Resources to Learn How to Use Twitter

For the 2012 ASTD TechKnowledge conference, I am conducting both a webinar and a live concerrent session for the conference. Both sessions are covering the same topic: Twitter 101 for the Learning Professional.

This blog post is being set up a follow-up resource for those that attend one of my sessions. It may also serve as a resource for anyone that wants to learn more about how to use Twitter.

Specific Session Resources
Twitter 101 for Learning Professionals Webinar Recording
Twitter 101 for Learning Professionals Slideshare

Beginning Twitter Tips
Twitter 101: How should I get started using Twitter? (from the Twitter Help Center)
How to Tweet: Twitter 101 (from eHow.com)
Why are You on Twitter? A 'Twitter 101' Lesson by Mike Johansson
Twitter 101: 55 Tips to Get Retweeted on Twitter by Pam Moore
Twitter: Why It's So Great and How to Effectively Use It by Lost Art of Blogging
Twitter for Beginners by Jerry Blumengarten
Beginning Twitter for Professionals by Kelly Meeker (Free course)

Comprehensive Resources
The Twitter Guidebook (from Mashable.com)
Twitter Basics (from the Twitter Help Center)

Books
Social Media for Trainers by Jane Bozarth
Gettin' Geeky with Twitter by Gina Schreck
The Backchannel by Cliff Atkinson

Twitter for Learning Professionals
How to use Twitter for Social Learning from The Social Learning Centre
The Effects of Twitter in an Online Learning Environment by Logan Rath
Nuts and Bolts: Social Media for Learning by Jane Bozarth
App Fusion: 30 Twitter Apps for the Learning Pro by Terrence Wing
Marc My Words: OMG, I'm Tweeting by Marc Rosenberg
App Fusion: Twaining in Twitter by Terrence Wing
Cybraryman: Twitter by Jerry Blumengarten
Using Twitter for Role Plays by Lisa Neil Gualtieri
Creating a Training Course in Twitter (YouTube playlist)
This series of videos explains how you can build a training program directly within Twitter, using the  media playing capability of the service. While Twitter recently changed some of the features and the structure of it's webpage, the principles of these videos still apply. It also provides an opportunity to share some of the work of the late Terrence Wing, who was a strong voice of the use of Twitter and social media for training professionals.

Giving Thanks for an Awesome First Year of Blogging

This is the time of year when Americans collectively pause and consider what it is they are thankful for.  It seems only appropriate that I am also celebrating the one-year anniversary of this blog at the same time, as what it has contributed to me over the last 12 months is something I could never have predicted, and something I am incredibly thankful for.  So for this Thanksgiving-themed post, I reflect on the first year of this blog, and give thanks for what it has provided me.

I thought about starting this blog for years.  In truth, there’s a very good chance that I could STILL be thinking about it had it not been for a #lrnchat tweetchat I participated in where blogging was discussed.  I had mentioned that I didn’t yet have a blog, and a few people came forward to encourage me to start one.  One of those people was Dave Ferguson, who pointed out that I should be blogging for my primary audience: myself. It wasn’t until Dave gave me that subtle nudge I didn’t know I needed that I finally made the jump.  Thanks Dave.

Another turning point in my blogging was the holiday-themed post I wrote called “Twas the Night Before Social Media”.  That was something I wrote, tweaked, and finalized about two weeks before I published it.  It was something that I looked at as a ‘risk’.  Did it match the image I was trying to portray?

In hindsight, taking the chance was the best thing I could have done.  Without realizing it at the time, it was a post that allowed me to be a little more open, and invited people to get to know me.  It also did strike a chord with readers, and to this day is the most popular posting I have written.  It was a catalyst to many of the gifts my blog provided me in the months that followed.

That posting helped me build connections with a great number of people, including many individuals I look to as leaders in the Learning and Performance field.  I was building a network of peers through which I could grow, and in turn help others with their growth.  I increased my exposure to the industry I love many times over, and have become a part of the greater community of the field. 

That community exposure is another gift I am eternally thankful for, and one that I hope I can share with others in the future.  Being a part of the community is wonderful, but the real gift my blog provided me with was awareness. 

There’s growing discussion in the field about how we can get professionals to adapt to the shifting nature of workplace learning.  The first challenge in that is awareness that the shift is going on.  Think about walking through a hallway you are unfamiliar with.  There’s a locked door to your right.  Behind it could be a tiny closet, or it could be an entry into a whole new world you had no idea existed.

In most cases, we just continue walking down the hallway, not really giving the door much thought.  As it turns out, my blog was the key to that lock, and I an eternally grateful that I opened the door.

The blog and my participation in the industry community provided me with something else that I am thankful for: Opportunity.  In the past year I have had the pleasure of participating in many opportunities that I would not have considered possible even a few years ago.  I have been invited to write for publications, to speak at conferences, and most recently, to be the ‘official’ curator for the backchannel of the DevLearn conference.  While there were a number of factors that contributed to these opportunities being available to me, they all stem from the same starting point: this blog, and the exposure it has given me.  For that, I thank each and every person that has ever read and/or shared something I have written. 

That brings me to the thing my blog has provided me with that I am most thankful for: You. 

I don’t mean ‘You’ in the context of being a reader of this blog – though I do appreciate that.  I am referring to the connections that I have made with the people on the other side of the door that my blog helped open.  I have made very real connections with people through my blog and subsequent interactions that provide me with the ultimate value: friendship.

DevLearn was the perfect example of something I’ve said a few times in the past: Before social media – and in this context, my blog and the interactions it helped initiate – I had never greeted people I was ‘meeting’ for the first time with a hug.  I lost count of how many times that happened at DevLearn, and I can't express how much it means to me.

Happy Thanksgiving friends, including those of you outside the United States who may not celebrate the holiday formally.  Thank you for everything you add to my life.

Learning 2011 Conference Backchannel: Collected Resources #L2011

I am a huge proponent of backchannel learning.  There are many conferences I would love to be able to attend, but my budget can only accomodate one or two each year.  The backchannel is an excellent resource for learning from a conference or event that you are unable to attend in-person.

I find collecting collecting and reviewing backchannel resources to be a valuable learning experience for me, even when I am attending a conference in person.  Sharing these collections on this blog has shown that others find value in the collections as well.

This post collects the resources shared via the backchannel of the Learning 2011 Conference, being held November 6-9 in Orlando, Florida.

Official Learning 2011 ConferenceResources

Conference Website Home Page

Conference Program Guide - Event Guide
Conference Program Guide - Keynotes
Conference Program Guide - Themes
Conference Program Guide - Breakout Session Formats
Conference Program Guide - Schedule
Spotlight Award: McDonald's Corporation WorldwideTraining, Learning & Development
Spotlight Award: Joint Special Operations University (JSOU)
Spotlight Award: iPad as “Game Changer”
Elliot Masie's Learning Wiki
Learning Perspectives 2011 (free eBook)

Conference Summaries and Recaps
Learning 2011 - Live Blogging by Karen Hanson
Mobile Story Telling with Bill Clinton by Marcel de Leeuwe (translated from Dutch using Google Translate)
Start Learning Conference 2011 by eLearning.nl (translated from Dutch using Google Translate)
Motivation, Robotic Arms, and Stories Learning 2011 by Marcel de Leeuwe (translated from Dutch using Google Translate)
The Sad Stereotypes that Still Exist - At a Learning Conference! by Sarah Bloomfield
Reflections from One Learning Professional about Learning 2011 by Liz Scott
A conversation at Learning 2011: The Learner is Still In the Driver's Seat by Intrepid Learning

SESSION SPECIFIC

President Bill Clinton Keynote
President Bill Clinton Keynote Mind Map by Clark Quinn
The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande book recommended by Bill Clinton
Karen Schulz: On Being Wrong TED Talk
The Big Sort by Bill Bishop book recommended by Bill Clinton
Being Wrong by Kathryn Schulz book recommended by Bill Clinton

Other Session Specific Resources 

Learning 2011 Sessions: LearningWiki Resources
Tablets for Learning: Examples and Potential resources shared by Tom King, Erin Hynes, & Fran Bahn
Ken Zolot Mindmap by Clark Quinn
Learning 2011 Interview Mindmaps by Clark Quinn
Learning 2011 Day 2 Morning Mindmaps by Clark Quinn
John Lithgow Keynote Mindmap by Clark Quinn

Miscellaneous

Dawn of Learning Democracy by Raving Learnatics
A Hammer Looking for a Nail by Bob Mosher
Vimeo Video School
Is Google Ruining Your Memory? by Jonah Lehrer
Is the Internet Making Us Lazy Learners? by Dave Halvorson
Eric Stanley's Official YouTube Page
A Quick Guide to Personalization & Storytelling in Learning by Craig Dadoly
ADL Mobile Learning Newsletter
Why Companies Aren't Getting the Employees They Need by Peter Cappelli
Apple Futureshock YouTube video
Is Social Media Ruining Students? Infographic
The Onboarding Portal: A Stitch in Time by Chris Willis
How to Make Oatmeal... Wrong by Mark Bittman
A Sarah Divided Can Not Stand by Sarah Bloomfield
How language transformed humanity TED Talk by Mark Pagel
The Zappos Family on Nightline YouTube Video
Social Media for Trainers book by Jane Bozarth
Communities of Practice: Batteries Not Included by Harrison Withers
Educational Assessments: What it is and What it Might Be by Sarah Bloomfield
PwC Opens Up by Margery Weinstein
My Robot is Better Than Your Robot YouTube video
John Lithgow: Stores by Heart: Uncle Fred Flits By by Adam Perlman
Why Big Corporations are Putting the Brakes on Social Media by Mikal Beicove
Mobile Learning Resources from Innovative Learning
Dear Companies, Your Should Start Using Mobile Devices As Training Tools For Your Employees by Chad Udell
The Evolution of Masie's Dance Vimeo video from Learning 2011
Nuts and Bolts: Required Reading by Jane Bozarth
One-Word Answers Vimeo video from Learning 2011
6th grade iPhone app developer speaks at TEDx by Courtney Boyb Myers
Adobe Stops Development on Mobile Browser Flash [Report] by Stan Schroeder
The Fallacy of Digital Natives by Dan Pontefract

Dedicated Backchannel Queries [Tool and search terms shown in brackets]

Access the up-to-date Learning 2011 backchannel [Twitter: #L2011]
Photos from the Backchannel [TwiPho: L2011]

I will be adding to this list as I continue to review the backchannel transcripts and find resources.  I will tweet updates occasionally as additional links are added.  If you know of a valued resource I should add to the list - or if something is inaccurate - please add it to the comments or tweet me a link to @LnDDave.

If you find these collections of value, I have posts that consolidate the backchannel resources from other conferences.  An archive of all of these posts can be accessed by clicking the link below:

Click here to access the archive of backchannel resource posts.

Conference Backchannels: Archive of Collected Resource Postings

I am a huge proponent of backchannel learning.  There are many conferences I would love to be able to attend, but my budget can only accommodate one or two each year.  The backchannel is an excellent resource for learning from a conference or event that you are unable to attend in-person.

I find collecting and reviewing backchannel resources to be a valuable learning experience for me, even when I am attending a conference in person.  Sharing these collections on this blog has shown that others find value in the collections as well.

As the number of these posts grows and continue to contribute value to me and others, I have created this post as an ongoing 'archive' and single point of reference to my conference backchannel collected resource posts.  The listing starts with the most recent post and goes backwards chronologically. 

Learning 2011 (November 2011)

DevLearn 2011 (November 2011)
*This resource page is located on the DevLearn 2011 website

ASTD Chapter Leader’s Conference (October 2011)

Learning 3.0 (October 2011)

mLearning DevCon 2011 (October 2011)

Resources Shared at Recent ASTD / SHRM Presentations (September 2011)

#140EDU 2011 (August 2011)

mLearn Conference 2011 (June 2011)

ASTD International Conference and Exposition 2011 (May 2011)

Resources Shared at Recent ASTD Presentations (April 2011)

CLO Symposium Spring 2011 (March 2011)

Learning Solutions 2011 (March 2011)

Training 2011 (February 2011)

ASTD TechKnowledge 2011 (February 2011)

Learning Technologies 2011 (January 2011)

DevLearn10 (November 2010)

ASTD Chapter Leader Conference: Backchannel Collected Resources #ASTDALC

I am a huge proponent of backchannel learning.  There are many conferences I would love to be able to attend, but my budget can only accommodate one or two each year.  The backchannel is an excellent resource for learning from a conference or event that you are unable to attend in-person.

I find collecting and reviewing backchannel resources to be a valuable learning experience for me, even when I am attending a conference in person.  Sharing these collections on this blog has shown that others find value in the collections as well.

This post collects the resources shared via the backchannel of the 2011 ASTD Chapter Leaders Conference, held October 14-15 in Arlington, Virgina.

Official ASTD Chapter Leader's ConferenceResources
Conference Website Home Page
Conference Sessions
Conference Session Handouts
Congressional Conversations 3.0 Pre-Conference Event Flyer

Conference Summaries and Recaps
A few thoughts from our Chapter Leaders Conference by Chris Coladonato (Added 10/18)

Session Specific
Eli Pariser: Beware online "filter bubbles" shared by David Wilkins
Leading by Example: Social Technologies and ASTD Chapter Practices slides by David Wilkins
Historic inevitability of social everything slides by David Wilkins
Social Media 2011 YouTube Video shared by Tony Bingham
Socialnomics 3 YouTube Video shared by Kella Price and Larry Straining
The New Face of Talent Management ASTD White Paper shared by Tony Bingham (Added 10/18)
ASTD Chapters Next Level Tool (Added 10/18)

Miscellaneous
The story of the four-way test by Darrel Thompson
Consultants: love-hate relationships with communities of practice research report from Katja Pastoors
The Usefulness of Wenger’s Framework in Understanding a Community of Practice Dissertation by Jane Bozarth
iPad in Learning LinkedIn Discussion Group
ASTD Vision, Mission, and Strategies shared by Kella Price
FORD Social Media Guidelines shared by Jane Bozarth
I Got It Wrong... Or Did I? by Craig Taylor
QR Codes in Education: Villanova University slides by Al Tucker
http://qrcode.kaywa.com/ QR Code Generator shared by Larry Straining
Facebook Ads shared by David Kelly
Otherinbox.com resource shared by Valerie Noll
Free PowerPoint Twitter Tools by SAP2.0 Web Tools
RSS Feed Wikipedia entry
Social Media Toolkit for ASTD Chapters
The Steve Jobs Model for Education Reform by Rupert Murdoch
Skillsoft Aquires Element K

Dedicated Backchannel Queries [Tool and search terms shown in brackets]
Access the up-to-date #ASTDALC backchannel [Twitter: #ASTDALC]
Photos from the Backchannel [TwiPho: astdalc]

I will be adding to this list as I continue to review the backchannel transcripts and find resources.  I will tweet updates occasionally as additional links are added.  If you know of a valued resource I should add to the list - or if something is inaccurate - please add it to the comments or tweet me a link to @LnDDave.

If you find these collections of value, I have posts that consolidate the backchannel resources from other conferences.  An archive of all of these posts can be accessed by clicking the link below:

Click here to access the archive of backchannel resource posts.

Your Most Powerful Search Engine is Your Personal Learning Network (PLN)

The use of search engines like Google, Yahoo, or Bing for research is commonplace in today's online world. In fact, many of us go to these sites instantly when the need to find something first arises, be it something as trivial as finding out when a movie is playing, or as part of a multi-million dollar workplace project.  These search engines have redefined how we find information, and quickly become the primary way in which many people perform research.

But not for me.

I still use these search engines for low-impact searches.  However, when there is more consequence to my research, I am increasingly calling upon a different type of search engine for my research: my Personal Learning Network, or PLN.  This is a network of individuals consisting of family, friends, coworkers, and professionals that I have built relationships with over a number of years.  We interact and share through many mediums, with social media usually being the primary vehicle through which we connect.

In a world of ever-increasing search engine optimization, my personal learning network still delivers in ways that Google, Yahoo, Bing, or any other search engine never can. 

Google and search engines like it are very powerful.  They can search millions of resources in the blink of an eye and deliver a list of resources that match the terms you search on.  What they usually can’t do is frame that search around the deeper data of my personality, my career, my family, and my passions.  There’s no search option available labeled “Tailor this search to” in which I can enter my name.  If John Smith and I both search using the terms “Bank elearning”, we’re going to get the exact same response. 

My Personal Learning Network enables me to get to information that is more tailored to my preferences, because they have a better understanding of the lens through which I am viewing the world.  In addition, the interaction with my network enables me to provide one additional ingredient that is often lost in an online search: context.  Search terms are just that, terms; context tells the story behind those terms, which makes the search much more powerful.

I have lost count of the amount of times I have reached out to my network with a question that I could have also researched via a Google search.  In almost all of those cases, I have attained more useful information and references from my network than from the associated internet search.  In many of those cases, the most valuable resources I was pointed to from my network never appeared in the results of my search engine query.

There is a direct correlation between the importance or weight assigned to the research I am doing, and the likelihood that I would reach out to my personal learning network first.  The more weight I assign to the research, the more I will count on my PLN.  They are the most reliable search engine I have.

In short, my network often provides the ‘big rocks’ of my research.  They help my build the map and framework for the journey, and usually enable me to jump-start my research.  From there I will likely use additional research through Google to fill in the additional gaps.

Of course, the quality of response you get from reaching out to your personal learning network depends on the quality of the network itself.  In my case, my network has grown more powerful than I could ever have conceived years ago, and grown into something incredibly valuable to me.  I nurture my network by participating in it.  I suggest you do the same - you'll be glad you did.

What Can BlockBuster Video Teach Us About Learning & Performance?

True story: When I was a teenager my first job was at Blockbuster Video.  It was a great job for a 15 year old.  I got to watch all the movies I wanted, and people thought I was cool because I could hold new releases for them.  It was the type of job that an immature 15 year old could see himself working at for the rest of his life.

Good thing I'm not 15 years old anymore, otherwise I'd likely be out of a job right now.

In 1994 Blockbuster video was acquired by Viacom for $8.4 Billion; In 2011 Blockbuster filed for Bankruptcy and Dish Network bought what was left for $350 million.

So what happened?

One of the primary mistakes made by Blockbuster was not recognizing the changing landscape in which they existed.  Blockbuster’s growth was fueled by customers’ desire to bring the theatre experience home.  Video rental was booming, and Blockbuster brought in stores the scale of which local Mom & Pop stores could not compete with.  In almost every sense of the word, they cornered the market in the communities they served.

What they failed to do was look at the future of technology and how it was going to affect the very market they had once controlled. It started with the shift from VHS to DVD.  Suddenly customers had an option to own a movie for a little more than Blockbuster charged to rent it.  At the same time, a little known startup company realized that a DVD (without its case) could be sent via the mail for the cost of a first class stamp… and Netflix was born.  By the time Blockbuster tried to react with their mail-service, it was too late.  Netflix had already cornered the DVD-by-Mail Market, built on the ashes of now closed Blockbuster stores.

Blockbuster’s collapse ultimately comes down to one thing: They failed to accept that the market was changing.  What was valuable to their customers in 1990 became almost irrelevant in 2011.  The world moved forward, and Blockbuster tried to hold on to the past.

There are strange parallels between Blockbuster’s story and the current state of the Learning and Development Profession.  I have seen a growing number of discussions around the question: Is Social Learning Replacing Traditional Training?

First, let me establish my personal foundation for the discussion, because I find that the phrase ‘Social Learning’ is often misused.  Social Learning is simply the ability for people to learn through their social interactions.  Unfortunately, many people have used the label ‘Social Learning’ to describe the facilitation of learning through the use of social media.  That’s not the same as Social Learning, but it IS the core issue being discussed under the Social Learning label.  To me the real question being asked during these discussions is “Are social media tools replacing traditional training?”

In recent years technology has reached a milestone.  Social media applications have advanced to a point that they have become highly accessible both in terms of technology and learning curve.  People are becoming more and more comfortable using these tools as part of their daily lives.  Recognizing this, many organizations are looking at how they can use social media as a means to better connect and communicate with their customers and employees.

 The core of the growing debate is in what impact – if any – social media will have on Learning and Development professionals.  It’s in this debate that I see a link to Blockbuster’s history.

Learning Professionals cannot sit back looking at the changes going on with social media and not acknowledge the impact it will have on our profession.  We’re not simply talking about social media tools here and whether or not they can be used in learning programs.  It’s much bigger than that.  We’re talking about a fundamental change in the way people communicate.  How can that NOT impact learning and performance?

I often say that social media is a great opportunity for learning professionals.  Over time, my thoughts have shifted a bit on that.  I think that learning professionals have a responsibility to at least explore how these tools can be used in their organizations.

It’s not about being an early adopter.  As always, it’s about meeting the performance needs of the organization. Social media gives us an opportunity to provide support IN the work, where the real learning happens.  It’s also usually much cheaper than pulling people away from the workplace for more formal training programs.  If there’s an opportunity to address a performance need in a more effective way – with the added benefit of possibly reducing costs – we have the responsibility to do so.

Many learning professionals react defensively when statements are made that imply social media tools will replace traditional learning programs.  We’re very protective of what we do and what we know.  For many learning professionals, the idea that social media tools could reduce our reliance on more traditional formal programs is a threat they don’t want to acknowledge.

That’s a mistake, because the ‘threat’ of social media is very real. It’s not going to completely replace traditional formal training methods, but it does give us another alternative, one that will become increasingly relied upon as organizations begin to understand its value.   

Learning Professionals that ignore this threat run the risk of repeating the mistake Blockbuster made.  You may wake up one day and realize the services you provide are no longer valued – at least not as much as they once were.

UPDATE 8/4/2011: For another take on how the Blockbuster story relates to the current state of the Learning and Development profession, be sure to check out this great post from Mark Britz: Willingness Vs Ability to Change

Social Vs Formal Learning, From a Certain Point of View...

In the Star Wars film, Return of the Jedi, there is a classic scene in which Luke Skywalker asks Obi-Wan Kenobi why he told him that Darth Vader killed his father, when in fact Darth Vader was in fact, Luke's father.  Obi-Wan does some verbal tap-dancing to get himself out of what was - in this fan's opinion - a bold-faced lie, ending with a popular Star Wars quote:

"So what I told you is true... from a certain point of view."

I find myself thinking of that quote a lot lately, and how it applies to learning, and the learning profession.  Too often we see things as black and white, when in reality the truth lies somewhere in the gray.  One area I see this 'certain point of view' idea very prevalent is in the current discussions around 'Social Learning'.  There's some great discussions taking place online on this topic that I think all learning professionals would do well to read.  (links shared at the end)

'Social Learning' is a term that needs to be refined.  As I and others much smarter than me have pointed out - Social Learning is not new.  People have been learning socially for ages.  When a group of cavemen stared blankly at a flame and one reached out and touched it, the others quickly learned 'Hey, let's not do that'.  They may not have had language yet, but you can bet that the 'don't stick your hand in the fire' message spread among the tribe pretty quick.  They learned the lesson through their social sharing.

The current discussion about social learning is less about social learning and more about social media - specifically the fact that social media technology has advanced to the point that it now moves at the speed of learning.  People use it to communicate and share in ways that have never been possible before and the possible applications for learning are truly exciting.

And that's where the debates start.

Some proponents of 'social learning' present the 'certain point of view' that what has been done in the past is no longer relevant, and is being replaced by social learning.  Humans tend to resist change, especially when it is conveyed in a 'What you've been doing is wrong' format. Focusing more on social learning and using social media technology in performance improvement programs is a substantial shift for many learning professionals.  When the message of the shift is packaged with a message of formal training's demise, many people naturally resist.

So here's my two cents on the topic... slightly adapted from a comment I left on Clive Shepherd's blog.

Most learning professionals agree that making learning part of the work (instead of removing people from work for learning) is usually more effective. Advancements in social media technology give us opportunities to exist in the workplace that were previously impossible.  The more we can leverage social media as a tool to make learning as part of the work, the less we need to depend on formal training programs.

That's not a statement against formal training. There is and likely always will be a need for it. Every situation is different, and every performance improvement need should be addressed using the most effective tools for that specific situation.

Keep in mind, this is not the first time we're having this discussion.  It's no different than when computer-based learning first became available. We were wondering then too if it would reduce our reliance on classroom-based training methods - and it did.

In any task, you are always best to use the most appropriate tool for the job. Social media tech has advanced to the point that it is now an excellent tool for learning and performance. Does it replace all other types of training, formal or otherwise? No. Do social media tools occupy an increasingly larger piece of the overall pie? Yes, and that subsequently makes the traditional formal training piece of the pie smaller.

And what I'm telling you here is true... from a certain point of view - mine.  Your point of view may be different, and that's OK.  Hopefully as we continue having these discussions, we can find the common ground.

To me that's the main benefit to discussions like this.  Looking at both sides of an argument gives us all a better understanding and helps us meet somewhere in the middle, in the gray.

I definitely recommend further reading and participation in some of the discussions currently taking place regarding social learning's impact on more traditional learning programs.  Here are a few links to get you started:

The e-Learning Debate: Summer 2011 - in this posting, learning professionals vote and debate on the following motion: The house believes that as social learning grows, so the requirement for traditional training departments shrinks.

Clive Shepherd's blog post: Give Cruella a Chance - Clive Shepherd was one of the speakers participating in the e-Learning Debate mentioned above.  In this blog post, he goes into greater detail about why he is against the motion.

Be sure to check out the comments added on both pages, where the outstanding discussions are taking shape.

Social media has NOT changed how people learn forever... not yet anyway.

Last week’s #lrnchat was about social media and how it has changed the world forever.  That’s very true.  However the first question of the chat keeps coming back to me:

Social media has changed how people learn forever.  What else has it changed forever?

It’s the baseline statement that starts the question that I have issue with: Social media has changed how people learn forever.  The truth is, it hasn’t. 

Don’t get me wrong. I WANT that statement to be true.  On a certain level, I need that statement to be true.  But it’s not, at least not as written.

The statement implies that the change has taken place.  It hasn’t.  Sure, there are organizations that are at the forefront.  They are are doing an amazing job of integrating social media into their learning culture, and are blazing a path that other organizations can follow.  Take a look at this video of Dan Pontefract from TELUS, discussing how they use Social Media in their organization.

Based on that video and what I’ve read of the work being done at TELUS, I’m comfortable with the statement Social media has changed how people learn forever… AT TELUS.  Really though… how many organizations have taken their usage of social media to that level?  I suspect the answer is ‘not nearly enough’.

Lack of Mass Acceptance/Implementation

In the context of how people really learn – socially and as part of their work – social media HAS forever changed the world of learning.  The examples shared in the TELUS video as well as others shared in the book The New Social Learning show this to be true. 

The problem comes when you look at the learning and performance industry as a whole.  Let’s assume every organization has a ‘training’ function. How small is the subset of organizations that are actually aware ‘real learning’ takes place outside of classroom and away from an e-learning course?  The subset gets even smaller when you consider how many of the organizations that realize it are actually implementing a strategy that targets this reality.

The organizations that are effectively utilizing social media in their learning culture are blazing a path.  We still have the challenge of getting the majority of organizations to follow the trail.

Perception is Reality

What is the perception of ‘learning’ to our learners?  I find that many people respond to the way they have been conditioned to respond by their life experiences.  Many expect a classroom; they expect lecture; they expect an ‘event’. 

Since all learning professionals are themselves learners, this perception often extends to how the learning function operates.  Too often, training departments continue to do what they’ve always done, simply because “That’s the way it’s always been done here.”

It takes understanding, commitment, and trust for an organization to break away from what they ‘know’ to try something new.  It’s a cultural change, and it won’t just happen on its own.  More often, it starts with learning professionals who are brave enough to hold up their hand and confidently say “There’s a better way”.

It’s not about ‘Starting a Social Learning Program’

If there’s one message I feel is being shouted from the mountain top of late – because people need to hear it – it’s that Social Learning is NOT new.

I was speaking with a colleague recently who asked “How do I get Social Learning started at my company?”  My response, quite honestly, was “You don’t.”

Social learning is already going on at every organization.  You don’t need to ‘start’ it, and you shouldn’t look to ‘control’ it either.  It’s a matter of fostering it, through environment and tools.  It’s also a matter of getting out of the way.

Consider the TELUS video again.  They didn’t create social learning; they introduced tools that enhanced the sharing and made it easier for more people to get involved. 

Answer the Knock at the Door

In order for that original statement to be true, I think you need to add a word: Social media has changed how people CAN learn forever.

The potential is there, as are examples to the benefits enjoyed by those that have harnessed the potential.  As an industry though, most of the benefits of using social media to enhance social learning is just that: potential.

We need to continue to share examples of how best to use these tools for learning, and continue to move towards mass acceptance and implementation.  Only then will the scales tip.  Only then can we say that Social Media has changed the way people learn forever.

The opportunity has arrived.  Now we just need to help each other open the door.

What's a Twitter Chat?

A number of my blog posts are reflections of twitter chats, such as #lrnchat and #realwplearn chat.  As vibrant a community these chats represent, I sometimes forget that the participants in these chats represent a very small percentage of the overall community of Learning and Development Professionals.

At a recent ASTD Chapter meeting, I was reminded of this fact during a conversation I had with a group of peers.  I was asked where I learned about something and I casually replied "We discussed it during a recent #lrnchat".

I received silence and a few puzzled looks in response.  I added "It's a regular Twitter chat for learning professionals".  Another moment of silence passed, broken finally by a peer who asked "What's a twitter chat?"  I could tell by the looks around the table that everyone else had a similar question percolating in their mind.

If you've ever wanted to know how a twitter chat works, or what tools you can use to participate in a Twitter Chat, then this post is geared towards you.  If not, well, you're here, so feel free to read it anyway.

WHAT IS A TWITTER CHAT?

A Twitter Chat is a group chat that takes place using the social networking service, Twitter. Twitter chat topics and structures can vary.  Most do share the following characteristics:

• Since they use Twitter, discussions consist of comments of up to 140 characters
• Many chats are held on regularly scheduled dates and times
• Chats utilize a dedicated hashtag, so that participants can easily locate and participate in the chat
• Many chats are loosely moderated and have a set starting topic
• There is no expectation that participants will review and respond to every single post in the discussion, especially in larger chats

HOW DO I PARTICIPATE IN A TWITTER CHAT?

There are a number of ways to participate in Twitter chats, and I'll be sharing different tools later in this posting. Let's first walk through the most basic steps for participating in a chat.  If you already have a Twitter account, you can skip ahead to step 2.

1. Create a Twitter account.  A simple walkthrough of how to do that can be found HERE.

2. Search for the hashtag associated with the chat.  This will filter your view so that only tweets with the chat hashtag are shown.

3. Review the listing of tweets; the most recent will be on top. 

4. To check for new chat posts, refresh your screen or click the 'New Posts' link that appears on screen.

5. To contribute to the discussion, enter your comment into the status fields and click update. 

IMPORTANT: you must include the chat hashtag in your comment in order to ensure other participants will be able to see your post.

TWITTER CHAT TOOLS

There are a number of Twitter tools that can make participating in a chat easier.  Here are two of my favorites:

TweetChat

TweetChat is potentially the best tool for participating in a Twitter Chat, as it provides some functionality geared specifically for live chats:

• TweetChat automatically filters the Tweet stream, showing only the tweets containing the hashtag for the chat.
• TweetChat automatically refreshes every 5-10 seconds, keeping you up to date.
• TweetChat automatically adds the chat hashtag to all of your updates, ensuring you do not forget to do so yourself. 

The one downside I find with TweetChat is that it's performance is not consistent.  There are times that the TweetChat feed seems delayed, which is a major barrier in a live chat.  When TweetChat's feed is performing well, I find it to be the best tool for live Twitter Chats.

TweetDeck

TweetDeck is a aggregator that enables users to monitor multiple social media feeds at once, include not only Twitter, but Facebook, LinkedIn, FourSquare, and more. Users can set up dedicated columns for specific tools, or specific searches within those tools. 

TweetDeck provides some unique features that can make participating in a Twitter chat easier:

• You can set up a column in TweetDeck that shows only the tweets from the chat
• You can simultaneously monitor a 'mentions' column that shows who has mentioned or reached out to you directly during the chat
• You can easily clear out all messages you have already read, an excellent tool for chats you are participating in sporadically.

TweetDecks columns can be a little overwhelming at first, which is why I recommend starting with only a select few and expanding only after you are comfortable with it. Once you are, TweetDeck can be an invaluable tool for someone that participates in multiple social networks.

There are a great number of additional tools that can be used for Twitter chats. I recommend trying a few and finding the one that you are comfortable with. The value of the chats is in the discussions, not the tools. Find a tool that makes it easier for you to participate.

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

The best way to learn how to participate in a Twitter chat is quite simply to participate in one. Twitter chats are very much like learning to ride a bike.  You can only learn so much by reading or talking to someone about it. To truly learn how, you need to go out and try it.

One word of caution though: for a newcomer to Twitter Chats, the speed at which they move can seem extremely fast. If you try to read every single message, it may feel like trying to drink from a fire hose. That's a normal reaction.  Much like drinking from a hose, you should start by sipping from the stream.  As you grow more accustomed to the flow, you'll be able to drink more and find the best way to quench your thirst for knowledge and community.

There are three regular chats that I recommend for learning professionals

#lrnchat (http://www.lrnchat.com/)

#lrnchat is a twitter chat for learning professionals that focuses on how people learn, what they learn, and what we’re learning as professionals in the field.  The next #lrnchat sessions are scheduled for Thursday July 7th and Thursday August 5th at 11:30am and 8:30pm (EST).

#RealWPLearn (http://www.realworkplacelearning.com/)

#RealWPLearn is a twitter chat for all business professionals that focuses on how REAL workplace learning happens: through social, informal, and often serendipitous happenings.  The next #RealWPLearn chats are scheduled for Wednesday July13th and Wednesday August 10th at 3:00pm (EST).

#ASTDChapters (http://astdchapters.wordpress.com/)

#ASTDCchapters is a twitter chat for learning and performance professionals that focuses on the value and community offered by the American Society for Training and Development and it's local chapters. The next #ASTDChapters chats are scheduled for Wednesday July13th and Wednesday August 10th at 8:30pm (EST).

The #ASTDChapters chat tends to move at a slower pace than the other two, so it may serve as a nice entry point for those new to Twitter chats. I will be one of the moderators for the July 13th chat, during which we are exploring "The Value of ASTD Membership". I invite you to join us and share your thoughts or suggestions on what the value of ASTD and it's chapters is and could be.  I will also be able to provide real-time assistance to those new to Twitter chats.

Once you are able to get comfortable using the tools to participate in Twitter chats, i'm sure you'll find them to be extremely valuable  feel free to reach out to me on twitter (@LnDDave) or in the comments section below if you have any questions.

I hope to see you online during an upcoming Twitter chat!