Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Social Networking as a Learning Tool

I recently ran across an article from CLO Magazine which is worth wrestling with. After you read the CLO article, I am interested in your thoughts on the following:

  • Do you believe this "socially motivated Internet activity" has implications to the CLO?

  • In the article, Alterman says "social networking as a learning tool has to be fun." Do you agree/disagree?

  • How do you envision the empowerment sites like MySpace, YouTube, etc. have conditioned users will play in an organization that tends to want to monitor and measure what is said?
  • 4 comments:

    Anonymous said...

    I agree that this type of social networking community can work in an organization. This type of social networking is used successfully in many universities and the implication in the workplace could be huge so long as its monitored and has the adequate chats/content.

    Stephen said...

    I agree with anonymous' take this could be huge (assumed positive) implications. Wondering what is the thinking on "monitoring" as many of the scanrios we see today on the Internet are either not monitored or are monitored by the community as opposed to "big brother" ...

    Anonymous said...

    I recently attended a webinar that focused on this same question. It stated that this shift was due to the evolution of web 1.0 to web 2.0. Interestingly enough, it seemed as though the advisory panel and the participants fit the profile of a more mature audience who was used to a "learning is flat" organization. Although they were interested in the newer learning technologies, I sensed they were a bit intimidated with the "open" learning forum concepts and heard them inquire about how to monitor it, how to measure it, etc...keeping it in the same web 1.0/structured learning format. I see this in some of my customer's as well. In one specific customer site, I see the Learning Organization feeling stagnant, but not sure how to change or what to change. There comment also was that it was hard for them as an organization to retain younger employees. I wonder if there is any correlation? Not that web 2.0 is the ultimate answer, but I do see some interesting correlations to an organization afraid of change (due to so many changes happening outside of their control in the business as a whole) and they are more stressed than another customer I have who has embraced and led the way with newere learning technologies...with both seasoned employees and new employees collaborating and thinking "outside the flat box"....just my thoughts!

    Stephen said...

    Shackkris - Interesting post. I believe you are correct in noting the dilemma facing many learning organizations. I also agree that this is not so much a Web 2.0 phenomena as much as it is a maturing of many dynamics including changing demographics of the workforce, advances in technology as well as acceptance of new technologies.

    In order for this to work, organizations will need to soften their need to monitor and control.