Author Archives: John Hillsman

How far along is your business with really utilizing social networking and social learning tools?  Do you feel like the only one trying to show the value it can bring to your organization? Here is some information that may help you show everyone, once and for all, why you need at act fast and get ahead of the competition. This January 2012 article from Debra Donston-Miller posted at The Brainyard cites that while organizations may be skittish about security and productivity, social media’s benefits are hard to discount. Her mantra – Be social–or be left behind. I like that – ‘Be social or be left behind’. The article cites some interesting ideas and ways for CEOs and other leaders in … Continue Reading »

Text-based learning management systems (LMSs) that have little accessibility and do not focus on the learner experience must evolve to produce results. With the rise of social networking technology becoming integrated into our lives, there are tools that are easily available to help make learning management platforms more engaging and to increase collaboration.  And, the research is showing that these advanced systems delivering social learning solutions are yielding increased results, in terms of meeting organizational goals and overall employee performance. A December 2011 article titled ‘One to Watch’ from Brent Skinner posted at HRO Today shares innovative and unconventional ways companies are schooling employees including the use of social media and social learning. He offers some insight into the how … Continue Reading »

Some ideas must be embraced at the top before gaining company-wide acceptance.  Social networking is one of those ideas.  But, how can the C-level get the information they need to move forward? There is a lot of buzz and many powerful tools supporting the social networking revolution.  And, a revolution is exactly what it is.  People are choosing to connect and communicate and collaborate like never before.  What does this mean for businesses? There are a number of articles written to help demonstrate the value of social learning for businesses, how to assess technological and collaborative learning trends and even, how Facebook can change corporate training. These are good resources to get started.  The demand for change in the traditional … Continue Reading »

Do you find that your employer is resistant to incorporating social learning tools to enhance the business?  Maybe, we just need to communicate the value better. First of all, let’s get on the same page with what ‘social learning’ even means. Wikipedia defines social learning as:  learning that takes place at a wider scale than individual or group learning, up to a societal scale, through social interaction between peers. To be considered social learning, a process must: Demonstrate that a change in understanding has taken place in the individuals involved Demonstrate that this change goes beyond the individual and becomes situated within wider social units or communities of practice Occur through social interactions and processes between actors within a social network That’s all … Continue Reading »

What is social learning?  What are the best social learning practices? This recent article from Sharlyn Lauby at Mashable and the American Express OPEN Forum cites the 2011 Training Industry Report from Training Magazine which states that total expenditures in training appear to be increasing. The amount spent on training jumped about 13% from 2010, including increases in overall training budgets and payroll, and spending on outside products and services. In addition the article examines three of the developing topics that combine social with learning — and should be worth integrating in your business during this year. Social Learning – Get people connected and leverage informal knowledge better than ever before. Social Networking Techniques – Use tools for training that … Continue Reading »

Have you seen an increase in the use of social media in the workplace? A recent article from Media Post’s Eric Sass states that social media use on workplace computers increased a remarkable 300% between mid-2010 and mid- 2011. The article further states that “The stats are pretty impressive. Social networking’s overall bandwidth consumption — including Facebook Apps, Social Plugins, and posting — jumped from 5% of total bandwidth in October 2010 to 25% in December 2011. Twitter alone saw at-work browsing increase 700%. In technical parlance, this is ‘a lot.’” Read more: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/165984/workplace-social-media-use-increased-threefold-in.html?print#ixzz1jwUSUm66 Here is how Palo Alto Networks put the information together in an infographic: For the full report and infographic, visit Palo Alto Networks’ web site: http://www.paloaltonetworks.com/literature/forms/aur-report.php There is … Continue Reading »

Informal learning (or social learning) can help employees directly apply relevant job-related information into their day-to-day activities versus trying to apply classroom-type training. Having information, or having a method to easily access information, readily available when a question or problem is uncovered can make a difference in how an employee performs their tasks and grows their professional skills. Excerpt from ‘Learning is the New Work’ by Jay Cross for Chief Learning Officer Magazine “Educating should be done on the job, not in the classroom. Innovation requires importing into the workplace patterns of thought from foreign sources that are often detached from learning regimes.” See the full blog post at http://clomedia.com/articles/view/4350. As we enter 2012, the blog referenced above serves as … Continue Reading »

This recent blog from Lisa Nielsen and posted at Tech and Learning shares some advice on how one can improve their online learning environments, especially as it involves socialization, community and relevancy. Do you think these same principles apply within the corporate online learning environments as well? How can we take these ideas working in the classroom and make them work in the office space?  Do you think the current workforce would accept these ideas? Are companies ready to apply social learning and networking concepts? What works for employee training may be different than what works in the classroom.  Let us know what you think! Here is a quick summary the Five Things Students Want Their Teachers to Know about Online … Continue Reading »

Cisco’s recent Connected World Technology Report contains interviews with college students and young professionals from around the world to see exactly what social media, mobile devices and the internet mean to them, and how these attitudes will influence job decisions…the results and this accompanying infographic show a dramatic shift in workplace priorities. The majority of college students and young professionals value social media access, device freedom, and a mobile work style as much or more than money. This new connected workforce seems to already be influencing coworkers. But how will this change the face of modern business as they work up to positions of power? Are you prepared? http://www.cisco.com/assets/sol/ent/business_trend/borderless/ccwtr/tech_world_report2.html TOPYX and TOPYX Bolt can assist in the future development of training, … Continue Reading »

Cisco recently released their Connected World Technology Report in which they interviewed college students and young professionals from around the world to see exactly what the internet means to them. This accompanying infograhic shows some of the results and the new priorities that are changing the way they view and interact with the world, including nonstop socialization. And as they enter and rise in the workplace, their attitudes can spread to gain traction in other demographics; are we seeing a new world order?   TOPYX and TOPYX Bolt can assist in the future development of training, eLearning, and social learning whether as an individual social learning platform via TOPYX or as a part of your existing learning management system (LMS) with TOPYX Bolt … Continue Reading »