What is Technology-based or Online Informal Learning

This chapter explores how an organization created to inform members became an online learning organization. Using technology, the organization continued to support the professionals as they evolved in their individual careers and within the organization. Best practices arose to better inform the members and to expand communities of practice (CoPs). Members meaningfully engaged in the learning organization, in their avocations, and their vocations. This mix-method study, with over a 118 Association for Talent Development (ATD) professionals, addressed how the ATD could continue to support professionals in our evolving technological society. The study allowed the ATD professionals themselves to identify how they could help the organization and its' members to advance the organization by using technology, informal learning and research-based learning to improve the membership organization roles. The study highlighted how important informal learning, professional development, modeling, and identifying best practices, are to an organization's growth and the professionals' growth.