Learning at Work Week

At the CIPD we have a passion for learning, it is after all at the heart of our Profession Map. We are delighted to support and promote Learning at Work Week again this year. This years theme is 'we are made for learning' and three things that make us human – curiosity, learning and connection.

Learning is about active engagement, it is what we do when we want to make sense of our world. It may involve the development of skills, knowledge, awareness, values, beliefs and ideas as well having to let go of previous insights to our world. Effective learning involves reflection and supports change. It is a creative activity that goes beyond attending a training course (although of course this can be effective in itself).

This year we have taken five themes and considered curiosity, learning and connecting within each of them. Each theme is a vehicle for learning. We have suggested some detail on how we can be curious, what we could learn and how we can use that learning to connect. We would love to hear your insights by using the hashtags #CIPD #LAWW2021 #FocusOnMe.

Being avid supporters of learning at work week means we embrace and role model learning ourselves, and four of the team have shared their thoughts on our themes in the form of a mini blog. And in the full pack that is available to download, we have suggested some places to whet your curiosity appitite. We aim to give you space to think about how you can build on tools you may use every day to deepen your curiosity, embrace your learning and make great connections.

Enjoy the exploration!

Podcasts

Being that weirdo…

Got to be honest, for me there is nothing more liberating than being that 'lost in your own world' weirdo, laughing to them self in public whilst the world looks on. I can only blame my behaviour on my love of podcasts.

Podcasts enable me to easily engage with things I enjoy. Be it comedy, travel writers or environmental issues there is a podcast for everything. They are free and easy to access. I use the Google Podcasts App to automatically download the podcasts so I do not miss a single one.

They only take up ‘dead time’ as well, when running, doing DIY, housework, commuting, shopping. Those times where your brain does not need to think, and you can let it soak up the things you love hearing about.

Not sure where to start? A great place is the BBC Radio 4 Extra Podcast Radio Show. Nope, I am not going to be that review spoiler. Instead, I am going to let leave it to your own curiosity to check it out...

PS: Don't worry about being that weirdo either... There is an easily recognisable silent community of us out there... We are the ones quietly and knowingly smiling to ourselves as we watch you laughing to yourself.

Mark Wilson a learning community and content curator at the CIPD

Social media

Some people have a love-hate relationship with social media. Critics say platforms like Twitter and Facebook have polarised opinion and are divisive. However, community groups exist and thrive across a range of platforms. Professional groups meet on twitter and share their insights and learning. Pinterest provides a space for people to collaborate on a range of interests, crafts and hobbies.

For me, it's all about user choice, each user has the choice to engage or not with posts. In real life we make choices about who we interact with and when, the same rule can apply on social media.

I use Twitter to engage with learning groups, and Facebook to stay in touch with my running club and book running sessions with them. I use Instagram for sharing pictures with people in my network who are interested. However, I may go two or three weeks without posting a picture. I connect with people whose pictures I am keen to see. I also use running and fitness apps to help me connect with other runners and with an aim of maintaining (and improving!) my level of fitness whilst remaining injury free.

It is up to you to control how you interact, when you interact and what your purpose and intent for each interaction is. It can expose you to a wonderful world of learning!

David Hayden is a digital portfolio manager at the CIPD

Learning platforms

LXP, LMS, VLC, VLE, MOOCs: What do all the acronyms mean and how can we make the most of these platforms which have been made for learning?

In this digital age, learning has moved online and with it, there are multiple platforms competing for our time and attention. Our learning format is evolving from conventional classroom style courses, supported with books, to flexible learning that is just enough, just in time and just for me. So which platforms can help us to make learning instant and personalised, available on handheld devices and adapted for accessibility needs?

Learning

Many organisations have Learning Management Systems (LMS) designed for tracking learning and keeping a convenient record for compliance. Yet this formal and sometimes stuffy approach risks discounting the majority of learning we do. Learning Experience Platforms (LXP) are more learner centric, and customer driven. The benefit of LXPs is that they are built using data analytics and AI to improve the learner’s experience the more they engage with the tool, helping us to learn faster and more effectively.

Curiosity

There are also Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) which categorise thousands of free courses. These can support learner curiosity and just like Lewis Carroll’s Alice, you may find yourself down the rabbit hole of all the interesting courses that are available.

Connection

Finally, the virtual learning communities made from Virtual Learning Campus (VLC) or Virtual Learning Environments (VLE) help learners to connect and encourage sharing habits which are key to embedding our learning. They can be used to influence and guide groups of learners and build a connection through learning.

Charlie Wesson is part of the CIPD L&OD team

Artificial intelligence

What is our perception of AI?

Firstly - why are we even talking about it? AI is this a thing of the future, right? With some internet-esque intangibility? Well, you could be wrong.

We’ve been dreaming about AI for years – at least since the 80’s movie classics like Star Wars and Terminator, and (slightly) more recently with The Matrix and I Robot. So why do we still think it’s so far into the future? Why aren't we embracing it? Are we worried about it replacing us? Or is it something else?

I saw a comedian recently who said: 'I’m not scared about robots taking over – they can’t even tick the webpage box which says “I’m not a robot”'. We all laughed – but it’s true, AI is here but it’s something we control – and it's more common than we may think... Consider Spotify, Netflix, Alexa, Siri… The list goes on… It's being used in HR & L&D, healthcare, marketing and even some of our IT teams are using chatbots for tech support. So if the tech is there – why aren’t we embracing it? Surely it’s something we should be excited about? Just think how it could support L&OD – intelligent LXPs, adaptive learning, capacity and capability planning, intelligent data analysis, even curating and creating learning content... what's not to like about that?

So, what's my point?

Even if AI replaced our admin, content curation and learning design, it can’t replace the human curiosity which drives problem solving, the nuances of human connection or our human desire to learn and strive for excellence. This is a tool like any other – it's our curiosity and ability to learn to use it which will make it successful.

Chris Baldwin is in the CIPD L&OD Team

Focus on me

How do I focus on me? How do I make learning a habit?

Block time in your daily routine for you, some online calendars will automatically book time in for learning or focus time.
Take time to exercise, be it a walk, jog, run, swim, cycle ride, the focus on another activity helps with focus on you.
Take up reflection through mind-mapping, sketch-noting, journal writing or dictating to the voice recorder on your smart phone.
If you already have some great examples on how you focus on yourself, you could share these with others. You could add them on social media with the hashtags #CIPD #LAWW2021 #FocusOnMe.

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