The potential of social networking and the advent of new technologies designed to facilitate collaboration and the sharing of information has the training industry excited. Designers, developers, and executives are searching for ways to incorporate the wild success of social networking sites like Facebook and My Space into learning products. Incorporating social networking into blended learning solutions promises new levels of learning and performance success. Blended learning solutions incorporating social networking are greatly influenced by cognitive and constructivist theories, specifically social learning theory and informal learning. However, social networks are userbuilt from the bottom up and blended learning solutions are built by instructional designers from the top down. How then do we marry the theory and practice of building effective blended learning solutions with the promise of social networking's ability to facilitate collaboration and information sharing as a learning tool?

This paper describes the judicious use of instructional theory to harness the potential of social networks, assisted, but not controlled by technology, to meet the educational and organizational goals of the Air Force Functional Area Manager (FAM) community. Because FAMs ensure the appropriate placement of personnel and equipment to fulfill military missions, effective FAM training and knowledge transfer can mean the difference between life and death for Air Force personnel. This paper presents a case study that demonstrates lessons learned and a practical approach to creating a full spectrum of learning, performance, and knowledge management strategies in a blended learning solution. The case study also demonstrates the effectiveness of the design approach using empirical data such as usage fluctuations, member activities, and surveys. Using an online CoP as the centralized gateway for learning, job support, and organizational knowledge, FAMs were able to quickly receive training and establish personal networks for gathering information and obtaining quick answers to common questions.