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"I was an unlikely candidate to buy into Jay Cross's theory that formal learning is largely ineffective. But my curiosity got the better of me, and I found myself totally engrossed in his out-of-the-ordinary thinking on learning." (T+D Magazine, February 2007)
Acknowledgments.
Introduction.
PART ONE: CONCEPTS.
Chapter 1: Out of Time.
Chapter 2: A Natural Way of Learning.
Chapter 3: Show Me The Money.
Chapter 4: Emergence.
Chapter 5: Connecting.
Chapter 6: Meta-Learning.
PART TWO: LEARNERS.
Chapter 7: Learners.
PART THREE: CASES.
Chapter 8: Envisioning.
Chapter 9: Conversation.
Chapter 10: Communities.
Chapter 11: Unblended.
Chapter 12: The Web.
Chapter 13: Grokking.
Chapter 14: Unconferences.
PART FOUR: JUST DO IT.
Chapter 15: Just Do It.
Appendix A: Informal Learning in a Nutshell.
Appendix B: Where Did The 80 Percent Come From?
Appendix C: Institute for Research On Learning.
Glossary.
Resources.
References.
Index.
About The Author.
Do people learn best by sitting in a classroom taking notes? Not according to "eLearning" expert Jay Cross. Instead, he says, companies should champion nontraditional, informal learning methods, including: "unconferences," "unworkshops," "eLearning," "Courageous Conversations" and even "grokking" (sci-fi writer Robert A. Heinlein's term for "instantaneous, holistic recognition" or understanding). Cross says properly presented informal learning programs can give your firm a better return on its training investment than formal learning. He explains why that is and how to use his approach. Despite some repetition and fluffy filler, getAbstract recommends this book to learning officers, training managers and human resources professionals who want to know more about setting up informal learning initiatives.
To learn more about this book, read the following summary: http://www.getabstract.com/summary/11095/informal-learning.html
DrJonno
Posted July 9, 2009
Cross confirms what I have long believed - training is something best left for dogs and circus animals. Learning and the results from learning are where it's at! While not totally forgoing formal learning, the book provides a much needed perspective on how employees really learn in a corporate environment. Through real life examples (from IBM's Blue Pages to the World Café), Cross stresses the importance of incorporating informal learning. Some chapters drag a little, but overall an insightful read with lots of references (I have added about 8 more books to me "to read" list). The advice is practical and accurate.Cross says you can set up a blog in 5 minutes, I tried it, and you can!
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Overview