An Introduction to Learning 2.0
By Douglas Donald, Boomer Consulting, Inc.
Imagine you and a friend enjoying a cup of coffee at the
corner shop. She shares a compelling idea. You respond with a slightly altered
version, informed by something you read earlier that week. As the minutes
pass, you build the framework for a new company initiative together. Welcome
to the world of Learning 2.0.
Let’s get philosophical
While still in its infancy, Learning 2.0 is gaining momentum as employers look
to connect vital information and training to a new generation of employees. In
fact, some employers have already begun to utilize the philosophies and
techniques of L2.0 without even knowing it.
Learning 2.0 is not a program. Rather, it is a philosophy bounded only by the
roles played by its participants. A teacher’s role in a L2.0 environment isn’t
just to plant information but to foster an environment where learning can
occur. This may include moderating an online forum, writing blog posts that
solicit certain kinds of replies, drafting a wiki page, etc.
The student’s role is to supply content, ideas and questions. Collaboration is
the name of the game. In response, the instructor offers suggestions,
corrections or clarifications in order to further the discussion. The
instructor may follow up by asking certain contributors to expand on specific
entries or posts. Doing so may require research and data collection that may,
in turn, begin a whole new discussion in which the ‘student’ now becomes the
‘teacher.’
The tools
Each year colleges and universities graduate a new workforce population that
is increasingly accustomed to social networking, wikis and online games like
Second Life. Each of these incorporates an evolving dimension of interaction.
Social networking sites are no longer the destination of the forlorn and
lonely. Technology professionals in particular are utilizing services such as
del.icio.us and digg.com to share interesting links along with solutions,
hacks and educational resources. Wikis have become common resources for many
fields as industries seek to understand and implement an ever-evolving
knowledge base. And online gaming now offers opportunities to interact in ways
many never thought possible.
As a result, many of the tools for Learning 2.0 are already available to you.
The only work on your part is to discover what works best for your learning
situation and tailor it to your needs. Before you begin, however, it would
benefit you to know something about the language of L2.0.
Do you speak learning?
It’s important to move beyond thinking about learning as a static process.
That is, learning does not and should not be limited to a set time and place.
Everyday people across the globe exchange thoughts and ideas in their native
tongues. Learning is itself a syntax, but only loosely defined by its own
grammar. This idea is another critical element of Learning 2.0.
Linguists have defined the study of language as it is used in a social context
as “pragmatics” and organizations that thrive on the cumulative creativity of
their employees understand something of this (even if they don’t know what
they know). Fostering an atmosphere where ideas intermingle with language so
much so that they become one and the same thing is not hard. It only requires
a commitment to process improvement and employees who are willing to have
their ideas re-shaped as they in turn re-shape the ideas of others.
New converts
So what about the Learning 1.0 crowd? How do they fit with this new kind of
thinking? The old adage that “you can’t teach an old dog” does not necessarily
apply. Everyone wants maximum results in minimum time, right? The initial
investment does not have to be high, and the benefits are potentially
plentiful.
Getting people excited about new modes of training doesn’t have to be hard,
especially once they understand its convenience and benefits.
Keeping up with the Joneses
Now is the time to at least begin thinking about Learning 2.0. Retention and
attraction of quality personnel continues to be the number one issue facing
the accounting industry. The brightest employees are continually on a quest
for knowledge, and fostering a dynamic learning community may be your ticket
to finding and keeping the best. Do your homework, and get started today!
Reprinted with permission of Boomer Consulting, Inc.