The idea of social learning goes way back to before any of us even existed, think about it, when civilisation began, how did they learn to survive? Simply by communicating with each other and discussing what they found.
The birth of technology has given us the ability to communicate with people we wouldn’t meet any other way, I know I learn new things from new people every day by a simple google search or a question on twitter, how about you?
Technology has given us the ability to create e-lessons, attend webinars and read online resources, but it all comes down to the social aspect, technology enables us to build communities, and get involved in conversations we wouldn’t have otherwise known about.
So the combination of digital and social in learning is an absolute winner, right? We can complete e-lessons, read blogs and articles and then discuss them with our friends, colleagues and even strangers later on that day… a lot of the digital learning that we do, is adapted by the social engagement that comes after it. Learner engagement is incredibly high in social environments. I don’t think learning is about consumption, it’s about making sense of what you see.
How do you choose to make sense of what you learn? Do you confirm things online by reading recourses, or do you spark up conversations with new people? Are you part of any other communities or social groups that you learn from? I’d love to know more about how you combine digital and social in your learning so please comment below
Replies
Great question Lucy. I think you're right about making sense of what you see and that comes from social engagement. Just yesterday I read a couple of things that just didn't make sense to me. I didn't agree with what I was reading. Perhaps I'd got it wrong. So I reached out to one of my favourite communities, Twitter and asked the question of a couple of people I know on there. People that I met on Twitter, but have spoken to many times in real life too. It was necessary to challenge my own thinking and I'd have certainly been left hanging if I hadn't have done that.
I'd too be interested to hear what communities people are a part of and also how learning communities are created inside organisations. Looking forward to reading what people have to share.