Even thinking about using informal content in corporate eLearning courses may seem like anathema to some organizations, but the fact is, informal eLearning is a thing! Yes, informal eLearning is a trend in eLearning, and not a new one at that. It is just a fresh, and slightly relaxed way of learning. Think of a YouTube video, or a colleague explaining you how to do something, both are informal ways of learning, but are super-effective. Also, the maximum amount of learning is unplanned, and occurs in the real world, which is not bound by the constraints of formality. Things should be no different in an organization.

Informal eLearning combines the best aspects of unplanned real-world learning, with carefully intended learning design. It is a learner-centered approach, based on trust that the learner is not an empty-glass, and can self-motivate, self-correct, and self-evaluate themselves in the learning process. Having said that, informal learning isn’t haphazard, and requires meticulous planning, with the instructional designer or the course creator being the master-planner. Let’s have a look at the benefits of adding informal eLearning experiences in your corporate eLearning program.

The Benefits

1. The word “informal” has an astounding effect on learners/employees. They feel less pressured while completing courses, and don’t treat such a course as a tiring convention they have to go through simply because they were told to. Informal eLearning engages the learner, reduces their resistance to the training and gets them motivated.
2. Designing informal eLearning experiences means less work for instructional designers, as they have to follow a less intensive design process, which reduces development time as well as learning costs.
3. As informal eLearning is a learner-centered approach, it shows. Employees understand when something is driven by their interests, which boosts engagement and attention in a course. Employees are thus not easily bored with the course, and are able to self-direct their learning.
4. Informal eLearning is all about communication, which is one of the most natural ways of learning. This also improves workplace relationships, and brings a certain element of harmony into the organization.
5. The newest work force on the block, the Gen-Z or millennials as they are popularly known, have a habit of sharing knowledge online using YouTube videos, social media posts, online blogs and articles and such stuff. They loathe formality, and love when left to their own devices. Informal learning is perfect for a such a generation, which is going to form 20% of the global workforce by the next year, i.e. 2020.

Important Points to Consider

There are certain points one must consider while implementing informal eLearning into your corporate eLearning program. Have a look at these before you begin.

1. It is best-suited to Blended Learning

Blended Learning is a learning and development (L&D) methodology which combines both instructor-led or classroom training and eLearning to provide the ultimate learning experience to learners. Informal learning experiences are best suited to such a methodology, as it involves in-person communication and human engagement which offer enhanced learning during workshops, seminars and discussions.

2. Experience is key

The keyword in informal learning is “experience”. As better and as real an experience is provided to learners, the better they learn. Scenario-based eLearning is a must-have in your corporate eLearning program if you go with an informal learning approach, as it provides several choice of actions, plenty of opportunities to recover if the learner makes a mistake and enough room to explore. Experience is made up of both success and failure, and is the truest form of learning.

3. Don’t Confuse “Informal” With “Poorly-Designed”

As mentioned before, although informal learning experiences are less-design intensive, but that doesn’t mean that proper planning and design isn’t required. Instructional designers or L&D professionals who build the eLearning program must know how to balance the informal elements with a clear learning path. They must also plan workshops, opportunities for collaboration, resources and important triggers for recalling information learned in the past.

4. Use Content Formats That Learners Like

Employees loathe reading text. They are already tired from working all day long, and a text-heavy eLearning course doesn’t help. Give them easily digestible content, such as images, videos and infographics.