Helping to move Workplace Learning to 2.0

Last week I posted a summary analysis of the Top 100 Tools Spring 2008 list - and commented that from a breakdown of the authoring tools that were mentioned, organisational e-learning still appears to be very Web 1.0 whereas educational e-learning is embracing (free) Web 2.0 social media.

A number of people have picked up on this comment, but notably Michele Martin, at The Bamboo Project.  In one of her postings she brought together some suggestions (from her reading of blog postings) why this might be the case, notably:

1. that in organisations, learning is about transmission of information, it's transactional, and about "ticking boxes2
2. that social media tools are TOO inexpensive - and therefore not valued
3. that social media tools can lead to a feeling of loss of control and power

You can read Michele's comprehensive posting at More Thoughts on Why Workplace Learning Is Largely Learning 1.0.

I certainly believe that these points are all very valid; and in fact these were some of the reasons why I decided to develop my 25 Tools Professional Development Resouce.  In  other words to demonstrate

1. that e-learning is more than just the transmission of information and the management of completion of online modules
2. that free tools are just as valuable as commercial ones
3. that through a true understanding of social media tools, learning professionals can realise that student or employee "learning" is not totally out of their control, and that they can play an important role in promoting, faciliating and supporting it

The 25 Tools Professional Development Resource is free and open access.  I've overcome the problems I was having with spammers, so  usernames and passwords are no longer required.  And it practises what it preaches!

• It is not managed, monitored or recorded in any way
• It can be used in whatever way individuals feel most comfortable, whether it be working alone or with the support of others in the Community (and there are already over 40 members in the Community)
• It is designed very simply and informally
• It doesn't reinvent the wheel - but makes good use of existing resources in a variety of formats including video and audio - both expert and user-generated

You can read more about the rationale and design in the FAQ.

The 25 tools selected for this resource provide a representative sample of the wide range of technologies available to create many different types of (personal and group) learning "solutions" and "experiences".  However, it does include a couple of transmission/transactional tools, since it is recognised that this will inevitably remain a part of organisational learning for some time to come.

However, I hope that in a small way, this resource will help to persuade workplace learning professions to think further and wider than just online courses and learning management systems and move to a more social, collaborative approach to learning desgin and development.

25 Tools Professional Development Resource

Comments

[dissertation]

Blogs are good for every one where we get lots of information for any topics nice job keep it up !!!
___________________________

Dissertation