Learning beyond the classroom: Embracing collaborative learning.

In the modern workplace, a staggering 80% of learning happens through on-the-job experiences and peer interactions. Yet, many organizations continue to over-invest in formal, isolated training sessions that end the moment a learner clicks "exit" on a module.

In our latest CYPHER Pro Tips session, Caitlin Bigsby, Director of Solution Marketing at CYPHER Learning, explored how to flip this script. The goal isn't just to turn on social features; it is to create an intentional environment where knowledge flows naturally and accurately between colleagues.

The risk of unstructured social learning

Social learning is the most natural way we acquire skills—we ask a neighbor, search a chat history, or mimic a mentor. However, without organizational intent, this organic process carries significant risks:

• Misinformation: There is no vetting process to ensure a peer is sharing the "source of truth."
• Inconsistency: Two new hires might have vastly different experiences based on who they sit next to.
• Information silos: Valuable knowledge remains trapped in private emails or Slack threads rather than being accessible to the whole team.

To mitigate these risks, L&D leaders must move from being "content creators" to "collaboration facilitators."

Five strategic principles for collaborative success

Caitlin outlined a framework for weaving social interactions into the very fabric of the learning journey rather than treating them as a "bolt-on" feature.

• Community before content: Focus on building a persistent space that outlasts a single course, allowing knowledge to accumulate over time.
• A shared journey: Use cohorts and storytelling to ensure learners don't feel like they are "shouting into the void" alone.
• Flow of learning: Place collaboration tools directly within the course path to reduce friction and keep the focus on the task at hand.
• Evolving knowledge: Let subject matter experts (SMEs) update information directly in forums or wikis, reducing the administrative burden on L&D.
• Measuring what matters: Look past course completion rates to metrics like support ticket reduction, ramp-up time, and peer contribution.

Putting tools into practice

While the strategy matters most, having the right toolkit is essential for execution. Within the CYPHER platform, several features work in tandem to support these principles:

• Groups: These serve as the "umbrella" for specific teams or cohorts, acting as a home base for news, calendars, and resources.
• Wikis: Often underused, wikis are perfect for contextualizing information. They allow you to organize resources in a specific order or maintain "living" documents.
• Forums: These are best used for question-based interactions, allowing learners to solicit feedback and see threaded responses from experts.
• Resources: Secure repositories that ensure the right people have access to the right files at the right time.

Defining a new version of success

Ultimately, the shift toward collaborative learning requires a change in mindset. We must stop viewing course completion as the end game and start recognizing meaningful participation and behavior change as the true indicators of success. When you surface the expertise already hidden within your workforce, you make your learners feel visible, valued, and connected.

To see this strategy in action, you can watch the full replay and access supplemental resources on our CYPHER Pro Tips resource page.