CalShell Project

On this web page you will find a sequence of previous Calshell monthly updates:

Partnership Update (September 2008):

PECNet study of knowledge sharing and learning practices
In the past month, the CalShell team has completed a small-scale study of knowledge sharing and learning practices within the PECNet (Production Chemistry) community. The study included an online survey followed up by in-depth individual interviews with the members of the community. The aim of the study was to investigate the ways in which individuals create, consume and share knowledge; how they self-regulate their learning and development, drawing upon collective knowledge; and how they perceive the impact of knowledge sharing on learning, development and work. The findings of the study were summarised in a report that was delivered to the PECNet community leaders. The report identifies recommendations for improvement of knowledge sharing and learning processes. The findings of this study will be aggregated with data generated in the next stages of the project to inform the development of processes and systems that can improve knowledge flow and learning within key areas of the organisation.

Benchmarking review
The CalShell team are currently working on a report reviewing state-of-the-art in collective learning, particularly the approaches that leverage the power of networks through the use of social technologies. The study is focused primarily on the corporate sector, but also explores innovations arising from frontier research and development. The study will take a look into the future of collective learning, outlining opportunities and challenges as well as necessary steps that the organisation must take in order to create and capture value from innovative approaches and technologies.

Extending the partnership
The CalShell team has been exploring ways in which we can extend our partnership to ensure the ideas generated through the core project are integrated and further developed. Since April 2008 we have led:

a) Development of a Blended Learning Certification programme for Shell learning professionals to support them in utilising the new corporate virtual learning environment (Moodle);

b) Development of an international Masters Programme in Learning Innovation integrating the cutting-edge thinking, theories and practice from education and corporate learning sectors;

c) Establishment of an Accelerated Talent Exchange, supporting CalShell collaboration in the use of virtual worlds for learning and educational uses of games and simulations;

d) Establishment and co-ordination of an international consortium of 10 leading research groups and industrial partners from several European countries in the area of work-integrated learning and social technologies. The result of this work is the submission a major research proposal, as well as a proposal for establishment of an international research and training programme in the area of work-integrated learning. These proposals have been submitted to the EU Framework 7 Programme and were led by Caledonian Academy, involving collaboration of Shell Learning.

e) Establishment of a 3-year industry-academia based PhD position in 'Learning from Critical Incidents', funded through the UK Energy Institute, in collaboration with Shell and Conoco. The aim of the PhD project is to develop innovative approaches to enhancing learning from and prevention of health and safety incidents in the workplace. The project is due to start in 2009; we are currently in the process of recruiting a PhD student.

Professor Allison Littlejohn on behalf of the CalShell team
www.academy.gcal.ac.uk

Partnership Update (August 2008):

The CalShell partnership was established in January 2008 to identify ways in which learning can be transformed by improving the integration of learning with knowledge sharing. We are extending current knowledge of Blended Learning and developing new approaches to collective learning at Shell that build on the collective intelligence of the organisation. These ideas are not only useful for the corporate sector, but can help improve our understanding of how learning might extend across organisations and across sectors (eg education, large multinationals, SMEs).

After our launch event was at Shell Learning in Rijswijk (Netherlands) in March 2008, our first step has been to carry out a scoping study of the way organisations are using Web2.0 tools and collaborative environments to support collective learning. This scoping exercise is structured around the key activity components of collective learning, ‘consuming’, ‘connecting’, ‘contributing’ knowledge and ‘charting’ learning paths. The study is nearing completion and our report will be available in the Autumn 2008.

The second step has been to look at how people across the Shell organisation carry out these sorts of activities. Three testbed groups (global networks) have agreed to work with us: Process Chemistry, Procurement and Finance and Shell Learning. In stage one of our project we are carrying out surveys (using online questionnaires and in-depth interviews) to ascertain current patterns of learning and knowledge sharing across each of these networks. We have just completed a pilot survey with PecNet, looking at the ways people in diverse locations (Netherlands, UK, Brunel, Nigeria, USA, Malaysia) collaboratively share knowledge. What are the drivers and barriers to such knowledge sharing? We are analysing the data prior to our in-depth interviews that will take place in August 2008. We then aim to carry out a full study of Procurement and Finance and Shell Learning networks and plan to have the results available by the end of 2008.

Based on what we find out from steps 1 and 2, the third step will be to develop a set of recommendations on how to improve knowledge flow within Shell to support employees planning and executing their own learning and development needs. Our focus is on the difference between the ways people who are fairly new to the organisation and those who are more experienced go about planning, implementing and executing their learning goals. We will carry out this step early in 2009.

We have been extending our partnership beyond this initial applied research project in two ways. Firstly we are co-designing and implementing an exciting new Masters degree in Knowledge, Innovation and Learning Leadership. We are delighted to welcome Tatiana Petrova to our team to help us develop this innovative programme. We have also established an Accelerated Knowledge Exchange to help diffuse ideas from one organisation to the other. Kathryn Trinder from Glasgow Caledonian is working within our team developing ideas as to how we might extend our use of Second Life to support learning. Over the coming months we aim to widen this Knowledge Exchange to other areas of mutual interest, such as knowledge sharing and gaming.

A partnership event will be hosted at Glasgow Caledonian University in November to share what we’ve learned with colleagues from education, government and industry. The event will include a welcome from the Principal and Vice Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian, Professor Pamela Gillies, who is on the board of the Conferderation of British Industry, an update from senior figures from Shell Learning and Glasgow Caledonian and a keynote from the Director of Lifelong Learning within the Scottish Government, Dr Mark Batho. If you would like to join us please contact allison.littlejohn@gcal.ac.uk. Some of the ideas are being outlined on one of our web logs.

Professor Allison Littlejohn on behalf of the CalShell team
www.academy.gcal.ac.uk

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CalShell Project email: calshell@gcal.ac.uk

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