App Fusion: Five Predictions About The Direction of Social Learning Culture

Impactingperformance through connecting with the experience and knowledge ofothers has been a learning strategy since humans stood in front ofeach other for the first time. Social learning is not a new premise.However, the effectiveness of this strategy has grown exponentiallydue to the emergence of new social technologies. This has happenednot only because of innovative tools, but also because the sheervolume and accessibility of these tools has enabled social learningto shift our perception of formal and informal learning. This has putus on a path towards change. Following are five predictions that canshift our perception of learning competency and culture in theevolving era of “Knowledge Working.”

Prediction 1:The traditional resume/CV will be depreciated

Resumes are an expression of summarized experience and potentialvalue. In many ways the resume is a mask that professionals share toinfiltrate an opportunity. The emerging culture of “KnowledgeWorking” enables a higher level of transparency for a person’scompetency. Our relevance in this era is built upon our digitalfootprint. Our knowledge, experience, likes, talents, networks, andmore are all digitized and exhibited for every potential client andemployer to review. The “Digital You” will antiquate the need fora formal resume.

Prediction 2: Recruiters will becomemore like talent agents

Thisprediction is both a cause and an effect of the previous one.Recruiters in the past distributed resumes as product fliers to theirclients. The “Digital You” is now a celebrity, an expression ofyour talent. Recruiters will provide media-rich representations ofthe potential value you can provide to their clients. In turn,organizations will be looking for these digital celebrities evenwithin the most common careers. Since every organization will havesocial learning efforts, they will need employees who can contributeto a social culture. The “Digital You” will be a demonstration ofwhat they are purchasing. Your network will become the collateral andcurrency used in exchange for employment.

Prediction 3: Media design skills willbecome a basic competency

Notonly has media production become more accessible, it has becomeeasier with the advances in software and hardware. If you doubt that,look at YouTube, Vimeo, or any video sharing site. Content isabundant and 10-year-olds (literally) are creating channels thatadults are sourcing to upgrade their skills. Apple has been makingsome obvious moves with their strategies around Final Cut (videoediting) and also the purchase of land in Silicon Valley thatspeculation says will be the site for a server farm to house videocontent.

Prediction 4: Social will become thenew spec

Everyproduct on the planet, no matter how trivial, will have a socialfeature to it. Everything from a can of soup to an LCMS will have thefunctionality to connect users. Users will like, share, connect,comment, and recommend through the social features of a product.Additionally, success will be gauged beyond sales. Marketingdepartments will be considering “Social Analytics” just ascritical to building a brand as they consider sales. Consumers willconsider the social network of a product as much as they willconsider taste or functionality.

Prediction 5: Traditional demographicswill be replaced by social analytics

Age,race, gender, and most other traditional demographics will find theirway to the Smithsonian. We now realize they are typically ineffectiveas guiding design principles. “Social Analytics” will become farsuperior for determining learner preference. Although Web 3.0 isstill at bay, some of its early influences are giving us a look intothe digital soul of what learners expect from content and delivery.As organizations infuse social media tools into their culture, so toodo they open the window to how their employees want to learn. ReadLearnerAnalysis 2.0 to gain further insight on this.

From degrees of separation to degreesof connection

Ourability to connect with every other soul in our network is a profoundevent in learning. Extended networks can potentially equal the humanpopulation of the planet. Degrees of separation are dropping astechnology allows us to tap into our network and the networks ofthose we directly connect to. The social exchange of the trivial andthe valuable is recorded, and filed for reference and distribution.Ideas will be shared, expanded upon, and used to solve some of themost complex problems we face, as well as answering the simplestquestions including, “What should I have for dinner tonight?” The“Knowledge Culture” is here. The “Digital You” is born.Opportunity for change is calling and the time to adjust is upon us.Connect, share, and grow!