The other 80% of Learning in Government –Informal Learning

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The other 80% of Learning in Government –Informal Learning

Session Objectives

• What is Informal/Social Learning? – Why the Interest?

• Applications of Informal Learning in Government

• Developing your Informal Learning Strategy

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Learning

• Learning is an essential transferable skill in today’s knowledge based economy

• Direct relationship between learning, productivity and employee satisfaction

• Pace of Change – Knowledge management

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View of Learning - Changing

• Knowledge economy

• Emergence of Social Media

• Time value of knowledge

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Traditional View of Learning

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So How Do We Learn?

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Learning Spectrum

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Informal Learning-ASTD Study

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Informal/Social Learning is Not New

• Has been around as long as people have worked

• Is spontaneous and unplanned

• Learner is in control

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Informal Learning Skill-Set

• Many people are natural, informal, self-organized learners, some will need to help to acquire a range of skills to manage their own personal learning and work collaboratively with others.

• Research shows many would benefit from a ‘Knowledge-Survival Skills” Workshop. 

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Informal Learning Enabling Skills (Curriculum)

• Search and find skills• Critical thinking• Creative thinking

• Analytical skills• Networking skills• Research methodology

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Informal Learning - Challenge

• Seize the Opportunity-Organizational buy-In

• Choosing the right tools - Social Media , PLE (Personal Learning Environment), learning spaces

• Blended Formal/Informal learning strategy – spontaneity

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Learning in Government

Knowledge Management

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Formal Training

On-Job Training

Informal

Learning

Knowledge Requirements• Refresher • Improved• For immediate use

New Employee Individual’s learning journey……

Government Opportunity

• Increase productivity and effectiveness

• Enhance talent management initiatives – Employee satisfaction– Retention

• Maximize training investment

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Government Applications

• Learning spaces

• Learning communities-Platform

• Networking – Knowledge communities

• Microtraining

• Social Media tools

An Effective Way of Learning

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An effective way of learning

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Microtraining

• Microtraining is a smart way of conveying information between people in only 15-30 minutes.

• Microtraining is a time-saving method for sharing knowledge and using the expertise of everyone in the organization.

• Microtraining provides an informal way of learning and works as an updater and knowledge enhancer.

Microtraining-Learning Principles

• Support of informal learning processes

• Focus is on the participants

• Encouragement of active learning

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How Does it Work?

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Active start (3 min)

Exercise(6 min)

Discussion (4 min)

How to continue (2 min)

A Microtraining session is a short gathering of about 15-30 minutes, which is structured in the following way:

A Microtraining Cycle

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etc.

Sub-topic sessionsIntroduction session Closure session

Main topic

• A Microtraining cycle consists of several sessions focusing on sub-topics with which the complete topic can be covered.

• The introduction session is designed to get the discussion started.

• The closure session connects to the next cycle of sessions focusing on a new topic.

How Do You Do IT?

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- Communicate the goal of the session.- Start with a mental activity e.g. thinking, reflecting, organizing and comparing.

- Let the participants ask questions. - Ensure effective, direct and positive feedback.- Stimulate both discussion and knowledge sharing between participants.- Check if all participants really understand the content by asking

questions.

- What are the topics we will discuss during the next meeting(s)?- Discuss how to retain the knowledge.- Stimulate involvement and ensure participants leave with a clear goal.

- Connect with different learning styles by using a combination of pictures, sounds and text.- Stimulate the learning process by giving concrete examples.

Active start (3 min)

Exercise(6 min)

Discussion (4 min)

How to continue (2 min)

Techniques Used in Microtraining

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Brainstorming

Questionnaires /fill-in formsRole plays

Presentation

Exercises

Microtraining Benefits

• Improves learning and productivity

• It stimulates collaboration between colleagues and departments

• It is using (and demonstrating ) the organization’s learning potential

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Microtraining - Getting Started

• Learning skills audit

• Determine how Microtraining will enhance your learning strategy

• Initiate Microtraining cycle– An outside coach may be required

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Developing Informal Learning Strategy

Informal Learning Strategy

• You can’t implement Informal Learning – it’s already happening

• What you can do is support Informal Learning in Government

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Informal Learning Strategy

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Top Management SupportTop Management Support

Learning AuditLearning Audit

Blended Learning StrategyBlended Learning Strategy

Informal Learning SupportInformal Learning Support

Strong support for creating a learning organization

How do people learn to achieve

their goals in Government?

Enhance the learning conversation. Measure outcomes -productivity enhancements

Mix of Formal and Informal Learning

What We Do

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How We Do It?

• Advice and Consultancy– Develop your informal learning strategy– Learning audit – Including learning styles evaluation– Innovation application of Social Media tools

• Learning Workshops– Curriculum of workshops to enhance employee learning skills

• Informal Learning Resource – Best practices

• Tracking and reporting

– Success metrics

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Business Case

• Productivity improvement

• Satisfied employees

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The Road Ahead

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Learn From Others. territory

Considerations

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Technology

Productivity

People

Summary

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How are you enhancing Informal

Learning in your organization?