Learning in Action
For a long time I have been interested in Appreciative Inquiry. It seems to make so much better sense to concentrate and focus on what is going right. Not ignore what is going wrong or could go better but rather celebrate strengths and successes. The corollary is the news in the media – so much focus on bad news that you wonder is there any good news?
A new client through an associate relationship has approached me to discuss and probably facilitate action learning in their organisation. To me it links with Appreciative Inquiry in the sense of making space and time for reflection. The idea behind Action Learning is that people learn best by taking a real example from the workplace, articulating the issue with a trusted small group, in confidence, and then working together to consider potential solutions. Next time, to have the opportunity and in fact the discipline to report back on the results and so monitor and evaluate the process. It is very much learner-centred learning – for which there is plenty of empirical evidence of its effectiveness.
Action Learning also links with Nancy Kline’s model of ‘Time to Think’ where a group meeting is structured to give participants a voice and chance to be heard and to reflect in the group setting. So often we – all of us – are so busy doing that we don’t make (have?) time to reflect. If we did, how often would we take a different route or other decision?
I’m taking the opportunity to train as an Action Learning Facilitator in a month or so. I think it will add to my skills portfolio as well as form part of my Continuing Professional Development which is something else that can so easily be disregarded in the busi-ness of working life.
What actions do you need to learn from and reflect on?
