I am still in the infancy stage in both my understanding of your work and what I will do with my work. (I suppose I am on a threshold…or looking at one.)

My current dissertation idea revolves around the informal learning of the workplace…so not what the trainer says or does but what the students say to each other after the training to make the training stick. Or what happens in a mentor, on the job type training relationship. There are certainly thresholds of knowledge to be crossed. And the watercooler-type discussion is a form of reflection.

Here’s a very concrete level example: in my industry (casino gaming), the casino floors and slot machines are moving from a serial communication to an Ethernet communication. The machines are more technical and are essentially computers now instead of mechanisms. This has resulted in a population shift amongst technician working on slot machines. Some have retired or changed careers. They can’t “get” the computer networking aspects. Some are learning and basically becoming techies instead of mechanics. And the field is attracting a whole new type of worker. So there’s a threshold: understanding how to network a floor. It’s changing their view. Some are crossing over and some aren’t. My research would be on what methods are they using: informal, formal?

What do you think?