One of the things I like to do is to explore areas outside the enterprise space to see if there are connections, crossover transitions, or parallels that can be learned and applied back to the enterprise. Below are two videos that I thought have some of those attributes. They are not about the enterprise, E2.0, collaboration, social networking etc - but there are moments in both videos when you see an enterprise implication. While new media literacies, self-learning, and participatory cultures may come across as esoteric topics, I might argue that addressing these challenges is fundamental for improving information sharing, collaboration, and decision-making (much more influential than throwing social tools out into the workplace).
Summary:
In this video, John Seely Brown (JSB) discusses the need to embrace change (in the context of preparing the younger generation for the workplace). What's important to have a strong sense of curiosity and a "questing" disposition. These attributes help drive a constant state of learning. Other topics include: the value of communities (interests, shared practices), the importance of situated learning. JSB makes a great point on the need to "learn how to join" - joining can be a frightening experience for many (think about this in the context of employees joining communities re: will people accept me, do I have the right background (identity), how do I gain "social footing" in this group, etc). Once people join, they learn a lot through osmosis ("dwelling in the experience").
The closing remarks are relevant to today's workplace re: rapid change, skills having a short self-life, how we need to create our own context, how we need to use our experiences as scaffolding for learning, how we need to accelerate what we know so we can improve our own performance. A final reflection on what you are doing now needs to be the platform for what you do next was a great point - metaphorically, think of your journey as a trajectory through life space not fixed points (e.g., Job A, Job B, Company X, Company Y).
John Seely Brown from New Learning Institute on Vimeo.
Summary:
In this video, Mimi Ito asks an open-ended question (in the context of kids), as to why we assume that socializing and play is not a form of learning? Generationally we may look at what kids are doing with new media and consider it a non-productive use of time. However, Ms. Ito argues that media creation, and the participation that goes long with it, is a form of learning. She also points out that a lot of what kids do with online spaces and media reflects friendship-driven participation. However, in a study she found a minority that took participation to the next level where media and participation was "interest driven". When kids become engaged beyond friendship, they tend to use new media to developer specialized interests and improve literacies even further.
This is the type of situation that has more of a business context (interest-driven participation) where we want employees rally around a topic, network, join/create communities, etc. This is a skill often learned unconsciously through new media interaction. It also brings back the notion of "tinkering" mentioned in the JSB video. I thought the idea that new media, the "tinkering" process, and self-learning gets back to ways that people increase their own intellectual and personal development. How do we encourage "interest driven participation" within the enterprise might be helped by understanding how this skill emerges as kids grow up.
Mimi Ito from New Learning Institute on Vimeo.
I agree with many things said.
Interest driven community of practice, tinkering with codes, a passion for learning for life and identity forming.
I am not entirely convinced however that it will prepare future generations for employment because much of what most organization do is still in the traditional realm.
Perhaps we are preparing future generation to be self employed and creative start up co-owners?
Any thoughts on that?
Posted by: lookang | January 09, 2011 at 06:58 AM