Category: communities and collaboration

  • Computers as Catalysts for Humanizing the Learning Experience

    This TED Talks Video by Salman Khan is perhaps the most compelling case for technology-assisted learning, peer-to-peer learning and learning communities (and by extension, communities of practice) that I’ve ever seen. In fact, educational philanthropist Bill Gates liked Khan’s idea so much, he invested 1.5 million dollars into it. This 20 minute video is truly inspiring and…

  • Enhancing Our Creativity by Tackling Others Challenges

    In a recent research report published in the Personality and social psychology bulletin, Polman and Emich demonstrate how when we make decisions for others, we are going to make decisions that are more creative than the ones we make for ourselves. This is just the latest extension of research into construal level theory, an intriguing…

  • The Components of True Collaboration

    Dan Pontefract has a wonderfully clear and thought out model on The Collaboration Cycle. In fact, to summarize it wouldn’t really do it justice. But I will highlight that he bases it on 3 components as illustrated in his diagram below: Adopting the CARE Principle. (Continuous, Authentic, Receptive and Enrich) Appreciating and adapting to Strong…

  • Online Learning and Development Strategy for Organizational Survival

    One of the greatest challenges many of my clients share is convincing their organization’s decision makers and purse holders to invest in Learning and Development, and even more challenging—yes even now in 2011—is the argument for online learning and development. Bob Lee comes up with some pretty convincing arguments and ties them directly to the…

  • The Nature and Structure of Communities of Practice

    The following is the introduction to an article that Keith De La Rue wrote wich was published in the KM Review (KM Review | Volume 11 Issue 5 | November/December 2008). It echoes a lot of sentiments that I have about the nature and needs for sustainability of communities of practice. Very insightful. The theory…

  • Who Else is Working On What I’m Working On?

    Yesterday, I blogged about the use of microblogging to improve productivity in an organization. Today, I focus on microblogging to improve connectivity within an organization. In a recent blog post about using a microblogging application such as Yammer for communities of practice and knowledge management practices, Renata Gorman writes: This feeling of connectedness creates more…

  • How to Use Skype as a Community Platform

    This is absolutely a fantastic tutorial on Skype which goes beyond functionality and looks at applicability by Community of Practice expert  John David Smith. You probably already know that Skype is a great tool – especially for community leaders. If you are a technology steward, it’s not only a great tool but it’s also a…

  • Incorporating Social Learning into an Enterprise Learning Strategy

    Thought provoking blog post by Tony Karrer tying together various view points on how social learning can tie into the larger enterprise learning perspective. Where do Social Learning Tools belong? Should they be coupled with your LMS or other learning-specific tools? Or should they be separated? Or ????   We are talking about how formal…

  • Learning Communities: e‐Portfolio Edition

    Mostly focussed on new graduates, the Learning Communities: International Journal of Learning in Social Contexts: Issue 2: e-Portfolio Edition has some great applications for professional communities of practice, collective expertise and talent management. From the Editorial: This issue of Learning Communities: International Journal of Learning in Social Contexts focuses on the use of digital portfolios,…

  • Are We Using the Term Social Learning too Loosely?

    I’m glad that the always thought-provoking Janet brought this up. There comes a time when we need to really look at what the activity of learning really is. It is nice to find a new model every day that explains what X might be but unless we are truly analysing these models, implementing them, testing…