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Archive for the ‘Future Learning’ Category

Benefits of Using Social Media for Learning

Posted by Asma Zaineb, Manager Marketing Communications on Tuesday, August 2, 2011 @ 03:10 PM

Traditionally, the primary learning delivery channels in the past were through Instructor led trainings, both virtual and classroom, On the job training, and through online training courses, typically hosted on a Learning management system. And now, there is a blend of formal and informal learning taking place with learners using all possible channels for learning like facebook, twitter, Linkedin, youtube, to name a few.

Tags: Informal Learning, instructor led trainings, Learning management System, online training courses, using social media for learning

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The Good News about Informal Learning

Posted by Shalini Merugu, Director Learning Advocacy on Monday, July 25, 2011 @ 05:20 PM

It’s all around

For their learning needs, learners are interacting with peers, exploring their company’s intranet, tapping communities of practice, conducting online searches, going through the company’s Wiki or engaging with SMEs. Informal learning is happening all over the place!

Tags: formal learning approach, Informal Learning, Sales Training, traditional training programs

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Just How New is Social Learning Anyway?

Posted by Shalini Merugu, Director Learning Advocacy on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 @ 06:12 PM

Someone once said “there’s nothing new under the sun”. Except maybe format changes. With social learning being one of the buzzwords today, here are a few thoughts on the topic.

Tags: collaboration and communications tools, discussion and collaboration tools, e-learning solutions, Social Learning, social media, Web 2.0

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Collaborative Learning – Is it changing the face of e-learning?

Posted by Abdul Razzaque Hussain, Director Customer Experience on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 @ 05:27 AM

The training industry, especially the e-learning industry has evolved from ILT, online courses, blended courses to rapid e-learning, audio/video and a range of instructional simulations and interactivities. Earlier, companies would convert manuals and instructor materials into slideshows for training purposes. Now, e-learning programs offer engaging, interactive and virtual experiences. A year or two ago, when recession affected industries, people focused on learning to retain their jobs.

Recent times have seen learning happen through social media tools. From YouTube to blogging, podcasts to micro-blogs, social news and bookmarking to wikis, social media tools have taken e-learning to another level.

The shift towards social learning is mainly because organizations have started recognizing the tremendous need to build, manage and formalize their social and collaborative learning programs.

Organizations are rethinking their training strategies and models to accommodate learning programs under ‘learning environments’ that offer collaborative learning and built in social media tools. According to Wikipedia, collaborative learning refers to various methodologies and environments where learners engage and actively interact to learn or attempt to learn something together.

A collaborative learning environment in an organization enables learners to converse with contemporaries, present as well as defend ideas and perspectives, exchange diverse beliefs, question other conceptual frameworks and get actively engaged. Learning in a collaborative environment can take place at any time. It can happen when individuals are in discussion in a group or over the Internet.

Some organizations may offer ILT training on a need basis, but over 70% of learning happens while reading, watching and listening or simply by talking with one another.

There are many new tools and platforms similar to LMS to manage, track and facilitate people to learn and work together. It’s a matter of time when collaborative learning will happen on the move through mobile phones, Blackberry phones and related mobile devices.

While Google has Google Wave, Microsoft’ SharePoint and Live Services, Adobe’s Connect, a few companies such as Saba, Plateau and Taleo are creating new tools and platforms to facilitate communication and knowledge-sharing.

What are your thoughts on Collaborative Learning? Will organizations be able to create learning environments to enhance informal and collaborative learning? Please comment and share your knowledge.

Thank you for reading my blog.

Tags: Blended Learning, Collaborative Learning, ILT Training, Instructional Simulations, Rapid eLearning

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Is Google Wave a flop?

Posted by RK Prasad, Co-Founder & CEO on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 @ 04:17 AM

I have been following a number of discussions on LinkedIn and other blogs in the cyber world trying to figure out what Google Wave is and how, it can be used as a learning tool. My quest was short and unfulfilling. Of course, in the bargain I came across some really good blogs and equally excellent writers.

For your information, I got most resources from Jane’s E-Learning Pick of the Day

Ben Par’s definition is succinct – “Google Wave is a real-time communication platform. It combines aspects of email, instant messaging, wikis, web chat, social networking, and project management to build one elegant, in-browser communication client. You can bring a group of friends or business partners together to discuss how your day has been or share files.”

So, what is in for us, learning, eLearning and corporate training professionals?

The only thing that strikes me as useful is that we can use it as a collaborative platform to develop content. It will be a good interface for SMEs, instructional designers, and content developers to jointly develop content. I suppose it will be quicker and cheaper. It looks like an advanced version of Google Docs, as far as I am concerned.

As far as revolutionizing online classroom instruction is concerned, I think not. At best, it will replace wikis, facilitate group work and help in publishing.

Maybe it is a case of sour grapes? I never got an invite!