educational institutions, such as with
friends, on the sports field, in everyday
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 it is just these meeting points
that 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 whom they had always
wanted to ask just this one question but
the opportunity had never presented
itself.
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
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
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.
Active learning culture:
Many companies are now setting up informal spaces and listening posts specifically to encourage employees to
exchange information.
2.2011
trends in automation
Impulse
18
–
19
Further articles
relating to the
cover story
“You are your brain” 8
The goddess of wisdom 28