In recent times, social learning has been a hot topic in the corporate world, especially for the learning and development department. Persisting from ages, this phenomenon is perhaps one of the most common ones that exist right next to collaborative learning.
Traditionally, social learning was nothing but learning from the individuals around you. It was an ongoing process where an individual learned socially by observing their peers, sharing knowledge wherever needed, exchanging resources, or merely asking doubts and questions. However, social learning for today’s generation has been redefined.
Today, this form of learning involves innovative informal ways with which employees learn from their colleagues with the help of certain technologies. These social technologies could involve anything from video training programs to blogs, from discussion forums to subject-matter directories. Social learning allows businesses to foster conversations and collaborations amongst its employees easily and promptly.
Social learning in training programs
All employees will be motivated to give their best when they see that their employer is investing in their future and professional growth. This requires the right mix of training and social learning. When your employees are well-trained, they will have the confidence to tackle every situation that they face and thus, perform better on the job.
To carry out the training programs smoothly and while keeping social learning as one of the objectives, several businesses are now adopting various digital tools and software. These innovative tools make the workflow seamless for you. One of the most commonly used tools for training is a learning management system.
An LMS is a cloud-based software that allows you to deploy and track various training programs effortlessly, thanks to the set of features that they have to offer. Take iSpring Learn LMS for example. The iSpring Learn features not only includes customizations, reporting tools, or mobile support but also offer various social learning elements such as video conferencing, sharing of articles, calendars, and more.
Benefits of social learning elements in training programs
One of the most common benefits of social learning elements is that it gives employees a chance to take accountability and responsibility for their own learning. As the digital revolution is rapidly increasing, training has shifted from traditional face-to-face methods to online. This indicates that employees no longer have to commute to the place of training by interrupting their workflow.
Virtual instructor-led training allows employees to learn and work on their skills even in the comfort of their homes. Apart from the webinars, employees are also offered pre-recorded training sessions that they can consume as and when they have time on their hands. Such training is cost-effective not only in terms of saving money by avoiding traveling but also by saving time.
Moreover, social learning makes learning more continuous and ongoing throughout the career of an employee. Employees can access the learning resources as and when they please, thus increasing retention and allowing them to spend time on just learning exactly what they need.
As training sessions are now more collaborative in nature, thanks to the digital tools that are available, social learning makes the corporate culture more strong and enhances collaboration among employees. When your employees feel like a part of a group or are supported and encouraged by fellow employees, they get more motivated to reciprocate and also perform better. When employees perform better, the probability of you achieving your organizational goals increases.
Conclusion
Social learning is a form of learning that works keeping the best interest of employees in mind. This learning enables you to keep your employees motivated and inspired to work towards their growth and eventually achieve the objectives of your organization.
Photograph by RF Studio