Training Industry Magazine - September/October 2019 - 3

PERSPECTIVES
KEN TAYLOR

THINKING MORE
BROADLY ABOUT
HOW ADULTS LEARN

This edition of Training Industry Magazine
provides insights we can use to
broaden the way we create and manage
learning experiences and opportunities.
Informal learning approaches add to the
playbook that learning and development
(L&D) teams can use when tasked
with changing the behavior of their
company's employees.

FORMALIZATION
ALLOWS US TO
RECOGNIZE THE
IMPACT THAT
INFORMAL LEARNING
HAS ON EMPLOYEE
PERFORMANCE.

So, what is informal learning exactly?
Informal learning includes both nontraditional learning approaches like
storytelling or mentoring as well as nonstructured content types like articles or
video clips. This definition allows us to
think unconventionally about the entire
learning experience and introduce new
approaches or content types into the
structured learning journey.
People may get nervous when exploring
the idea of creating structure around
informal learning because there is a
sense that it may negatively impact
what made the learning great in the
first place - the organic nature of the
learning experience. However, I believe
that formalization allows us to recognize
the impact that informal learning has on
employee performance.
Our research has shown that learners
prefer informal learning, and the
effectiveness of training is increased
when learners experience at least some
portion of the training in a modality
they prefer. By focusing on the complete
journey of the learner, and adding

structure to that journey, we will be able
to better understand the impact of all
elements of the learning experience.
Additionally, this focus will increase the
relevancy of the programs we create
that will enable learners to find the
information they need and learn in the
flow of work.
The great news is that technologies
like learning experience platforms and
even traditional learning management
systems provide us with the capability
to create the structure and learning
pathways for employees by co-locating
the curated informal content with the
formal learning. Having these materials
accessible to employees in one central
repository ensures that learners have
access at the point of need. This also
provides L&D with transparency into
how learners are interacting with the
content and can inform any necessary
changes to improve the employee
learning experience. This formalization
will help us make better decisions,
selections and set better priorities for
the future of our programs.
As always, we would love to hear your
thoughts about the perspectives shared
in the magazine. Please feel free to send
along any suggestion for future editions
of Training Industry Magazine for us
to consider.
Ken Taylor is president and editor in chief of
Training Industry, Inc. Email Ken

T R A I N I N G I N DUSTR Y MAGAZ INE -FORMALIZ ING INFORMAL L E ARNI NG 2 019 I W W W .T RAI NI NGI NDU S T RY .C OM/ MAGAZI NE

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Training Industry Magazine - September/October 2019

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