This entry continues the discussion of how organizations can use consumer-based Web 2.0 tools to enhance organizational learning.
Facebook
If you want to find out what friends and others are doing, just check the social networking site of Facebook. But did you know that Facebook is also a great method of communicating and keeping up-to-date with co-workers. Additionally, a number of faculty at universities have launched Facebook courses which they use to deliver course materials and links to course materials.
Also, the large pharmaceutical firm, Pfizer has launched a Facebook-type application called Pfacebook. Read about Pfizer’s work with Web 2.0 http://karlkapp.blogspot.com/2008/11/pharmaceutical-leveraging-web-20-in-big.html
YouTube
Want to see a quick, snippet of information, then check out YouTube. While YouTube is most famous for crazy or wacky videos, there are a lot of high quality videos on the site that are very educational. The idea of short, quick, instructional videos is very popular. Search for the words “Lean Manufacturing” in YouTube and you will get a number of high quality videos on the topic. For an even more educational focus, check out www.teachertube.com The site has thousands of educational videos aimed at elementary to College students and beyond. Think about the educational implications of being able to quickly post a short video to explain a procedure or process within your organization. The concept can be very beneficial for organizational learning.
While these are quick and fast ways of communicating and sending information, not everyone is pleased with these tools for learning. Check out this post which compares the cognitive value of Facebook with Twitter and YouTube. http://karlkapp.blogspot.com/2009/10/facebook-good-for-your-memory-twitter.html
If you think that social media is not right for your organization, you might want to reconsider. Check out http://karlkapp.blogspot.com/2008/09/social-networking-
not-corporate-enough.html for some reasons why it may be appropriate for your organization.
Karl is the author of the book Gadgets, Games and Gizmos for Learning.
