social learning communities and networks

Social Learning Communities and Networks

Using social media to support learning

Tim Drewitt, Eversheds LLP

March 2012

@timdrewitt

Social Media Network Platforms

Other platforms are available

Outside World

Wider Organisation

Surrounding Training

A Social Media for Learning World

Before Training

During Training

After Training

Backchannel

When worlds collide

Uses of Social Media for Training

Possible applications of micro-blogging

Micro-learning deals with relatively small learning units and short-

term learning activities.“Wikipedia

Uses of Social Media for Training (1)

• Short messages (daily micro-learning)

– Legal updates

– New procedures

– Hints and tips

– War stories

• Sharing and commenting on links and resources

– Web links

• News, internal precedents, e-learning, etc.

– Attachments

• Re-posting others’ messages to your own followers

Knowledge sharing

Uses of Social Media for Training (2)

• Pose questions to your followers/groups

– Reply to replies to “animate” discussions

• Create polling questions for your followers/groups

• Trigger discussions based around external sources

• Use discussion groups to deliver case studies

• Live topic chats

– e.g. for an hour, messages exchanged based on one themed topic tag

Generating discussions and soliciting feedback

Use of Social Media for Training (3)

• Invite followers to specific learning events

• Use topics and groups to collate messages and discussions

• Identify learning needs

• Leverage successful learning implementations

• Embracing a mobile learning channel

Managing learning

Social Learning Communities and Networks

• Brainstorm SoMe activities that support learning:

– Before training

– During training

– After training

– Surrounding training

Surrounding Training

Before Training

During Training

After Training

Putting the theory into practice

© EVERSHEDS LLP 2010. Eversheds LLP is a limited liability partnership.

@timdrewitt

timdrewitt@eversheds.com

Ideas for “Learning Messages”

Suggested messages to support learning

Ideas for “Learning Messages ” (1)

• Planning your training

– “What training have you already had on this topic?”

– “What is the one main thing you’d like to know about this topic?”

– “Share one thing you already know about this topic with the XYZ group.”

Suggested messages to support learning

Ideas for “Learning Messages ” (2)

• Marketing your training

– “Here’s an interesting case. <Link to case> We’ll go over this on tomorrow’s webinar.”

– “Looking forward to working with you on ABC.”

• Introductions

– “Send a message to the XYZ group to introduce yourself in no more than 140 characters!”

– “Share your three main objectives for attending this training with the XYZ group.”

– “What is the biggest challenge you are facing in the area of ABC at the moment?”

Suggested messages to support learning

Ideas for “Learning Messages” (3)

• Pre-work

– “Please read Precedent ABC <Insite Link> and be prepared to discuss XYZ.”

– “Take a look at ABC v DEF <link to case> and reply to the group with your thoughts on whether X applies in this instance”.

– “Each send an example of when ABC has impacted on a recent matter. I’ll collate these and we can brainstorm an approach to… when we meet next week.”

– “Let’s brainstorm ABC by each messaging an idea.”

Suggested messages to support learning

Ideas for “Learning Messages” (4)

• In-session Messages

– “Share the things you are learning with your followers, especially when you know it’ll help a colleague with an issue they are wrestling with.”

– “Share you action plan items with your followers. Ask them to help you refine these and to support you in achieving it.”

– “Share your thoughts and comments using the topic tag, so we can all review them after the training session.”

Suggested messages to support learning

Ideas for “Learning Messages” (5)

• Continuing the discussions

– “I’ve got an answer to the question that John asked at the workshop last week. You need to use Precedent ABC.”

– “Let’s follow-up on that great discussion started by Sam about ABC. What do we think we should do when faced with this issue?”

– “We didn’t get around to answering Liz’s question about XYZ. Any ideas for things she could try?”

– “Do keep in touch with each other by messaging the group and each other!”

Suggested messages to support learning

Ideas for “Learning Messages” (6)

• Post-training follow-up

– “How are you all getting on?”

– “How have you applied what you learned last week?”

– “Don’t forget to submit your post-workshop learning log by Friday at noon.”

– “Just found this really useful case <insert link to case>. This helps to confirm what we thought about ABC.”

Suggested messages to support learning

Ideas for “Learning Messages” (7)

• Formative (immediate quality) evaluation

– “Please summarise our discussion on ABC.”

– “Message one of the new ideas we had yesterday about XYZ (no duplication allowed).”

• Summative (eventual outcomes) evaluation

– “What activity from our training session has been of most use to you?”

– “What questions remain unanswered for you?”

– “What are you now doing differently since we met two months ago?”

Suggested messages to support learning

Ideas for “Learning Messages” (8)

• Ask the expert

– “John Smith, QC has volunteered to answer our questions on XYZ. Send in your questions by Friday and I’ll share his replies next week.”

• Debate

– “This house moves that… Please will half of you post messages in favour, the others against the motion; and arguments against the other’s position.”

Suggested messages to support learning

Ideas for “Learning Messages” (9)

• Case study review

– “Why do you say that?”

– “Could you explain further?”

– “Is that always the case?”

– “Can/did anyone see this another way?”

– “But what if … happened, what else would result?”

– “How does … affect …?”

– “Why do you think I asked that question?”

– “Why was that question important?

Suggested messages to support learning

Managing Your Backchannel

Leveraging your extended network

Managing Your Backchannel

Leveraging your extended networkYou

Your Follower Your Follower Your Follower

Their Follower Their Follower Their Follower

Their Follower

Their Follower

Their Follower

Their Follower

Their Follower

Their Follower

The Backchannel

A spontaneous, self-directed line of communication created by people in an audience with others inside and outside of the room, usually facilitated by Internet technologies and which can be both constructive and destructive.

Cliff Atkinson, “The Backchannel”, 2010

Using Backchannels

• Allow parallel backchannel conversations

• Ask people to comment in real time on discussions using topic flags

– Collates the “collective wisdom”

• Ask attendees to solicit views and answers from their own network of followers

• Turn mobiles into voting devices with polls

• Desktop-share social media network topic screens and comment on postings

Supporting webinar and classroom learning

Getting Started

Some ideas for getting into social media

Some Ideas for Getting Started

• Set up internal Social Media for Learning online group to share more information and continue our discussions

• Use a private online group as non-priority communications channel across the team/s

– Nice to knows

– Simple questions, e.g. “Anyone know where I can find…?”

– Ideas and opinions for feedback

As an L&D team

Some Ideas for Getting Started

• Invite followers to receive

– Your take on breaking news

– “Light bulb moments”

– Warm-up comments before a training session

– Follow-up thoughts after a training session

• Invite followers to direct message you with (or share via your public feed)

– Simple questions

– Interesting things they’ve seen elsewhere

To support learning

Finding Your Voice

• Follow, “stalk” and “lurk” around others

– What do they do that interests you/annoys you?

• Determine your objectives

– Curator/recycler of new learning

– Learning facilitator

• Locate relevant sources to feed you content

• Evaluate your activity, e.g. number of followers, re-Tweets/Likes, comments

• Adjust as required

And earning the right to be followed

© EVERSHEDS LLP 2010. Eversheds LLP is a limited liability partnership.

@timdrewitt

timdrewitt@eversheds.com