Action Learning in a Nutshell

Action learning is a type of learning that encourages and focuses on learning-by-doing, and evaluating the results afterwards. It’s a very effective way of learning, as it promotes many desired attributes, including critical thinking, collaboration and, in some people, bring out the leadership qualities within them. It’s a particularly good way of working, especially as it can result in solutions being found for problems once thought unsolvable, and provide you with more insight to the subject as a whole as you’re are forced to reflect on both the failures as well as the successes.

Imagine you’re dealing with a tough problem at work, something that’s giving you headaches. That’s where Action Learning comes in. It’s a cool method for tackling real-life problems. But it’s not a solo gig; you team up with a small group, usually 6-8 folks with different backgrounds or jobs. The idea is to bring fresh perspectives to the table.

In these groups, you talk, listen, and question each other like detectives. The goal? To dig deep into the problem, understand it better, and figure out what actions can actually solve it. It’s not just talking, though. Action Learning is all about doing. You commit to taking real actions to fix the problem, not just chatting about it.

Here’s where the leader, called the facilitator, steps in. They keep things on track, make sure everyone’s involved, and create a safe space for everyone to speak their minds.

A Look Back at Action Learning’s History:

Action Learning didn’t just pop out of nowhere; it has a pretty interesting origin story. Meet Reg Revans, a guy who was into both physics and education. During World War II, he saw how teamwork and learning while solving problems saved the day. This got him thinking.

After the war, he took his ideas to the coal mining industry. Imagine, working deep underground with all sorts of risks. Revans brought Action Learning to the miners to improve safety and get things done smarter. That’s when Action Learning was born.

Revans didn’t stop there. He spread the word and applied Action Learning in schools, businesses, and all sorts of places. He believed that when you learn by doing stuff and reflecting on it, you become a better you, and organizations become more awesome.

So, Action Learning started as a smart solution in coal mines and grew into a global way of tackling problems and making teams and organizations better. It’s become a big deal in leadership, problem-solving, and making things happen in today’s world.