The quarterly publication of the International Legal Technology Association
Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/21494
Learning is internalized and becomes personal because we search for and choose information relevant to our needs in any given moment. One could argue that learning has always been this way, but the way we learn through collaboration has changed. This has to do with the first trend McAfee lists; we now have free and easy platforms for communication and interaction, such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, blogs, wikis and RSS feeds. We call these technology platforms and avenues “social media.” The Social Media Two-Step The term “social media,” in my opinion, is backwards. The media provide another platform for learning and socializing. “The people,” you and I, support the media, like the man behind the curtain. It’s our collective knowledge and research that is now presented, responded to and collaborated on with our peers, and shared with audiences across all borders. Social media are about people, knowledge, listening and sharing through avenues that are inexpensive and accessible to all. In their book Social Media for Lawyers, the Next Frontier, Carolyn Elefant and Nicole Black describe social media as “fast and cheap.” In a society that’s on the go 24-7, social media deliver the news at a record pace. A few minutes a day on Twitter can update participants on the news more quickly than scanning the newspaper. And as society continues to move at a record pace, social media’s currency will become even more valuable. What’s more, social media are largely free, which make them harder to ignore. Because social media tools are everywhere, in every industry, in every country and exist for any topic, they become an ideal platform for learning. In addition, social media contain short bursts of information, much of it in 140 characters or less. So, how can these little bits of information lead to learning? Peer to Peer the quarterly magazine of ILTA 65