ERIC Number: EJ1082565
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1366-5626
EISSN: N/A
Types of Informal Learning in Cross-Organizational Collegial Conversations
Wilson, Daniel Gray; Hartung, Kyle
Journal of Workplace Learning, v27 n8 p596-610 2015
Purpose: This paper aims to gather empirical evidence for what colleagues from different organizations reported they learned from informal professional learning conversations. Informal learning conversations with colleagues is a powerful yet understudied source of self-directed, professional development. Design/methodology/approach: This study of mixed methods investigated the types of learning 79 leaders from 22 organizations reported they learned via post-conversation surveys from 44 peer-led discussions over a two-year period. Findings: Survey data suggest empirical evidence of five learning outcomes--informational, conceptual, operational, reflective and social learning. The study describes these categories, the overall distribution of these types of learning in the community and how most conversations were "high-yielding" in a particular outcome. Originality/value: To the knowledge of the authors, this study is the first to suggest empirical evidence of categories of learning that participants report from informal, cross-organizational learning conversations.
Descriptors: Informal Education, Organizational Communication, Cooperation, Cooperative Learning, Collegiality, Discourse Analysis, Professional Development, Mixed Methods Research, Surveys, Evidence, Learning Processes, Socialization, Outcomes of Education, Interpersonal Communication, Social Networks, Information Dissemination, Knowledge Management
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
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