Checklist of Social Learning Strategies
Jan 12, 2010 Adoption, E2.0, Enterprise 2.0, Implementation, Learning 2.0, social media
Feb 1-3 I will be presenting at the Training 2010 conference with Dave Wilkins (@dwilkinsnh). In preparation, we came up with a bunch of things that one would need to know when creating a social learning strategy. Each one could take a deep dive, but we wanted to make the list available.
We hope this will help to spark some imagination and help you see, as you plan and implement, some areas you may have missed. (Here is the list in document form. This work is under the Creative Commons Share Alike license.)
Please feel free to add to the list in the comments below.
Checklist of Social Learning Strategies
Cultural Issues Related to Social Learning
What do you want it to be? What is it today?
- Openness vs. planning? Where is your balance point?
- Autonomy and self-direction vs. top-down mandates? Where is your balance point?
- What do executives, key stakeholders and “rank-and-file” think about social media and sharing?
- What are your organizational attitudes about transparency?
- To what extent do learners take personal responsibility and accountability for their learning?
Social Learning Approaches and Methods
What “kind” of Social Learning models are you pursuing? How do they integrate?
- Codified?
- Collaborative?
- Emergent?
- What kinds of social learning interventions do you need?
- Do you need focused Communities of Practice or decentralized social learning that is part of all learning experiences? Or both?
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: checklist, Dave Wilkins, social learning
Change – It is Just Part of E2.0
I have noticed two overarching thoughts in those that ask for E2.0 in their organization / community:
1) They know what they want, but are not exactly sure WHY they want it. They say “we want a blog” but when asked why, they can’t quite articulate that. Sure, they may say that “we want to get information out” but they are not clear on to whom this information will go, or what the information will be or who will write it or how it is different than the purpose of an email.
2) They want to use different tools but not change the way they do things. This is like doing dishes by hand, buying a dishwasher and then still doing them by hand before putting them in the dishwasher.
There WILL be trade offs. One of the major trade offs is that E2.0 is participatory. This leaves the option to participate in their hands, not yours. Organizations too often try to force participation (or in a certain way) and what do they get? Either half-hearted participation or the illusion of participation.
Instead, allow them to participate where and when they feel it will be of most benefit. They will feel empowered and trusted and will be MUCH more effective.
How to Show Value
Nov 4, 2009 Adoption
The BIG QUESTION for November is: How do I communicate the value of social media as a learning tool to my organization?
My answer to this is surprisingly simple: Show value. That’s right.
Q: How do I show value?
A: Show value.
Use it yourself for business reasons within your organization. There are enough free and tools out there that anyone can get started. Use it and SHOW the value as you use it.
This is THE BEST way I have found to get started.
Tags: value
Two New Terms: Digital Vagabond and Delinquents Explained
Oct 29, 2009 Adoption
Yesterday I was in a meeting where two new terms surfaced. The first I came up with, the other a peer of mine created:
Digital Vagabonds: This came up in a discussion about how many people don’t have a presence on specifically Facebook, but really this applies to anything online. That got me thinking – in rapid succession – about how we would never dream of not having a physical address. Where would our bills be mailed to? Where would grandma send the Christmas presents? How would the police know where to come when our child accidentally dials 911 (which has happened at our home). It is important to us to have a physical address so that others can find us, can come tee-pee our homes or just stop by with a jell-o and carrot dessert.
Yet many don’t give a thought that they should have a ‘home’ or at least some place to be found online. This online address (or plural) is shaping up to be just as important as a physical one. My physical address may change, but my blog will always be there, as will my Linkedin account, or my Facebook page (until the newest, better thing comes along – in which case you will know where to find me).
Vagabond: a person, usually without a permanent home, who wanders from place to place (in this case, maybe trying something new, but never really staying there). An idle wanderer without a permanent (virtual) home.
(OK, maybe not totally a new term after all, but new in this context.)
Digital Delinquents: This phrase was created in response to others in the meeting who have created accounts on Twitter, Facebook, who have created blogs, etc., yet never check nor update them. They are there to say, “I have an account” but don’t use them. Which is like saying, “I have a physical address, but I don’t live there. Nor do I check the mail. And if anyone stops by with a plate of cookies to welcome me to the neighborhood, I won’t be there to accept them nor to develop that neighborly relationship.”
I tried to find a picture that would depict either a digital vagabond or a digital delinquent, but failed. In reality, you can’t tell who they are in real life by physical appearance. But you can tell by their virtual appearance.
Tags: digital delinquent, digital vagabond, Facebook, Twitter
Processes vs. Light
Sep 15, 2009 Adoption, collaboration
Traditional business works like a process. A process because things need to be the same. Because of a lack of trust. Because of a higher degree of confidence in the ‘correct’ outcome.
Using social media and networking is like a light. It spreads and illuminates that which it is focused on and all objects around it. The spread breathes life into new forms of learning and growing and being and connecting.
When I think of process, I think of head-down, go and do. When I think of light in this context, I think of head up, open and ready to discover.
Now, try to take social media & networking & learning and put it in a process form. Contradictions, eh? True. Do they both have strengths? Yes. Can they work together? Sure. But when you try to dictate that which is inherently open through a rigid process, you kill the outcome. All you have is what you would have had had you followed the process only.
It is time think differently. Radically differently. Then, take the strengths of everything you have experienced and combine them together. But don’t try to do new things with the same mind set as yesterday.
Use it, Dang it! Don’t Just Talk About it.
Sep 1, 2009 Adoption
Every now and then this thought comes to me with force…
“USE IT, DANG IT! Don’t just talk about wanting to do social media, social networking or social learning within your organization. If you are not using it yourself, you won’t get it. You will think you get it, but you won’t. I have never seen ANYONE who doesn’t use it really get it – how to use it, how to implement it, why it should be used – and the opposite – why NOT or how NOT to use it. They have information on the periphery, but not what they really need – hands on experience. And I am not talking about lurking. I am talking about getting your hands dirty. Get on Twitter and talk. Think out loud on a blog. Use a wiki to take notes. Share what you love using social bookmarking. Whatever you do, jump into it. So, use it, dang it!”
There, my rant is done.
Thank you for listening. (And actually, even though this is typed, it is listening because you are listening to yourself read this in your voice. But that is another topic.)
Tags: Adoption
Why Social Media, Twitter, et.al. Have Been Rejected Then Adopted
May 14, 2009 Adoption, social media
Dave Wilkins did a masterful job in explaining “Why Twitter?” in his post The Truth About Twitter.
I created the Spandex Continuum to explain the stages social media is going through today.
But for a more in depth look at why, this video is a pure MUST watch. You may not get it until the last two minutes, so watch it to the end. Basically, personal preference is NOT determined what people like or dislike. Did you catch that? OK, maybe not never, but keep going with me here. Instead, people will make a choice based upon what they can explain, even though they may like something completely different. An odd paradox. If they aren’t forced to explain it, they often go with what they like. But if they have to explain it their answer changes.
My mind is still going through the lessons I have learned and trying to explain them right now. After the video tell me: What lessons did you learn about social media and how others view and use it?
Tags: choice, Malcolm Gladwell, popcast, preference, social media, Twitter
{#aft} Adoption vs. Addiction of Social Learning
Adoption vs. Addiction – { #aft } from Kevin Jones on Vimeo.
THINK BIG! Why do we meddle with the ordinary and mundane when there is SO MUCH MORE! In this video I talk about the difference between adoption of social media / social learning and addiction. It stems from a tweet by Gia Lyons of Jive Software and a TED.com talk by Benjamin Zander.
Re: Picture – When my children tell a lie they get soap in their mouths for as many minutes as they are years old. Thankfully, it rarely happens with 7 kids or we would run out of soap pretty quickly! When one of them is above the age of 10, it takes a toll on the bar of soap. Like the one at the beginning of the video. (And, no, they don’t actually swallow it…)
Tags: #aft, addiction, jive, social learning, video adoption
Force it / Don’t Force it and the Balance to Gain Adoption
Apr 22, 2009 Adoption
Steve Nguyen (@nguyen162- who we have interviewed in one of our podcasts) attended our webinar yesterday and had a question about an answer I gave:
“In response to your answer to “How do you get people to contribute?” you said “force it”. As part of their workflow of course.
I agree with you, however, I’m caught up on something you said earlier in the webinar. You said something about “not forcing people to read a blog.” But “force” people to contribute? I’m feeling a disconnect there. Thoughts? ”
This is a GREAT question and one that I struggled over for some time awhile ago. When do you and when do you not?
DON’T FORCE IT if it is an added task or responsibility to what they are already doing. EXAMPLE: When I started in this space I tried to add blogs to training. I created a post everyday of a sales question or scenario. The salespeople were to read it and respond in the comments and review the others’ comments. This was supposed to be a great learning activity. Functionally, it lasted two days. They didn’t have time for an extra task. And so it died. Very quickly I added that the only way for it to be adopted was to make it a part of their normal work flow. Thus…
DO FORCE IT if it substitutes a task or workflow. EXAMPLE: as I mentioned in the webinar we did yesterday, instead of emailing the attendees for a meeting the agenda and then the meeting minutes (and doing that every meeting) I created a wiki page and did a running tab of all agenda items and minutes. No more emailing. No more confusion. All real time. But the reason this worked is because it substituted the old way with the new and made it more efficient and effective.
I have done similar things like this with processes, manager/employee communications, projects, asking questions and, of course, formal learning. Use it yourself. Post notes or thoughts on a discussion or in a wiki. If people want them, they will need to go there and get it – thus they are ‘forced’ to use it – but nicely forced. 
The key? SUBSTITUTE. You both will be glad you did.
How to Snub Twitter and Lose
Apr 22, 2009 Adoption
A friend who (whom?) I met through the Social Learning Question of the Day on Twitter wrote me an email with the following opening:
“I’m insanely frustrated right now. At our company, Twitter is blocked.”
He goes on to say that he tried to submit a request to IT to have them allow it. And, you guessed it – SNUB!
Here are the reasons he received for the rejection notice (everything is paraphrased to protect the innocent and Twitter willing):
1) The training information you need can be received from other resources. Twitter may be easier, but approved websites give the same information.
2) If Twitter is approved that would open a can of worms – allowing other social and dating sites. We can’t do that.
3) I discussed this with a number of people and they all agree on the rejection of your request.
4) We would lose productivity if we opened Twitter up – allowing everyone to use it for non-business purposes. This risk is high.
Then he asked, what do I do? Wow – where do I start?
First of all, IT manages systems. They don’t always know what is best for the organization as they too often manage the systems and not the purpose for having the systems. If they are blind to the ‘whys’ and work on the ‘what’s,’ then they they stop serving those for whom they were created.
Does anyone see something wrong with these two thoughts – both given for the rejection:
a) “Twitter may be easier, but approved websites give the same information.”
b) “We would lose productivity if we opened Twitter up.”
Oxymoron. So you want to find information, but we are going to make it difficult for you and then complain about the possibility of losing productivity. Hmmmm.
<sarcasm> So I guess no one ever uses the phone for personal reasons, do they? What about email – I am sure not. And the Internet? Nah. How about the pen you gave them? They probably don’t doodle during your incredibly boring meetings, do they? And are cell phones not allowed at your company? Can they not access all the sites you block from there? </sarcasm>
To help out I asked the SLQOTD group on Twitter and they gave some great responses and resources. I HIGHLY suggest you look at that.
So, seriously – how would I answer this? Logic. Reason. Numbers. Stories of success – your success. And never give up. It is time for some serious campaigning. Get a meeting with some of the people who denied it. Not to be combative, but rather to talk about their understanding and feelings about it. In other words, get past the paper request and go personal. One-on-One. Start some conversations that way. Ask them questions:
- Have they ever used Twitter?
- Do they know why it would be used?
- Have they seen any studies on it?
- How much have they used social media overall?
- What is their experience with it?
Get personal. Get buy-in. Get Twitter.
Tags: Twitter
