our friends
6 
… 
with our 
colleagues at 
work
Does social media + learning = social learning ??? 
7
Social media can make learning 
a more powerful experience 
8
Social learning doesn’t require the use of social media 
9
Use of social media tools doesn’t mean 
social learning will take place 
10
11
12
13
Traditional 
Training Tools 
14
15 Learning Tools
People are using social networks to build a trusted network of colleagues 
(aka PLN Personal Learning Network) 
16
People are using social tools to keep up to date with what is happening 
in their industry or professional 
17
People are using social tools to solve 
ther own performance problems 
18
Directed 
Social 
Learning 
scheduled 
events 
structured 
directed 
Personal 
Social 
Learning 
continuous 
on demand 
unstructured 
autonomous 
Promoting & 
developing modern 
learning skills 
19
20
Network 
Discover 
Manage 
information 
overload 
Connect the dots 
Share 
21
22
Directed 
Social 
Learning 
scheduled 
events 
structured 
directed 
Personal 
Social 
Learning 
continuous 
on demand 
unstructured 
autonomous 
Encouraging & 
developing modern 
learning skills 
Team 
Social 
Learning 
Helping teams to 
learn from one 
another as they work 
23
Help teams 
to share 
24
Help individuals 
to work out loud 
25
Help teams to be there for one another 
26
Directed 
Social 
Learning 
scheduled 
events 
structured 
directed 
Personal 
Social 
Learning 
continuous 
on demand 
unstructured 
autonomous 
Encouraging & 
developing modern 
learning skills 
Team 
Social 
Learning 
Helping teams to 
learn from one 
another as they work 
27
Directed 
Social 
Learning 
scheduled 
events 
structured 
directed 
Personal 
Social 
Learning 
continuous 
on demand 
unstructured 
autonomous 
Encouraging & 
developing modern 
learning skills 
Team 
Social 
Learning 
Helping teams to 
learn from one 
another as they work 
Guided 
Social 
Learning 
scheduled/ 
continuous 
semi-structured 
semi-autonomous 
Scaffolding a social 
learning experience 
28
Performance-oriented activities 
Social lies at the heart 
Content supports Social 
Promoted self-governance 
(autonomy) 
29
30 
Case Study: 
Pfizer Sales Team, India
31
32
33
Guided Social Learning 
Success Factors 
Group of people who wanted 
to learn with and from one another 
Organisation that encouraged 
supported and rewarded 
social learning 
where there is 
respect for people 
Social platform that enabled 
people remotely to connect, share (and learn) 
34
Directed 
Social 
Learning 
Personal 
Social 
Learning 
Team 
Social 
Learning 
Guided 
Social 
Learning 
LMS Social Platform / ESN 
Web Tools & Platforms 
35
new mindset | new toolset | new roles | new skillset 
36
Social Learning is not something 
you make others do 
37
Directed 
Social 
Learning 
Personal 
Social 
Learning 
Team 
Social 
Learning 
Guided 
Social 
Learning 
Trainers & 
Instructional Designers 
Workplace Learning Advisors 
promote and support autonomous learning 
38
39
Directed 
Social 
Learning 
Personal 
Social 
Learning 
Team 
Social 
Learning 
Guided 
Social 
Learning 
Start by developing your own 
social learning skills 
and that of your team 
40
41
This is the real 
social learning 
42
Social media 
enables new ways of learning 
(not enforces old ways of training) 
Social learning is not something 
you make others do 
It all starts with you 
43
References 
Social or Fauxial Learning? www.c4lpt.co.uk/blog/2014/10/19/social-learning- 
44 
or-fauxial-learning/ 
Top 100 Tools for Learning c4lpt.co.uk/top100tools/ 
Learning in the Workplace Survey: c4lpt.co.uk/litw/ 
A special social learning experience: www.c4lpt.co.uk/blog/2014/10/07/ 
a-special-social-learning-experience-in-india/ 
Becoming a Social Learning Practitioner: 
michelleockersdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/becoming-a-social-learning- 
practitioner.pdf 
Social Learning Practitioner Programme: modernworkplacelearning.com/ 
activities/social-learning-practitioner-programme/ 
The Modern Workplace Learning Landscape: www.c4lpt.co.uk/blog/ 
2014/10/26/the-modern-workplace-learning-landscape-more-than-telling- 
people-what-to-learn/

LearningatWork keynote: learning in the social workplace

  • 1.
    Learning in a Social Workplace Jane Hart Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies Modern Workplace Learning Centre Keynote at Learning@Work Sydney, 27 October 2014 1
  • 2.
  • 3.
    What is sociallearning? What social learning takes place in the workplace? How can L&D can support social learning? What are the implications for L&D? How do YOU get started? 3
  • 4.
    4 Social learningis not new - its the way we’ve always learned … at home
  • 5.
    5 … withour friends
  • 6.
    6 … withour colleagues at work
  • 7.
    Does social media+ learning = social learning ??? 7
  • 8.
    Social media canmake learning a more powerful experience 8
  • 9.
    Social learning doesn’trequire the use of social media 9
  • 10.
    Use of socialmedia tools doesn’t mean social learning will take place 10
  • 11.
  • 12.
  • 13.
  • 14.
  • 15.
  • 16.
    People are usingsocial networks to build a trusted network of colleagues (aka PLN Personal Learning Network) 16
  • 17.
    People are usingsocial tools to keep up to date with what is happening in their industry or professional 17
  • 18.
    People are usingsocial tools to solve ther own performance problems 18
  • 19.
    Directed Social Learning scheduled events structured directed Personal Social Learning continuous on demand unstructured autonomous Promoting & developing modern learning skills 19
  • 20.
  • 21.
    Network Discover Manage information overload Connect the dots Share 21
  • 22.
  • 23.
    Directed Social Learning scheduled events structured directed Personal Social Learning continuous on demand unstructured autonomous Encouraging & developing modern learning skills Team Social Learning Helping teams to learn from one another as they work 23
  • 24.
    Help teams toshare 24
  • 25.
    Help individuals towork out loud 25
  • 26.
    Help teams tobe there for one another 26
  • 27.
    Directed Social Learning scheduled events structured directed Personal Social Learning continuous on demand unstructured autonomous Encouraging & developing modern learning skills Team Social Learning Helping teams to learn from one another as they work 27
  • 28.
    Directed Social Learning scheduled events structured directed Personal Social Learning continuous on demand unstructured autonomous Encouraging & developing modern learning skills Team Social Learning Helping teams to learn from one another as they work Guided Social Learning scheduled/ continuous semi-structured semi-autonomous Scaffolding a social learning experience 28
  • 29.
    Performance-oriented activities Sociallies at the heart Content supports Social Promoted self-governance (autonomy) 29
  • 30.
    30 Case Study: Pfizer Sales Team, India
  • 31.
  • 32.
  • 33.
  • 34.
    Guided Social Learning Success Factors Group of people who wanted to learn with and from one another Organisation that encouraged supported and rewarded social learning where there is respect for people Social platform that enabled people remotely to connect, share (and learn) 34
  • 35.
    Directed Social Learning Personal Social Learning Team Social Learning Guided Social Learning LMS Social Platform / ESN Web Tools & Platforms 35
  • 36.
    new mindset |new toolset | new roles | new skillset 36
  • 37.
    Social Learning isnot something you make others do 37
  • 38.
    Directed Social Learning Personal Social Learning Team Social Learning Guided Social Learning Trainers & Instructional Designers Workplace Learning Advisors promote and support autonomous learning 38
  • 39.
  • 40.
    Directed Social Learning Personal Social Learning Team Social Learning Guided Social Learning Start by developing your own social learning skills and that of your team 40
  • 41.
  • 42.
    This is thereal social learning 42
  • 43.
    Social media enablesnew ways of learning (not enforces old ways of training) Social learning is not something you make others do It all starts with you 43
  • 44.
    References Social orFauxial Learning? www.c4lpt.co.uk/blog/2014/10/19/social-learning- 44 or-fauxial-learning/ Top 100 Tools for Learning c4lpt.co.uk/top100tools/ Learning in the Workplace Survey: c4lpt.co.uk/litw/ A special social learning experience: www.c4lpt.co.uk/blog/2014/10/07/ a-special-social-learning-experience-in-india/ Becoming a Social Learning Practitioner: michelleockersdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/becoming-a-social-learning- practitioner.pdf Social Learning Practitioner Programme: modernworkplacelearning.com/ activities/social-learning-practitioner-programme/ The Modern Workplace Learning Landscape: www.c4lpt.co.uk/blog/ 2014/10/26/the-modern-workplace-learning-landscape-more-than-telling- people-what-to-learn/