My new column is up at Library Journal:
http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/ljinprint/currentissue/892499-403/lessons_from_learning_2.0_.csp
In their recent book, A New Culture of Learning (CreateSpace, 2011), Douglas Thomas and John Seely Brown explore similar concepts and the importance of continuous learning. The parallels to the original Learning 2.0 model are striking. The book is based on several assumptions about our new normal, for example, “The world is changing faster than ever and our skill sets have a shorter life,” and “Play is the basis for cultivating imagination and innovation.”
Planning for ongoing organizational learning for staff may seem like just “one more thing” in our stressed environments, but without backing and emphasis from library leaders, exploration and innovation may wane.
The library should serve as a hub for sustaining a culture of learning around technology and research using variations on the model. Extending the program to users or shifting focus from technologies to other areas of learning and reflection is a natural progression. The public “Looking at 2.0” program at the State Library of Queensland continues to engage users with topics and award prizes. Consider new audiences as well, such as Research 2.0, a program created for researchers at Imperial College in the UK.
How do you sustain the learning culture in your setting?