Summary Due to the development of social media and online environments, educational systems’ content and form change. At the same time, demands for the individual professional to keep him- or herself continually updated and employable are on the increase. In this article, we develop an alternative to established education and forms of training in the shape of a Supportive System. Even today, new forms of social media and online environments are constituting such supportive systems for individual learning – but could be developed using institutional input. System development whereby individuals’ qualifications can be developed qualitatively and enduringly can guide and make things easier for people who are consciously aspiring to enhance their competence and proficiency through informal ways of working in online environments. In the article, we show how such an online system differs from previous educational forms, putting forward an outline of a supportive system. The purpose of the article is to outline the fundamental features of an online system that offers a continuous and supportive process for developing occupational groups’ qualifications whereby qualifications stand for a combination of knowledge, proficiency, and competence. The interwoven individual development processes taking place in an online environment have a special characterization which constitutes an essential prerequisite for developing a supportive system. We highlight 4 differences between formal educational systems and Supportive Systems which have to be taken into account in order to design a system rooted in online environments and social media. These differences are; 1) From pre-produced to user-generated content, 2) from individual subject motives to joint qualification interests, 3) from limited duration to continuous and enduring activity, 4) from subject and thematic areas to a broad perspective on the participants’ skills. On the basis of the four prerequisites, some fundamental features of a supportive system are outlined. The system is based on existing forms of online environment but which are further developed and supported methodically and systematically. A Supportive System can consist of a combination of individual PLEs (Personal Learning Environments) which are coordinated via a shared Online Learning Communities (OLC) or PLN (Personal Learning Network). A developed methodology based on circular ways of working supports processes in the various media and works towards progressing the individual’s development.
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