Social Media and Social Learning - June 2014 eLearning SIG event, by

Khadeidra Le Gendre

Posted By Khadeidra Le Gendre, Thursday, July 24, 2014

Updated: Thursday, September 25, 2014

The June 2014 eLearning SIG event was ripe with opportunities for both Social Media and Social Learning. SIG co-

chairs Enid Crystal and Andrew Sellen hosted onsite at Dale Carnegie’s offices, while presenter David Kelly joined

remotely via web conference. David Kelly is an internal learning & performance consultant, Training Director, speaker,

and blogger. He is also well-known for his curation efforts-the backchannel; through which he aggregates social media

communications, predominantly after large events as a resource for others. Through both presentation and group

discussion, ATDNYC members explored the differences and convergence between social media and social learning.

“Social media is not new. Social learning is not new. The convergence between social learning and social media is what

is new.” - David Kelly

When most people think of social media, usually they think of the most commonly used tools. As David explained, social

media is not internet-based. It is simply the idea of using media to create social interactions. Although it has been

popularized by Facebook, social media is the use of media that enables us to interact with one another.

Social learning is driven by the learner, and by his/her interactions. One attendee defined social learning as “learning

that is ‘pulled’ in real time, instead of pushed by a lecturer.” David comically analogized: the first social learning occurred

when a caveman put his hand in the fire – the second caveman experienced social learning.

Social media and social learning have converged because the more popularized forums of social media have a

‘guaranteed’ audience. For this reason, organizations use them to convey messages. Because of social media, the rules

are changing in the training classroom. By utilizing social media, the trainer can receive real-time evaluations (Levels 1,

2, and 3) from participants. Learners can easily be engaged before, during, and after a session. Social media can also

be used to make key learning points to stand out. Social media adds informal learning to formal learning plans.

Many social media tools offer significant advantages to the Learning Professional:

Blog – place for individuals to share information, thoughts, and ideas related to a particular subject. They are free, easy

to use, and can be used in a controllable manner. They are trackable, encourage reflection, and enable interaction.

L&D Blogs David follows most:

• Jane Hart – Center for Learning & Performance Technologies,

• Ellen Wagner (eLearning road trip)

Facebook – is free, easy to use, flexible in sharing content, expansive: groups can allow people to connect with each

other without being friends. Trainers can create closed groups to eschew the challenges of public. Secret groups! These

are great options for learning.

LinkedIn – also free, easy to use. Trainers can leverage existing tools such as LinkedIn to encourages sharing and

participation, however one barrier that exists is that many employers perceive it as solely a job hunting tool.

Khadeidra’s memo:

Pinterest - our VP of Marketing, Robert Baker recently shared a Pinterest Board on our Chapter’s LinkedIn Discussion.

This board presents some great visuals that may be used in presentations for your training efforts.

Google + - David joked that Google + is Facebook for people who hate Facebook. This is also free and easy to use.

Trainers can leverage an existing tool and then integrate with other google apps, such as: Google hangout, Calendar,

YouTube. Additionally, through this medium, Trainers can have a closed learning environment through live video

conversation, which can then be archived.

Twitter – this free, fast-paced medium enables real-time sharing and participation, there are also private options that

allow protection of content. You can find David on Live Twitter chats in the L&D world such as #lrnchat – 8:30pm on

Thursdays.

How would you structure a social media learning event?

In your organization, how do you manage the popular social media tools without getting lost in ‘administrivia’?

What’s the benefit of becoming a social media maven?

As shared by David Kelly, for more resources on social media and social learning, click here.

Khadeidra Le Gendre is a lifelong learner and is in her final year of postgraduate study of Social-Organizational

Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is engaged in HR/Training & Development work at MTA New

York City Transit, where charged with exploring new technologies and evaluating learning impact within the agency. She

enjoys blogging and tweeting for our chapter @ATDNYC!