Category

informal learning
This is a re-post based on a article I wrote for CSTD Learning Journal back in 2013. It’s posted here in three parts.  Part 1 introduced the signature skills demonstrated by experts that separate them from novices. Part 2 presented the type of practice that develops experts.  This post discusses implications I see for Learning and Development and makes the connection...
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This is a re-post based of a article I wrote for CSTD Learning Journal back in 2013. It’s posted here in three parts.  Part 1 introduced the signature skills demonstrated by experts that separate them from novices. *** The signatures skills of expertise I described in Part 1 are the result of years of effortful, progressive practice...
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This is a re-post based on a article I wrote for CSTD Learning Journal back in 2013. It’s posted here in three parts. *** We know well-designed practice is a critical for effective training.  It’s what differentiates meaningful learning from passive information. But as work becomes more complex and knowledge-based, are the practice activities we design for...
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I did a three part interview series recently with HRM Online introducing emerging approaches to learning.  You can probably guess what they are: Informal Learning Social Learning Mobile Learning Virtual Learning Gaming and Simulation Performance Support Part one introduces the new paths to learning at work. I’ll post each part in the series here as they...
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The language of employee engagement is growing in HR and training circles.  Engagement is being used both as an explicit goal and measure of successful interventions.  But what is the relationship between engagement and performance?  Can we assume that more engaged employees perform better?  Taking it further, can we assume that  engagement causes improved performance?...
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Advocates of the most laissez-faire approaches informal learning suggest that given the right tools employees will do just fine without all the interference by the learning department. No one can argue that experience is not a powerful teacher, or that our most valuable learning occurs while working. But it’s pretty broad generalization don’t you think? Some...
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Last Thursday (November  17), I presented a session on the use of deliberate practice in learning and performance at the CSTD national conference in Toronto.  I promised participants that I would post the slide set on this blog.  I’m a little slow getting to it but here you are.  They are not fully explanatory, but...
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As digital content becomes more prevalent (free and otherwise), there’s much talk about the new role of the learning professional as content curator or content strategy developer. I agree this will be an important role, but worry it yet again puts the focus on structuring and controlling all that information (another round of knowledge management...
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About half of the formal training provided in organizations is custom developed (the other half are packaged “off-the-shelf” programs).  That’s a lot of training.  Every week  internal learning design teams and their external  partners are heads down at work developing learning programs of every description to help build skills and capability unique to their organizations. ...
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What learning are you designing at the moment? Maybe it’s a structured e-learning or classroom program. If you have a more constructivist bent you may be working on an immersive learning environment.  If you prefer humanist OD approaches maybe it’s an action learning program. These are all awesome interventions in the right circumstances and each...
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About the Blog

This blog contains perspectives on the issues that matter most in workplace learning and performance improvement.  It’s written by Tom Gram.

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Recent Posts

The Learning Design Sprint
August 16, 2018
Practice and the Development of Expertise (Part 2)
August 6, 2018
Practice and the Development of Expertise (Part 1)
August 5, 2018
Learning, Technology and the Future of Work
June 10, 2018
The Myth of e-Learning Levels of Interaction
November 12, 2013

Popular Posts from the Archive

Here are some popular posts from Tom’s former blog, Performance X Design. Some older posts contain inactive links and unedited formatting while they wait impatiently for him to update them.