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trends in automation
Impulse
16
–
17
life. The same applies to professional
life too. Places where you acquire
knowledge without noticing it are the
coffee area, the workbench or the printer
in the corridor. However, informal learning
cannot be easily controlled. What we
learn in this way is acquired
unconsciously. Therefore, more and more
companies encourage an open exchange
with colleagues outside training and
seminar rooms. Informal learning and
what is called an active learning culture
cannot be prescribed, it must be left to
employees themselves. What companies
can do is provide the scope for it. The
simplest methods are canteens or coffee
areas where staff can meet and talk about
work. In many places companies have
noticed that these meeting points can be
places for innovation, where an open
exchange of ideas becomes a real
production advantage.
Ready for the “listening post”
Apart from these common rooms many
companies are now creating new
informal spaces for informal learning.
These include, amongst other things,
deliberately wider landings. Here people
meet colleagues of whom they had
always wanted to ask just one question
but the opportunity had never presented
itself.
Another option is to set up so called
listening posts that are integrated into the
work process. These are places
where employees come together quite
About 70% of what we learn we absorb unconsciously, in conversations with
neighbours, friends or colleagues. So called informal or implicit learning can,
under the right conditions, lead to a production advantage for the company.
This includes five main points according to education advisor and e-learning
specialist, Jochen Robes:
1. Creating open learning environments that provide space for self-organised
learning.
2. Developing future orientated learning processes.
3. Informing staff about the nature and value of implicit learning.
4. Stimulating joint, networked learning opportunities.
5. Encouraging the passing on of explicit knowledge and minimising a sense
of entitlement.
Absorbing knowledge in passing
deliberately during production, design
or development in order to talk about the
experiences gained during a joint project.
Listening posts can also contribute to
employees being ready and able to solve
difficult tasks on their own. This means
their actions are controlled more
by themselves than by other people.
They develop and learn in and from
the team.
Request our White Paper called
‘Manufacturing – a people business’,
about skills and training based on a
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¢
Active learning culture:
Many companies are now setting up informal spaces and listening posts specifically to encourage employees to
exchange information.
Further articles
relating to our
cover story
“You are your brain” 6
www.festo-didactic.co.uk
is
infoservice
21-01
‘Manufacturing – a people business’
White Paper