--- title: Social media is a learning tool description: Social media is a learning tool --- [![Changefirst_logo_Hubspot.png](https://blog.changefirst.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo/Changefirst_logo_Hubspot.png?width=174&height=61&name=Changefirst_logo_Hubspot.png "Changefirst_logo_Hubspot.png")](http://www.changefirst.com) [Contact us](https://changefirst.com/contact-us) [+44 (0) 1444 450777](tel:+44-0-1444-450777) [Solutions](https://www.changefirst.com/change-management-solutions) ### Solutions Change Management Solutions matched to your specific business needs. #### [![orgainizations](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/orgainizations.jpeg) For Organizations Engage more of your people in change with a cost effective and scalable solution that builds sustainable capability.](https://www.changefirst.com/change-management-solutions/organisations) #### [![consulting-firms](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/consulting-firms.jpeg) For Consulting Teams Digitalize and differentiate your Change Management practice, quickly on-board new hires and create ‘sticky’ client relationships](https://www.changefirst.com/change-management-solutions/consulting-firms) #### [![change professionals](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/change%20professionals.jpeg) For Change & Project Experts Deliver strategic projects, support Executives through continuous change and add new tools, skills and Certification to your playbook](https://www.changefirst.com/change-management-solutions/change-and-project-professionals) #### [![technology companies](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/technology%20companies.jpeg) For Technology Companies Take advantage of the missing ingredient in your Adoption Services model. To drive higher adoption rates for clients and improve renewal rates](https://www.changefirst.com/change-management-solutions/technology-companies) #### [![drive up adoption](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/drive%20up%20adoption.jpg) Drive up adoption Focus on engaging people in your technology roll-out projects. To drive successful adoption and deliver projected business outcomes](https://www.changefirst.com/business-issues/drive-up-adoption) #### [![deliver projects](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/deliver%20projects.jpg) Deliver projects more succcessfully Get business-critical projects delivered right, first time. By ensuring you have more change capability and higher engagement levels](https://www.changefirst.com/deliver-projects-more-successfully) #### [![build ECM capacility](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/build%20ECM%20capacility.jpg) Build ECM capability Change is no longer the ‘secret sauce’ of a few individuals in your organisation. So creating the capacity for business-critical changes is crucial](https://www.changefirst.com/build-ECM-capability) #### [![upskilling of teams](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/upskilling%20of%20teams.jpg) Quickly upskilling your teams Make change everyone’s business by getting consistent change skills, tools and support to distributed and remote teams](https://www.changefirst.com/business-issues/upskilling-of-teams) #### [![agile change management](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/agile%20change%20management.jpg) Develop an agile change culture Create an agile Change culture by fostering a mind-set that 'change is your business'. As part of an enterprise-wide approach](https://www.changefirst.com/business-issues/agile-change-management) #### [![credibility](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/credibility.jpg) Gain credibility and differentiate yourself Gain the credibility you need to deliver effective Change inside your organisation and differentiate yourself from the rest of the crowd](https://www.changefirst.com/gain-credibility-and-differentiate-yourself) [Products](https://www.changefirst.com/change-management-products/roadmap-pro) ### Products This will be the products group #### [![roadmap pro](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/roadmap%20pro.jpeg) Roadmap Pro® - digital OCM platform Transform the way Change Management is planned and executed across your organization. With digital skills, methods and tools for faster, more sustainable business result](https://www.changefirst.com/change-management-products/roadmap-pro) [Training](https://www.changefirst.com/training) ### Training Role-relevant training solutions for leaders, their teams and professionals to build rapid, sustainable change capabilities #### [![executive](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/executive.jpeg) Leaders, Heads of Business & Steering Teams Executive Bootcamps - learning for senior leaders tasked with sponsoring strategic change and building sustainable Organisational Change Capability](https://www.changefirst.com/training/executive) #### [![change agent](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/change%20agent.jpeg) Change, Project and Internal development professionals Robust, action focused training course and certification for CMOs, PMO and anyone helping leaders drive major business change](https://www.changefirst.com/training/change-agent) #### [![local teams](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/local%20teams.jpeg) Line Managers, local teams, HRBPs & Communication Experts Workshops and learning development programs focused on compelling change communication, sponsor behaviour, assessing people risks, data driven planning and effective engagement.](https://www.changefirst.com/training/manager-and-local-teams) #### [![on demand individual](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/on%20demand%20individual.jpeg) Employees, large groups & accidental/new change agents Learning ‘on-demand’ to introduce key change management methods and development coaching to build help individual resilience.](https://www.changefirst.com/training/on-demand-individual) #### [![change projects introductory](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/change%20projects%20introductory.jpg) Project and Programme Managers (Introductory) Learn a structed approach to people-change processes, activities and measures designed to improve project success](https://www.changefirst.com/training/change-projects-introductory) #### [![change projects intermediate](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/change%20projects%20intermediate.jpg) Project and Programme Managers (Intermediate) Initiate local change initiatives right, first time and in a people - centred way](https://www.changefirst.com/training/change-projects-intermediate) #### [![train the trainer](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/train%20the%20trainer.jpg) Train-the-Trainer Build an internal community of Change Experts and create agility in your internal Change Training](https://www.changefirst.com/training/train-the-trainer) #### [![](https://res.cloudinary.com/changefirst-media/uploads/Content_Licencing_Menu_Sized_TP_84ed8849b6.jpg) Content licensing Licence our proven Change Management materials and establish a standardised approach to delivering change across your organisation](https://www.changefirst.com/training/content-licensing) #### [![certification](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/certification.jpg) Certification Recognise your investment in Change Management training and development with individual and organisational level Certification](https://www.changefirst.com/training/certification) #### [![coaching and consulting](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/coaching%20and%20consulting.jpg) Application Coaching and Consulting We provide 6 week to 6 month partner packages that enable us to partner with you to accelerate your change success](https://www.changefirst.com/training/application-coaching-and-consulting) [Methodologies](https://www.changefirst.com/methodologies) ### Methodologies This will be the methodologies page group #### [![pci](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/pci.jpeg) PCI® - People - Centred Implementation Changefirst’s research-based, highly practical, results-oriented methodology, for planning and executing the people-side of change, to achieve sustainable organisational results](https://www.changefirst.com/methodologies/pci) #### [![pai](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/pai.jpeg) PAI – Personal Adaptability Inventory PCI® People-Centred Implementation Changefirst’s proprietary psychometric, with development system, help leaders and their teams develop resilience and adaptability for change](https://www.changefirst.com/methodologies/pai) [Resources](https://www.changefirst.com/resources) ### Resources All the resources you need to help build your Change Management capability. #### [![resources](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/resources.jpeg) Whitepapers Download our latest Change Management whitepapers.](https://www.changefirst.com/resources) #### [![videos](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/videos.jpeg) Videos Watch our latest Change Management videos.](https://www.changefirst.com/resources#videos) #### [![blog](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/blog.jpeg) Blogs Read our latest Change Management blogs.](https://blog.changefirst.com/) [About us](https://www.changefirst.com/about-us) [Contact](https://www.changefirst.com/contact-us) Solutions [For Organizations](https://www.changefirst.com/change-management-solutions/organisations) [For Consulting Teams](https://www.changefirst.com/change-management-solutions/consulting-firms) [For Change & Project Experts](https://www.changefirst.com/change-management-solutions/change-and-project-professionals) [For Technology Companies](https://www.changefirst.com/change-management-solutions/technology-companies) [Drive up adoption](https://www.changefirst.com/business-issues/drive-up-adoption) [Deliver projects more succcessfully](https://www.changefirst.com/deliver-projects-more-successfully) [Build ECM capability](https://www.changefirst.com/build-ECM-capability) [Quickly upskilling your teams](https://www.changefirst.com/business-issues/upskilling-of-teams) [Develop an agile change culture](https://www.changefirst.com/business-issues/agile-change-management) Products [Roadmap Pro® - digital OCM platform](https://www.changefirst.com/change-management-products/roadmap-pro) Training [Leaders, Heads of Business & Steering Teams](https://www.changefirst.com/training/executive) [Change, Project and Internal development professionals](https://www.changefirst.com/training/change-agent) [Line Managers, local teams, HRBPs & Communication Experts](https://www.changefirst.com/training/manager-and-local-teams) [Employees, large groups & accidental/new change agents](https://www.changefirst.com/training/on-demand-individual) [Project and Programme Managers (Introductory)](https://www.changefirst.com/training/change-projects-introductory) [Project and Programme Managers (Intermediate)](https://www.changefirst.com/training/change-projects-intermediate) [Train-the-Trainer](https://www.changefirst.com/training/train-the-trainer) [Content licensing](https://www.changefirst.com/training/content-licensing) [Certification](https://www.changefirst.com/training/certification) [Application Coaching and Consulting](https://www.changefirst.com/training/application-coaching-and-consulting) Methodologies [PCI® - People - Centred Implementation](https://www.changefirst.com/methodologies/pci) [PAI – Personal Adaptability Inventory PCI®](https://www.changefirst.com/methodologies/pai) Resources [Whitepapers](https://www.changefirst.com/resources) [Videos](https://www.changefirst.com/resources#videos) [Blogs](https://blog.changefirst.com/) [About us](https://www.changefirst.com/about-us) [Contact](https://www.changefirst.com/contact-us) # [Welcome to the Changefirst Blog](https://blog.changefirst.com) # Social media is a learning tool Posted by [Anne-Lise MacKenzie](https://blog.changefirst.com/author/anne-lise-mackenzie) The role of social media in learning has sparked a debate that is likely to continue for some time yet. I have just finished reading this brief article in [HR Magazine](http://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/news/rss/1031464/World-Learning-Conference-Use-social-media-training-tool-sparks-off-lively-debate/) which summarises a discussion that took place at the [World of Learning Conference and Exhibition](http://www.learnevents.com/index.php) at the NEC, this week. Social media is for many people the 'go to' resource for information and opinion, and as such I have to agree with the argument put forward by Nick Shackleton-Jones, manager online and informal learning at the BBC, who believes it is an essential element for modern learning, stating "it gathers the leading thinkers in an area together providing the latest information." Social media allows you to create your own community, a community that will contain, primarily, your colleagues, peers and friends. Which, with work, then grows to include others, people you may never have met, but who share information that you value. This community continues, then, to be built around your common interests. And this is what Shackleton-Jones is referring to. It is very easy to find,  engage and learn from the leaders in your area, be it change management, HR or photography. Because of this it is much easier to find good content, than it was, say, 2 years ago, maybe even 6 months ago. As Michael Learmonth, Reporter, AdAge recently stated about his use of social media "I can be reasonably sure that a story I need to know about will find me, not the other way around. That's a big shift from a few years ago." From a learning perspective social media allows you to access information that is being shared by your peers. If it is shared, then it is qualified, by that I mean, it's been found, absorbed and considered something which will help or benefit the wider community. We must remember that social media is about sharing and helping, in much the same way that sharing and helping has been a key component to traditional learning practices for many years. It is also worth pointing out that social media is simply another method of communication, it is not a means to an end and should to be fully integrated into your wider communications plan, not isolated as a 'must have'. However, it is a valid media platform for augmenting learning, not a replacement for e-learning or any other form of education; it enhances the ability to access, share and discuss information. As we have seen with the adoption of e-learning as a convenient way to learn without the expense and travel of attending external facilities, social media is convenient way to access information, in particular conferences and seminars.For example, take the hashtag #wolce10 ([view the transcript](http://wthashtag.com/transcript.php?page_id=18793&start_date=2010-09-27&end_date=2010-09-30&export_type=HTML)), its how I kept up to date with what was happening at the World of Learning Conference.  The very conference at which the debate took place. Have you adopted social media in your learning programmes? Was it successful? What can we learn? Posted by [Anne-Lise MacKenzie](https://blog.changefirst.com/author/anne-lise-mackenzie) Tags: [Change Community Online](https://blog.changefirst.com/topic/change-community-online), [change learning](https://blog.changefirst.com/topic/change-learning), [Change Management Training](https://blog.changefirst.com/topic/change-management-training), [Communication](https://blog.changefirst.com/topic/communication), [Employee Engagement](https://blog.changefirst.com/topic/employee-engagement), [Learning](https://blog.changefirst.com/topic/learning), [learning about changing](https://blog.changefirst.com/topic/learning-about-changing), [social media change management](https://blog.changefirst.com/topic/social-media-change-management), [social media for business](https://blog.changefirst.com/topic/social-media-for-business), [social media learning](https://blog.changefirst.com/topic/social-media-learning) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ### Leave a comment Search Blog ### Keep me updated ### Recent Posts ### SHARE THE BLOG ### Posts by Tag [![](https://changefirst.com/images/Icons/Social_LI.svg)](https://uk.linkedin.com/company/changefirst) [![](https://changefirst.com/images/Icons/Social_TW.svg)](https://twitter.com/Changefirst) [![](https://changefirst.com/images/Icons/Social_VM.svg)](https://vimeo.com/changefirst) [![](https://changefirst.com/images/Icons/Social_FB.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/Changefirst-129807110363683/) [Website T&Cs](https://info.changefirst.com/website-tcs)    |     [Security Policy](https://info.changefirst.com/security-statement)    |     [Privacy Policy](https://info.changefirst.com/privacy-policy)    |     [Cookie Policy](https://info.changefirst.com/cookie-policy)