INFORMAL LEARNING

Informal learning is the unofficial, unscheduled,

impromptu way people learn to do their jobs. SPENDING/
Learning is adaptation. Taking advantage COST OUTCOMES LEARNING
of the double meaning of the word PARADOX
network, to learn is to optimize People learn how to do their
jobs informally – talking,
the quality of one’s networks. observing others, trial-and-
error, and simply working
We learn from one another. with people in the know.
Training and workshops
account for only 10% to 20%
of what people learn at work.
INFORMAL FORMAL Most corporations over-
invest in formal training while
neglecting more natural, INFORMAL FORMAL
simple processes. PAYBACK
Executives don’t want learning;
they want execution. They want
FASTER, performance. Companies are
FASTER THE END OF HIERARCHY EMERGENT LEARNING using informal learning to
increase sales, improve
Time itself has Networks subvert hierarchy. As Informal learning emerges in complex
environments called learnscapes. Learnscap- productivity, boost innovation,
succumbed to networks engage our lives, central- reduce stress, cut costs, and
Moore’s Law. The ized power crumbles, and people gain ing involves removing obstacles, seeding
communities, increasing bandwidth, encour- reinvent themselves.
21st century will more control over their destinies.
contain 20,000 aging conversation, and growing networks.
current years of
progress! The future
is unpredictable.
Work is improv.
Traditional ways of
training employees
are obsolete.

COMMUNITIES
Unless you are a hermit,
you are a member of
NOVICE LEARNER several communities of
Formal learning is like riding a bus: the practice, although you may
driver decides where the bus is going; SENIOR LEARNER not have thought of it that
the passengers are along for the ride. Informal learning is like riding a bicycle: way. Plumbers, program-
ENVISIONING People new to the territory often ride the rider chooses the destination, the mers, and pastry chefs
Humans are sight-mammals. Images plus the bus before hopping on the bike. speed, and the route. The rider can take gather together to create
words communicate twice as much as a detour at a moment’s notice, to admire and pass on the rules of
words alone. Pictures translate across the scenery or to help a fellow rider. thumb of their trade.
cultures, education levels, and age groups.

META-LEARNING VIEWPOINT
Traditional training departments concentrate
their energy on managing bus routes. That’s like UNCONFERENCES
CONVERSATIONS
providing kindergarten classes to college
students. Mature learners, typically a company’s
New approaches are creating business
meetings that people enjoy. Successful
OLD NEW
Conversations are the stem cells of learning, for they top performers, simply skip it entirely. gatherings are those where everyone PUSH PULL
both create and transmit knowledge. Frequent and participates. No better-than-thou. No
open conversations increase innovation. People love podium. No positions carved in stone. Training Learning
to talk. Bringing them together brings excitement.
Rigid Flexible
Program Platform
THE WEB
Mandated Self-service
THE FLAT EARTH INTERNET INSIDE
Imagine having an in-house
P The internet did change
everything. Ten years ago, there
were 16 million internet users; Formal Informal
Location is no longer an learning and information

USH
U LL
advantage. The world’s workers today they number more than a
ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS environment as rich as the billion. Google is the world’s
complete on a level playing internet. You’d have blogs and
field. Organizations are The informal organization does most of the work, largest learning provider,
but managers overlook it because they can't see search and syndication and answering thousands of inquires
becoming horizontal nodes podcasts and more. You’d also
in a global business network. it. Mapping the social network brings the shadow every second. The web’s
organization into the light. have a platform everyone P informal, spontaneous, vernacu-
already knows how to use. lar knowledge sharing can now
be brought behind the firewall.

Excerpted from Informal Learning by Jay Cross,

PUSH/PULL LEARNING
© 2006, Internet Time Group, Berkeley, California Training is something that’s pushed on you; informal learning
is something you’re pulled into. Many a knowledge worker will
tell you, “I love to learn but I hate to be trained.” Knowledge
workers thrive when given the freedom to decide how they
will do what they’re asked to do.