Continuing education in healthcare is undergoing a quiet revolution. The days of static webinars and one-way information delivery are fading, replaced by interactive formats where clinicians learn from—and with—each other. At the center of this movement is social learning: the process of growing through shared experience, reflection, and feedback.
For clinicians, it makes learning more relevant.
For educators, it strengthens engagement and retention.
For funders, it drives measurable behavior change and sustained outcomes.
In short, social learning is no longer a “nice-to-have.” It’s the connective tissue of effective healthcare education.
What Social Learning Really Means
Social learning happens through connection. It’s the informal case discussion between colleagues, the debrief after a simulation, or the candid exchange about what didn’t go as planned. In these moments, insight is contextualized, challenged, and reinforced.
When continuing education moved online, many of these interactions were lost. Yet conversation, collaboration, and community remain essential for reflection and long-term retention. These are the very elements that transform information into improved practice.
Why It Works Across the Ecosystem
Healthcare professionals are experiential learners by nature. Their environments demand rapid reasoning, teamwork, and constant adaptation. Social learning mirrors that reality—and it benefits everyone involved in the CE ecosystem.
- For clinicians: Learning through peers increases relevance and confidence, especially when exploring gray areas of care.
- For educators: Structured peer exchange supports deeper cognitive processing, resulting in higher-level outcomes on Moore’s framework.
- For funders and industry partners: Programs that embed social learning yield stronger, more sustained changes in competence and performance, translating into measurable impact and better patient outcomes.
By emphasizing shared reflection and feedback, social learning bridges the gap between knowledge acquisition and clinical application.
Putting It into Practice
Integrating social learning doesn’t require an overhaul of existing programs. It simply requires intention.
Examples include:
- Facilitated case discussions within live or virtual modules
- Asynchronous reflection boards to extend dialogue beyond sessions
- Peer-to-peer debriefs following simulations or standardized patient encounters
- Communities of practice that allow clinicians to engage around shared challenges over time
These approaches transform education from a transaction into a conversation—one that continues long after the formal session ends.
The Evidence Base
The power of social learning is well supported by research. The 70/20/10 model of adult learning reminds us that 70% of development occurs through experience, 20% through social interaction, and only 10% through formal instruction.
Healthcare studies reinforce this balance:
- Peer collaboration enhances diagnostic accuracy and critical thinking.
- Team-based debriefs improve communication and reduce medical errors.
- Reflective dialogue among colleagues increases empathy and decreases burnout.
When learning environments replicate the realities of clinical teamwork, performance, and patient care improve.
Overcoming Common Barriers
Implementing social learning requires thoughtful design.
Time constraints: Provide flexible, asynchronous options that fit clinicians’ schedules.
Facilitation gaps: Train moderators to guide discussion, maintain focus, and encourage inclusivity.
Platform fatigue: Consolidate tools; a single, intuitive platform can host meaningful exchanges without overwhelming users.
Each of these strategies helps sustain engagement and ensures peer learning remains both efficient and impactful.
Building Better CE Together
Healthcare is practiced collaboratively, and education should be too. Social learning aligns everyone involved in the CE ecosystem—clinicians, educators, and funders—around the shared goal of improving patient outcomes.
By embedding connection and reflection into continuing education, we move beyond content delivery toward true professional growth. Because the best learning doesn’t just transfer knowledge, it transforms practice, perspective, and the people behind the care.
Explore our peer-led courses and join a learning group or let us know if you are interested in leading a group of your own. We look forward to seeing you on Gather-ed!