Training management software experts accessplanit focus on: Why social media is a shining light for learning and development

Much has been said about the extent to which HR allows employees to interact on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. While some HR teams have loosened their grip on these instant messaging and information sharing sites to support a culture of trust and responsibility, others have chosen to batten down the hatches through fear of falls in workplace production.

Either way, for us at http://www.accessplanit.com it's an interesting debate.

Less has been said about what HR can actually learn from these rapidly growing (in terms of users and functionality) social sites. Here are the five top social media functions that are driving change in learning and development today:

1. News feeds
Twitter has shown the learning world that information can be consumed in a far more concise and compact way. In just 140 characters users manage to get their message across and take on board information being sent out. This particular functionality is closely linked to the mobile communities we operate in both at home and at work.

2. Instant feedback
Twitter's retweet and Facebook's 'Like' button have become synonymous with the instant feedback world we live in - they have the power to make the 'happy sheet' all but redundant. Not only are they simple, but they can easily be tracked and assessed to help get a wider picture of how well a message, video or comment has been received. HR should see this as a strong indication that today training management software is available to give instant assessments on reaction to learning initiatives.

3. Online communities
Linkedin has an incredibly useful 'groups' function whereby users can invite others to join groups, and then only allows certain users to join. People management and developing skills at work is about first of all finding out what people want to learn about and how they want to learn.
Open and honest communities offer insight into what employees actually want, and social media has shown the HR world that this can easily be facilitated.

4. Online sharing
Social sites have made the sharing of content so easy, that users can share their latest news and updates with their entire community with the click of a button. What does this mean to HR and learning? Anyone working in learning and development will tell you that programmes come to life when delegates being to share experiences and learning. Social media is leading the way in online sharing, and it is only a matter of time before this becomes common practice within organisations too.

5. Real time
One of the significant drivers behind social media becoming the phenomenon it is today is the fact that these sites operates in real time - connecting people together via one platform at any one time. Today's transient and mobile society has enveloped this concept because it fits so neatly with this kind of lifestyle. Learning relies on interaction and the efficient passing of information. There is no reason why this has to be face-to-face.