Virtual HRD: Utilizing Pinterest as Informal Learning Tool

By Rochell R. McWhorter

HRD scholars and practitioners are bombarded with the challenge to stay

relevant in an ever-changing workplace. One way to keep current is by frequently

perusing web content for new and interesting ideas, including news articles, blogs,

and social media. A new method to easily save and share useful web content is by

“pinning” it on the social network, Pinterest.

Pinterest (pinterest.com) launched in 2010 and was recently ranked third

most used social media behind Facebook and Twitter (Knapp, 2012). Originally

dominated for home use, such as saving recipes and home décor tips, its utility now

extends to professional use because of the ease of saving and sharing web-linked

images. Essentially, Pinterest is a social bookmarking tool where users have a main

“board” where they can either use pre-made categories (“pinboards”) or customize

categories for their “pins”. A pin is a digital object such as image or video either

from a website or uploaded by the user. Like other social networks, users can

collaborate by following other users, share content, tag objects, and make

comments.

Instructors might consider utilizing Pinterest as an informal learning tool

that can also create community in online courses (Delello, 2012). For example,

students could be asked to locate course-related content or current news events on

the web and then “pin” links to a class-wide pinboard thus increasing informal

learning opportunities. Practitioners might find it beneficial for such activities as

product and service research.

Pinterest is free to users but an account is required. To join, you will need an

invitation from a friend or you can visit www.Pinterest.com and click “Request an

invite” and enter your email address. Pinterest requires Facebook or Twitter to

create a new account. However, once the account is created, you can easily unlink

from your Facebook/Twitter account and log in with your email address instead.

Pinterest “apps” are currently available for mobile devices such as the iPad and

iPhone with other mobile access through http://m.pinterest.com . The “power of the

pin” is becoming increasingly useful for integrated learning and productivity.

References

Delello, J. (2012). The teacher’s quick guide to Pinterest. Retrieved from

http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=4285

Knapp, A. (2012). New study pegs Pinterest as the number 3 social website. Retrieved from

http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2012/04/09/new-study-pegs-pinterest-as-the-

number-3-social-website/