What is Learning 2.0?
Learning2.0 is now a common term in learning industry. However, questions and doubts still abound about Learning 2.0 and its use for learning in an organization. Learning 2.0 can help organizations solve many of their learning and training needs that conventional means of learning can’t.Learning 2.0 is not a new a technology or a new tool for learning.
In the traditional methods of learning like classroom training and eLearning, learner is just fed with information and teacher dictates the learning. Learning 2.0 is a fundamental shift in learning methodology that places learner in the center of learning and allows the learner to control the learning. Learning 2.0 enables an employee to control and track individual learning using a set of
Web 2.0 tools and systems that enable collaboration. Learning 2.0 doesn’t replace the conventional means of learning; it augments the conventional methods of learning with a set of Web 2.0 tools and systems.
Learning 2.0 platform
The Learning 2.0 platform consists of following Web 2.0 tools for collaboration and knowledge sharing within organization.
• Blogs: Blogs allows every employee within an organization to compose learning content and objects. Blogs can be an effective medium for learning by experts and having a weighted discussion around a topic. Experts within an organization pen their knowledge, tips and expertise in blogs. Employees and Customers can subscribe to experts’ blogs and to gain knowledge. Companies that need to spread awareness and train customers on new products can use Blogs to develop awareness amongst customers.
• Wiki: Wiki provides a collaborative learning platform where all employees can compose learning content in the form of Wiki pages. Wiki is a great tool for Just-in-Time learning. Employees can easily locate the relevant page from Wiki and revise knowledge and concepts. FAQs, Best Practices and text content in eLearning courses can be stored in Wiki.
• Communities of Practice: Communities of Practice allows employees to learn continuously and stay abreast in their field by sharing knowledge with experts and members in their community. The content shared in the communities is in the form of articles, notifications, files, RSS feeds, Blogs and Wiki pages can be a useful learning content for employees. Unlike traditional classroom sessions, employees can interact with experts anytime in communities.
• Tagging: Tagging allows employees to add informal keywords and metadata for the learning objects and content. This can help employees to easily locate and reuse a piece of learning content.
• RSS Feeds: Employees can subscribe to feeds of knowledge from sites in internet and intranet. This can help an employee get the latest and relevant content of interest from different learning sources.
• Collaborative Workspaces: Employees can aggregate learning content from different learning sources at a single location. Workspaces help employees to track and get updates from various learning systems.
• Podcasting: Podcasting enables anytime, anywhere learning to manage the learning of highly mobile workforce. Employees can subscribe to the feeds of audio and video learning objects for continuous learning.
• Virtual Worlds: Virtual Worlds help immersive learning by providing a 3D environment where in real life objects can be depicted to simulate classroom trainings.
Why Learning 2.0?
Employees learn a lot of things at job in an informal and collaborative manner. The tips and best practices for resolving job problems are often shared by colleagues. Further employees need learning on demand to solve on job problems. The traditional methods of training just force training on employees. Employees don’t get tips, best practices and real time performance support. More and more Generation Y employees are joining the workforce. These employees like to be at the center of learning and feel that the traditional methods of learning are forced on them. As baby boomers set to retire, organizations need to lookout for Web 2.0 tools that foster collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Also read Learning 1.0 vs Learning 2.0
