Everyday digital work practices can support learning (Karhapää)

In her doctoral dissertation, FM Anne Karhapää studied how learning takes place in the digitalised environments of everyday work. A large part of adult learning occurs alongside work, as so-called informal learning. Often, this kind of learning happens quite unnoticeably, for example when solving problems or during various interaction situations, which increasingly take place in digital environments such as chat or online meetings. Interaction is essential for informal workplace learning. Karhapää’s research shows that technology-mediated interaction can also promote informal workplace learning.

The key conclusion of the study is that advanced digital work practices and environments that foster interaction while efficiently managing technology support informal learning. Especially in expert work, various physical and digital elements intertwine, and the digital work environment plays an increasingly significant role. The results indicate that digital technology offers many opportunities for informal workplace learning but also brings challenges.

The research reveals the complexity of the digital work environment, illustrating how it can either support or restrict informal learning. Complexity, constant change, information overload, and interruptions pose challenges to learning.

Karhapää lists digital work practices that support informal learning:

“Work-related communication, social interaction, sharing knowledge and experiences, as well as active following and listening to information flowing through various digital channels. Jointly created guidelines and practices, in turn, help manage challenges.”

The research data, collected from one workplace during 2021–2022, consists of observations, interviews, and participant diaries. Thanks to multi-location work and employees’ strong digital skills, the studied workplace had highly developed digital work practices that made work and learning smooth. Not all work communities are equally advanced in digital development, so the practices identified in the study provide valuable examples. Digital technology brings many benefits, but avoiding its negative effects requires skills and shared practices.

“Workplaces should invest in developing them,” Karhapää concludes.

MA Anne Karhapää defends her doctoral dissertation in adult education "Learning at work in the digital age: The use of digital technology in informal workplace learning" on Saturday, 24.1.2026.

Opponent is Professor Stephen Billett (Griffith University) and custos is Professor Raija Hämäläinen (University of Jyväskylä).

The event will be held in English. It can be followed also in Zoom, the link will be updated later on.

The dissertation can be read at https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-86-1240-7. 

Further information

Anne Karhapää
anne.m.karhapaa@jyu.fi