The Network Awareness Tool: A web 2.0 tool to visualize informal networked learning in organizations

Professionals often initiate informal learning in an effort to solve work-related problems. This paper focuses mainly on research methods for visualizing informal networked learning for teachers. Drawing upon Social Network Theory and Analysis and such notions as Social Capital, Networked Learning, and Communities of Practice we create a theoretical model to underpin the design of our web 2.0, Network Awareness Tool NAT.NAT address several problems connected with informal networked learning research in organizations, such as the informal learning paradox. Advanced Search and Signalling Features can overcome the problem of under-representation of the data. Authorship minimises the problem of unrealistic representation of data. Making use of user profiles and allowing them to (re)enter and improve data on both online and off-line (and combinations thereof) networked activities offers an alternative approach to the name/resource generating (Van der Gaag & Snijders, 2005) and position generating strategies (Lin, Fu, & Hsung, 2001) often used for collecting social network data. The implementation of a profile page, tags and ratings provides the opportunity to triangulate data on the needed multidimensional level, representing informal learning in the dimensions covered by the theoretical model. NAT could impact on our current understanding of informal networked learning.