The non-formal learning toolkit

The new learning architect
Throughout 2011 we will be publishing extracts from The New Learning Architect. Here we bring chapter 8 to a conclusion:

Top-down approaches

Employers have a wide range of non-formal options at their disposal that they can implement on a top-down basis:
On-job training
Coaching
Webinars
Podcasts
White papers
Mini-workshops
Rapid e-learning
Internal conferences
Online video
Bottom-up approaches
There may well be a plethora of opportunities available for top-down non-formal learning, but there’s still plenty of scope for bottom-up initiatives:
Open learning
Continuing professional development
Communities of practice

Conditions for success

To enjoy success, it is important for the l&d professional to recognise that:

  • learning needs to be continuous throughout employees’ careers;
  • not all learning needs to be packaged as formal courses, because more informal approaches are often perfectly adequate;
  • many, short inputs will have more impact than a few lengthy ones;
  • many players can contribute to the provision of learning experiences and materials, not just learning and development professionals;
  • skills in the development and provision of learning experiences and materials should be widely distributed within the organisation.

Coming next: We move on to focus on on-demand learning
Return to Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7
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