Here is my attempt to define Social Learning for non technical people who have had virtually no experience with social media or software.
Most of what we learn, we learn from other people – from conversing with others – and networks promote those conversations.
Social Learning can create more powerful and enduring learning experiences through the use of online communities and networks, where learners are encouraged to co-create, collaborate and share knowledge and fully participate in their learning.
Social Learning is enabled by the use of Enterprise Social Software.
The point of Social Learning is to help people establish and leverage “social” connections and to accelerate the distribution and sharing of “information”, “content” and “guidance” – so they can improve their performance, progress in their careers, and help others to learn and develop.
Interesting topic – you might be interested in an article some colleagues and I wrote recently on this topic at: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol15/iss4/resp1/
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