Action learning
Action Learning is an approach promoted by Skills for Care to support newly qualified social workers.
Action Learning enables people to tackle problems and challenges by creating their own solutions.
There is also evidence that this approach offers valuable support for other individuals and organisations in developing professional practice.
In action learning there are a number of basic ingredients that must be present:
- The use of real problems that are genuinely difficult and urgent
- Fellow learners to support and challenge each other to take action on these problems through questions
- A critical reflection on the experience of dealing with these problems - the experience of dealing with the problem and the assumptions that lay behind the actions
- That there is minimum intervention by a facilitator other than setting up the process and helping learners to 'get going'
These pages are designed to give an overview of the approach to learning. Through video clips, case studies and accounts of practice give examples of action learning in action. The resources are split into three sections:
The newly qualified member of staff
In this section there are video clips of staff talking about their experiences of being in an action learning set, and written and audio case studies.
In this section there are video and audio clips and written case studies of managers talking about their experiences of introducing action learning and the benefits that have been realised
In this section there are video and audio clips and written case studies of those introducing action learning to groups and supporting the process talking about their experiences of action learning
For more information or if you would like help in implementing action learning in your organisation please contact us at NQSWproject@skillsforcare.org.uk.
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