My shared passions of insurance and education clearly met yesterday morning. The plan was to write a blog entry about various components of disability insurance, along with another one adding to what I have written about travel insurance. With a shift of focus, though, the subject of informal learning became first and forefront.
Blogs can certainly be a form of informal learning. (As you may know, one of my proposed research interests relates to informal learning in the workplace.) However, in many cases I question the learning that actually occurs. If I write a blog entry about insurance, it causes me to draw on my past knowledge and anything new that I might research and add. You’ve heard the adage, “those who teach learn twice,” so I benefit from the activity. But how about the reader? If it is quickly perused, something may be learned and retained. More likely, it is quickly forgotten unless a connection is made. When a reader actually engages in the blog with a reply, there is more likelihood of learning occurring. That is what I want to address, as far too often blog entries go without comments to the author and to other readers.
I’m looking deeper than the brief reply, thinking of the well thought out responses that often lead to further conversations rather than just a series of comments or nothing at all. I’m specifically referring to the use of reflective writing. This was something I emphasized with my students in a program where one of the overall learning outcomes was to write with critical reflection. I liked to refer to the work of Dr Jenny Moon. Found recently on one of her web pages on reflective writing (link no longer active), “Reflection lies somewhere around the notion of learning and thinking. We reflect in order to learn something, or we learn as a result of reflecting.” Dr Moon is now with The Centre for Excellence in Media Practice at Bournemouth University.
When one is able to reflect on something that is written, the more critically the better, chances are that increased learning will stem from it. I am particularly interested in informal learning within the workplace and in professional development. When we consider the use of blogs and wikis as a source of recording and sharing, the thought of others reflecting on what is written, and responding, supports the value of using technology in informal workplace learning.
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This is the blog of Antony (Tony) Ratcliffe of Ratcliffe Wealth & Risk Management, operating in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Tony is an independent Life and Accident & Sickness Insurance Agent and Broker. Blog entries are an expression of the author’s personal opinions, and the insurance companies represented will not be held liable in any way for the opinions expressed herein.
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