The start-up stiffed me but the paper morphed into the Informal Learning book. I’ll be leading a series of master classes on informal learning and working smarter in Europe. Informal Learning – the other 80%. People learn to build the right network of associates and the right level of expertise through informal, sometimes even accidental, learning that flies beneath the corporate radar. Because organizations are oblivious to informal learning, they fail to invest in it. Let’s look at what informal learning is and what to do to leverage it. Goethe. MORE >>

Usually this means the content lives inside the head of a subject matter expert , or SME. Check out the Mad Libs website for more information: [link] ). They know a lot and usually like being asked for their expert opinion and knowledge. Tags: learning design rapid elearning case study content course design scenario SME subject matter expert Previously, I focused on identifying the elusive “need to have” content that supports the performance objectives in a course design. mentioned that, in many cases, some percentage of content exists, but not in written format. MORE >>

So, let's start with his first suggestion: Working effectively with subject matter experts There's a lot to this topic, and certainly it's an on-going challenge. How does social and informal learning impact how you engage with SMEs? I want to thank Jeff Goldman - Minute Bio for his great response last month. He suggested that we focus the Big Question on specific issues and then suggested four questions. Some specific questions that are raised in this area: What should all IDs know about working with a SME? What can you and can't you expect a SME to do? MORE >>

In a previous article , I noted that experts have different internal knowledge structures than novices. Expert knowledge seems to be efficiently organized and easy to search through, like an orderly file cabinet. Expert knowledge is deeply intertwined, creating many paths for recalling information. When you’re designing for experts in a field, try to match the design and writing with their unique characteristics, which occur both in how they structure knowledge as well as the circumstances of their professional life. Quickly Mention Prerequisite Content. MORE >>

Sally, who rather fancies herself as a database expert, is happy to oblige and shows him where to enter the data. Informal learning, like the scenario above, takes place constantly in most organisations. It is estimated that probably as much of 80% of learning within an organisation is informal, with formal training constituting the other 20%. Experts disagree on the importance of informal learning in helping to achieve organisational goals but it is clear that it is something that organisations should, at least, acknowledge when designing their learning strategies. MORE >>