Informal Learning in Organizations: How to Create a Continuous Learning Culture

About the Book

As the pace of change in the workplace accelerates and training budgets are challenged, it becomes essential for employees to learn as they go along. In this connected world, new ways of learning are emerging all of the time, whether the learning is planned, unexpected or self-directed. For those responsible for learning and development in organizations, understanding how this kind of informal learning can be utilised and measured is key to providing efficient and cost-effective ways of delivering on organizational objectives around people development.

Informal Learning in Organizations offers practical tools, including checklists and action plan questions, to guide the Learning and Development practitioner in how to design and implement an informal learning strategy that is personalised to the needs of their own organization. It combines the latest thinking on new technology and practices with established theory and research to provide an evidence-based review of informal learning and its true impact. It offers an overview of how and why informal learning resonates with people, how it works and when and why it doesn't. This book will assist the reader in making sense of their connected environments to create a continuous learning culture in their organizations.

Table of Contents:

• Section - ONE: Making sense of informal learning at work
• Section - 01: What is informal learning?
• Section - 02: A model of informal learning
• Section - 03: The capability contract
• Section - 04: Formal training and the budget paradox
• Section - 05: Informal doesn’t mean unmanaged
• Section - 06: Informal learning and culture
• Section - TWO: Liking ain’t learning: the rise of social and the impact of technology
• Section - 07: Liking, learning and looking up the answers
• Section - 08: Is there hope beyond the social media hype?
• Section - 09: Smarter social tools?
• Section - 10: Social networking skills for learning and collaboration
• Section - 11: Learning from academia: MOOCs and the flipped classroom
• Section - THREE: Learning as you work, working as you learn
• Section - 12: Integrating learning into work
• Section - 13: Measuring and evaluating
• Section - 14: The informal learning action plan

About the Author :
Robin Hoyle has worked in training and development for 28 years, designing award-winning courses across the public, private and voluntary sectors. His company Learnworks designs blended learning programmes in the areas of leadership, sustainability, commercial governance and marketing. He has trained thousands of trainers on every continent. Robin is the Chair of the Annual World of Learning Conference and has been nominated twice for Outstanding Contribution to the Training Industry at the World of Learning Awards. He is the author of Complete Training: From Recruitment to Retirement, also published by Kogan Page.

Review :
"Although I have some 40 years' experience of learning and development, I continue to learn a great deal from Robin Hoyle. He has that unique gift for explaining things in a way that we can understand and relate to. I especially admire his forthright 'tell it like it is' approach." "Robin breaks down the myths and jargon that annoyingly frequent the L&D profession into highly readable sections balanced with humour and candour. Never short of an opinion, at times controversial, Robin conveys a genuine and authentic view of the way we learn in the 21st century workplace." "Never dull, this is essential reading for anyone concerned with improving the capability of modern organizations. It is a well-researched work of reference and a good read - an uncommon combination." "Whilst informal learning cannot be 'managed' in the traditional sense, in the context of today's fast changing workplaces, it needs to be actively encouraged, facilitated and supported by today's learning professionals. Robin Hoyle's practical advice shows you how!" "Thank you, Robin, for attempting to herd the informal learning cats and provide us with some ways to re-shape our future as learning professionals." "This is an excellent read for those wanting to develop an informal learning culture in their organisation, plenty of detail and references for those wanting to explore even further and a useful overview for those reflecting on their current learning culture."