Presentation delivered at the GMU 7th Annual Innovations in e-Learning Symposium, Fairfax, VA, 8 June 2011 Where does Social Learning fit on the methodology matrix? That is, when is appropriate to select Social Learning as an instructional strategy? Instructional Designers have a toolbox of learning interactions for all kinds of modalities, situations, topics, audiences, and experience levels; if social learning is more than just a fad (which we think it is), it's time to make room on the ISD shelf for social learning instructional strategies. The session will include short-duration small-group breakouts, some brainstorming within a defined framework, and lots of audience participation. Participants will leave the session with a better understanding of social learning interactions, more resources to help develop social learning events, and greater awareness of their ability to design informal learning.

1. Designing Social Learning: “Informal”
Does Not Mean “Unplanned”
GM U/DAU I NNOVATIONS IN E-LEARNING SYMPOSIUM
JUNE 8, 2011
CHRISTOPHER K ING, T IM VOJTASKO
SR A INTERNATIONAL

2. Why are you here today?
Why are you here today?

3. Implementing Social Learning

4. Are you asking these questions?
 How will we get people to use social media tools?
 How will we get people to collaborate and share?
 How will we ensure what they share is accurate?
 When are they going to have time to collaborate and
share during their workday?
 What platform will allow us to track all of the social
learning that takes place?

5. Instead, try these questions
 How can we support those who are already working
and learning collaboratively?
 How can we build on what is already happening?
 How can we encourage those who are not already
working and learning collaboratively to do so?
 How can we provide services to individuals and
teams to help them address their learning and
performance problems with collaborative
approaches?

6. Social Networks are Not Social
Learning

7. Most social networks are not content-rich,
but they are full of context.

8. Social networks feed social learning
Expertise
Knowledge
Social
Learning
Context
Angles

9. To be persuasive,
we must be
9
believable. To be
believable, we
must be credible.
To be credible, we
must be truthful.
Edward R. Murrow

10. Building the MPD Reserve Corps
Recruitment Pipeline
Officer Gary P. Miller, 5D Officer S. Timothy Vojtasko, 1D

11. Excellence In Volunteer Policing
Social Learning/Educational Aspirations
• Produce exciting and educational marketing materials, both print and
electronic, that reflect the MPD Reserve Corps brand, generate
interest and publicize the Reserve Corps’ mission of Excellence in
Volunteer Policing.
• Target, educate and cultivate potential volunteers. To include
investigative background process education.
• Include listing of upcoming MPD & Reserve Corps recruitment events
on social media websites

12. Excellence In Volunteer Policing
911 Response
•Select Officers, tape profile testimonials for
inclusion on the MPD Reserve Corps link

13. Excellence In Volunteer Policing
911 Response
•Deactivate “dead” MPD Reserve website
•#2 site listed in Google!
•Re-establish &
maintain
contact,
and educate
candidates in
recruitment/inv
estigative
process
for October
2011 as well as
2012 classes.
http://www.copscops.com/reserves.html

14. Excellence In Volunteer Policing
Targeting Potential Volunteers
•Identify potential “tier one” recruitment venues that hit our
target market (i.e. 60 college credits, over 22 years of age, etc.)
minimum requirements
•Associations & community events
•Diverse candidate pool

15. Excellence In Volunteer Policing
Targeting Potential Volunteers
•Target potential volunteers through focused sourcing
opportunities and events to include 1:1 contact, community
events & presentations and social networking media

16. Excellence In Volunteer Policing
Targeting Potential Volunteers
Would you recommend DC Metropolitan
Police Reserve Corps?
Tell Us Why
Average Review (1 reviews)
by ROBERT C. from WALDORF, MD
MPDC is not in a rush for volunteers. At least
that’s the perception. Those considering applying
be prepared to wait months if not years.

17. Social Learning in the ISD
Toolbox

18. Just another tool in the toolbox

19. The best thing that can be said
about most e-learning is that
19
gives you the sensation of a
coma without the worry or
inconvenience
Slide courtesy of Anders Gronstadt, Gronstadt Consulting

20. Designing a Social Learning
Event

21. Case Study
1. Small groups
2. Read the case
3. Select a Strategy to meet the needs of the case
4. Then select a tool and an activity
5. Discuss with your group the outcomes you would
hope to see in the activity
6. Be prepared to discuss

22. Reminders
 You can’t impose social networking, you can only
encourage it
 Social networks are not social learning; they a
central element of it
 Social learning is another instructional design tool,
applicable in some situations but not all
 There are well defined strategies, tools, and activities
you can use to create opportunities for social
learning

23. Thank you!
Christopher King | Christopher_King@sra.com
Tim Vojtasko | Tim_Vojtasko@sra.com