Knowledge Communities in Learning Dashboards

Facilitating, mentoring, FAQ's, peer discussion, supervisor collaboration, and access to reference resources enhances learning programs and learning program outcomes. All of these learning enhancements are now readily available in Learning Dashboards to help achieve learning objectives.

Learning Dashboards offer a single Web-page view of related learning activities expected to take place over a defined period of time. The dashboard gives the learner a quick view of all prescribed learning events and graphic percentages of learning program completion and time remaining.

Each Learning Dashboard contains an integral knowledge community that enhances the overall learning experience and value. Learning Dashboard knowledge community elements include:

• Peer Discussion - Employees who are participating in learning program can share information, questions and reflections in threaded discussion.
• FAQ's - FAQ's are developed from initial learning programs and made available to future program participants.
• Mentoring - Ask the mentor functionality allows private or public conversation between a student and an assigned mentor or subject matter expert.
• Supervisor Collaboration - Private communication between the employee and their supervisor supports important supervisor/employee relationships.
• Reference Resources - A Digital Media Repository (DMR) is available for storing and retrieving learning program related presentations, video's, documents, PDF's, website links and other training materials.

Leveraging a knowledge community within a Learning Dashboard is exemplified in new-hire orientations. A new employee will have a recurring need to communicate with their supervisor and a human resources rep. They will find value in peer discussions with other new hires. And a variety of reference material including CEO welcome messages, policies and procedures, phone and E-mail systems instructions and other introductory materials are available in the DMR. Fully supported new-hire orientation can take place across organizations and geographic locations with strong assurances of consistency and rapid indoctrination. Similar knowledge communities can be found in other learning program applications including new product introductions and sales training.