In order to optimize production within a company, managers do not hesitate to set up a training system to increase the knowledge of their employees. An initiative that can take many forms, including that of the learning community. We can talk about a form of Social learning. What does this concept consist of? What type of strategy is being adopted? What are its conditions for success? How to avoid confusion with another kind of community, hippies, for example (if you like seventies) ? You have the questions, we have the answers.
What is a learning community?
The learning community is one of the various modes of operation adopted by schools or training institutions. The principle of this method is to encourage learners to be fully involved in order to improve their results. Indeed, each person contributes to activities organized collectively and develops their thoughts on a given subject to increase their knowledge. The exchange of opinions and knowledge is the basis of this mode of operation. Therefore, the main objective of this form of learning is to develop community knowledge while optimizing individual knowledge.
Compared to the hippy community, if you don't want to be confused, the trick is to look closely at the ground. If you see a lot of Eph' paw pants, that's a clue. Be careful, huh, it's not a formal proof: this rubbish keeps coming back in fashion.
And so, it is essential that participants and all stakeholders share the same vision and common values of the company to which they belong. It should also consist of a group of learners and at least one or two educators who influence each other through social interactions. All this in order for the learning community to be effective. If, on the contrary, you notice a strong inefficiency on this side, you must either open yourself up to your manager responsible for training, or you have the wrong community and now you have to leave. Or not, depending on what you want to learn (but that may not help you professionally).
What is the learning community like?
As stated earlier, the learning community brings learners and educators together in small groups and whose supervision must respect the professional autonomy of each participant. If you are in a large group, beware: it is probably a gathering that has nothing to do with it. Like for example the Huma festival. There is a desire to learn on the part of some speakers but most people come to hang out while eating merguez (which is nothing very instructive).
The creation of the community is often at the initiative of a teacher, a trainer or a training manager. This innovative system is made up of several other educational methods to be applied in business. Its planning and implementation take several months or even years. This period varies according to the level of expertise of the learners, their previous achievements, the competence of community stakeholders or the learning tools available. For more speed, you can for example turn to the microlearning.
In a learning community, meetings can take place in a variety of ways. For example, if we opt instead for e-learning, they take place virtually. Indeed, exchanges or meetings take place in a virtual space. You can be reassured that hippie communities do relatively little in the area of computer science. It is often even a principle, disconnection, all that.
The learning community focuses on the development of a spirit of collaboration between stakeholders, exchanges on the educational method and mutual support. The activities adopted are selected according to the vision and common values of the group. However, they must correspond to the individual and collective needs of the structure.
Practice is primarily the method adopted for integrating and acquiring new knowledge. Thus, lThe evaluation of learners' performances can be carried out through role-playing games or demonstrations of any kind. Attention: role-players (or fans of role-playing games) also form a kind of community. Do not hesitate to search their pockets: if you find a pair of dice, it's fishy.
What types of knowledge can be acquired in a learning community?
It is entirely possible to master all kinds of knowledge by joining a learning community. For example, self-knowledge is among the knowledge that can be acquired by adopting this way of learning. Courses can also focus on the knowledge of objects, in particular the history of music or the principle of electronic operation. The learning community can be applied for every academic discipline or professional skill. The nature and subject of possible learning are multiple.. So we can even set up a learning community to exchange methods on how to identify false learning communities, but now, we recognize that it is becoming complicated.
In the majority of authentic learning communities, the training method is mainly oriented towards active learning, collaborative learning, problem solving and critical thinking. In some cases, capsules can be conducted as cooperative learning, i.e. a form of teaching based on cooperative or cognitive skills, or project-based learning, i.e. a form of teaching that encourages learners to implement their knowledge through projects. We must not forget the importance of critical thinking: if you find yourself in a community where you are offered to prove your commitment in financial form, it is a sect. Run away: you don't learn anything about anything and what's more, it's expensive.
What are the benefits of the learning community?
A community is often composed of several stakeholders. La multiplicity and varied knowledge brought by these participants are among the main advantages of this learning. Rather informal. Indeed, within the same group, it is possible to find a member with a higher level of expertise than others who are gladly asked to share knowledge or experiences.
La creation of emotional ties between members of the same group is also a strong point that should not be overlooked in terms of a learning community. Indeed, it is easier for them to acquire more knowledge and to assume their responsibilities in the interests of the group.
On the other hand, if you decide to learn knitting as a family under the leadership of Mamie... No, wait, yes, maybe it's a real learning community. The manual does not specify. Damn.
The professional learning community allows learners to enrich their technical knowledge in a particular field as well as to develop their cognitive skills in general (i.e. the ability to organize logical, causal, or other relationships). Its operating principle is based on the distribution of participants into small groups, practice, sharing and autonomy. Thus, a learner gains knowledge through the experience of other members and vice versa. And to be sure that we are in the right community... Listen, trust your instincts. And if someone asks you to lug a ring, don't go.
