It’s Learning at Work Week and this year’s theme Get Connected reminds us just how essential social connection is to lifelong learning. Here at Desq, it got us thinking about the ways that social connection is used – or perhaps underused – in workplace digital learning. And inspired us to come up with five tips for reaping the benefits in your next digital learning project.
Workplace digital learning is often seen as an individual activity. One of its key benefits to organisations and employees alike is that it allows people to learn flexibly – and so perhaps building in social connection – whether in real life or online, can be seen to complicate matters and add unnecessary time and cost.
"Digital learning is valued for its flexibility and accessibility, but that doesn’t mean it should be a solitary pursuit."
Social connection enriches learning experiences, making them more engaging, memorable, and relevant. The good news? Adding a social element to digital learning doesn’t have to be complicated or costly.
We’ve put together five simple, low-investment ways you can harness the power of social connection in your next digital learning project.
One of the easiest ways to foster a sense of connection is to let real personalities come to life in your materials. Use video introductions so learners can hear from the people behind the course. Write in a conversational and friendly tone. Share personal stories and experiences. These small touches help learners feel like they’re joining in a genuine conversation, not just working through another online task.
Team leaders play a pivotal role in shaping the learning climate. Encourage them to carve out a few minutes during regular meetings to bring learning into the conversation, even informally. This could mean sharing a quick insight from a recent digital course, or simply asking team members to reflect on what they've learnt lately. Not only does this normalise ongoing learning, but it also opens the floor for team members to connect over shared challenges, questions, and discoveries.
Design digital learning content that’s worth talking about. Introduce controversial ideas, key debates, and real-world scenarios that challenge assumptions. Use relevant examples and newsworthy events to connect learning to what’s happening both in your industry and the wider world. Make sure you give learners active and participatory experiences – for example, games and scenarios that encourage debate and discussion as colleagues reflect on different decision paths and outcomes.
You don’t need a whole new suite of tools to boost social learning. Make the most of your organisation’s current communication platforms, whether that’s Teams, Slack, Yammer, or a company intranet. Set up dedicated channels for learning conversations, topical Q&A, or sharing great resources. Brief prompts, including “what’s one thing you learned this week?” or “anyone tried this new technique?” can generate a sense of community with minimal lift.
Identify the natural connectors in your workforce—those who already share tips and solutions, or are keen to experiment with digital tools. Give these “superusers” a bit of recognition and invite them to champion your digital learning initiatives. Empower them to host short lunch-and-learn sessions, moderate your communication channels, or share their learning stories in internal newsletters. Their enthusiasm and practical know-how can help momentum build organically, inspiring wider participation across teams.
"Investing in social connection within digital learning doesn’t require a big budget or complex new platforms. It’s mostly about inviting people to talk, share, and learn together, harnessing the power of your existing networks and natural leaders."
Try out a few of these tips during Learning at Work Week.
Want help designing more engaging digital learning? Drop us a line.
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