What Is Social Learning?
Social learning is a method of learning, in which employees can acquire new behaviour through observing and interacting with others. It improves communication skills and bonds between employees. It is also essential, as it helps to strengthen social skills and relationships.
Here are 6 social learning tips to consider in your blended learning model.
1. Use Social Media And Online Forums
Social media and online discussion forums, like Facebook and Slack, are essential for discussing issues, sharing articles and asking questions. Employees can learn from industry leaders and Subject Matter Experts when they share their learning experiences. Social media forums can also be a platform for employees to recommend courses to their colleagues, even after completion of the course.
Incorporating User-Generated Content (UGC) into your learning strategy is another way of effectively improving the effectiveness of training. UGC is content generated by users. Employees are more likely to listen to their colleague’s suggestion much more than a corporate trainer's suggestion. There are various ways you can use UGC in the workplace, and incorporating it into your training strategy would certainly help you improve user interaction and the overall training outcome.
So, as an L&D professional, incorporating social media forums for learning into your blended learning is a way of engaging your employees. It'll help in improving the effectiveness of your course by filling the lapses left behind in your content.
2. Employ Gamification
Gamification involves the application of typical gaming elements, like point scoring, targets, and many more in a non-game context. This approach to learning challenges employees to score more points and complete a specific milestone in their learning. It also serves as motivation for employees to participate, compete, and do better with their learning effort.
The gamification technique is vital; as its long-term incorporation into blended learning can influence employees' behaviour. By providing employees with a practical environment, similar to their real-life tasks, they are able to apply what they learn at work.
3. Organize A Peer Connect
One of the vital tactics to incorporate into your blended learning program is organizing a peer connect. It can help employees to get familiar with each other and resolve challenges faced at work.
L&D professionals can incorporate peer connect groups into their blended learning, which allows employees to get close to each other. This learning strategy will give employees the chance to improve their performance through the sharing of helpful tips. In case there are industry leaders in the group, they can become the group's mentor by providing support to others.
4. Combine A Traditional Classroom With Social Learning
In a fast-growing company, a traditional classroom opens the door for employees to meet and learn from their peers. L&D teams can design it to promote interaction, collaboration, and teamwork. By so doing, the social learning experience is combined with the traditional classroom learning experience.
Positive learning behaviour includes connecting with colleagues, interacting, and discussing what you've learned. For L&D teams to promote positive behaviour, they can create a learning environment that opens the door for social learning.
5. Incorporate A Flipped Classroom
A flipped classroom is a reverse of the traditional learning environment. It's more of employees having direct access to knowledge, while the instructor becomes a coach or mentor. With this kind of learning strategy, employees have prior knowledge of the discussion topic. They get to participate in the learning process by interacting and seeking clarifications for unclear matters.
So, L&D teams should incorporate a flipped classroom into their blended learning program to promote peer-to-instructor and peer-to-peer interaction.
6. Use Chatbots
Chatbots are programs designed to mimic human written or oral speech in order to interact with humans. Chatbots programmed and controlled by L&D teams can give employees easy, direct and correct information. Research has it that you forget half of what you learn online as soon as you end the training. With chatbots, you can fill the gap by asking questions anytime.
Chatbots are very useful for the remote workforce, as you can access them in any place or at any time. So, consistent use of this program can help employees to retain their knowledge of a particular skill.
