Why I love Learning 2.0

A few months ago I started working for a large company as an eLearning Designer. One of the first big projects I was assigned was to manage the development of our learning strategy. We hired several consultants to come in and help us think strategically. That was my first formal exposure to Learning 2.0. My initially reaction was not good. I panicked and thought, "Is this the end of the training department?" After a little thought, the shock has not only worn off, but I want to sign up as a Learning 2.0 missionary! Here are a few of the main reasons why I am a strong believer in Learning 2.0.

1. Information is changing too quickly for traditional instructional design processes. Here is a typical scenario for many companies. Someone comes to the training department and says, "I need to create some training for our new policy and tool for next week." The instructional designer says, "The analysis step alone will take at least 2 weeks." The person leaves the training department, heads to their computer and in a couple of hours creates the dumpiest power point an instructional deisgner can imagine. The next week they conduct the training with their dumpy power point and feel pretty good about what they got done because the people got trained. Sound familiar? Oh--and then throw in the fact that the information in that dumpy power point is out of date in a couple of weeks.
2. Informal learning systems are happening whether the training department has blessed them or not. All you need for informal learning is a water cooler and suddenly the information starts to flow. These water cooler conversations are recognized as effective ways for communities of practice to share information. But think about the limit of all that great information being shared. If you put a system in place (wikis, discussion boards, etc.) you can capture those gems. Brent Schlenker said it best when he pointed out that these systems need to make information "-able"--linkable, taggable, editable, searchable, feedable, and voteable.
3. The power of us all. eBay's old slogan, but how true it is! eBay has built a disruptive system that has forever changed that way we think about shopping online. The mind set is, "someone has what I want, and someone wants what I have." Change the "haves" in that phrase to "knows" and you see the power. Go wikipedia!