What types of learning interactions do you use at your organization? Most interactions observed in the trucking industry are learner-to-content or learner-to-instructor. Did you know that other types of learning interactions can be designed in an online, face-to-face, or blended (a combination of online and face-to-face) learning environment?
One example is a learner-to-learner approach called communities of learners (COLs). This is not a new concept, but it has been missing in the trucking industry. The idea of COLs is to empower learners to collectively learn together and build on each other’s knowledge, instead of assimilating knowledge based simply on what they are told.
Keith Maisch, the safety manager at America’s Service Line, a fleet of 200 tractors and 350 refrigerated trailers based in Green Bay, Wis, implemented COLs in the spring of 2021.
Maisch noted that, historically, there hasn’t been a good way to get drivers together so they could learn from each other. However, technology makes it possible for drivers to interact, teach, and learn from each other while they’re waiting to get loaded or unloaded, or whenever they have the time.
Over a two-month period, Maisch implemented COLs as part of an online discussion format where drivers could learn from him and each other on the topics of defensive driving and health and wellness. The drivers went through eNuggets, or short micro-lessons, and then were prompted with divergent questions where drivers could respond to Maisch, respond to each other, or develop an original post.
The drivers did not need to be online at the same time to participate. In fact, they could complete their work and go back later to see how drivers responded and comment on their posts.
