Developing an Innovative Developing an Innovative Community of LearnersCommunity of Learners

Presentation by Presentation by

Michael E. Jones, PhDMichael E. Jones, PhD

21 May 201021 May 2010

OOrganizations where people continually expand their rganizations where people continually expand their capacity to create the results they truly desire, where capacity to create the results they truly desire, where

new and expansive patterns are nurtured, where new and expansive patterns are nurtured, where collective aspiration is set free and where people are collective aspiration is set free and where people are

continually learning together. – continually learning together. – Peter SengePeter Senge

Learning organization characteristics:Learning organization characteristics:

Adapt to the external environmentAdapt to the external environment

Continually enhances capability to change and adaptContinually enhances capability to change and adapt

Develop individual and collective learningDevelop individual and collective learning

Use learning to achieve better resultsUse learning to achieve better results

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The Essential Learning OrganizationThe Essential Learning Organization

Top oTop organizations seem to organize around people and rganizations seem to organize around people and honor these needs: feeling of control, something to honor these needs: feeling of control, something to

believe in, challenge, lifelong learning, recognition. – believe in, challenge, lifelong learning, recognition. – Robert WatermanRobert Waterman

4 Levels of learning in an organization:4 Levels of learning in an organization:

Facts, processes, and procedures [minor change]Facts, processes, and procedures [minor change]

Transferable job skills [old responses need change]Transferable job skills [old responses need change]

Dynamic situations needing development Dynamic situations needing development [experimentation and lessons from success and failure][experimentation and lessons from success and failure]

Learning to Learn [designing the future as opposed to Learning to Learn [designing the future as opposed to adapting]adapting]

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Learning & Innovative Learning & Innovative OrganizationsOrganizations

The learning capability is in itself a competitive advantage: it The learning capability is in itself a competitive advantage: it brings superior value, it’s hard to imitate, and it has built-in brings superior value, it’s hard to imitate, and it has built-in flexibility. In fact, Arie De Geus argues that learning is the flexibility. In fact, Arie De Geus argues that learning is the

only source of sustainable competitive advantage. – only source of sustainable competitive advantage. – Marcia Marcia L. Conner and James G. ClawsonL. Conner and James G. Clawson

An organization that nurtures a learning culture exhibits An organization that nurtures a learning culture exhibits similar characteristics associated with innovation:similar characteristics associated with innovation: Future, external orientation [students on plan teams]Future, external orientation [students on plan teams] Free exchange and flow of information [extensive Free exchange and flow of information [extensive

network]network] Commitment to learning and professional developmentCommitment to learning and professional development Valuing peopleValuing people Climate of openness and trustClimate of openness and trust Learn from experience [successes and failures]Learn from experience [successes and failures]

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Learning CultureLearning Culture

David Bohm pointed out, that dialogue means "the flow of David Bohm pointed out, that dialogue means "the flow of meaning between or among us". But meaning can only flow meaning between or among us". But meaning can only flow

between us when we listen and respond to each other. between us when we listen and respond to each other. Meaning will flow towards a state of coherence as long as it Meaning will flow towards a state of coherence as long as it

is not being blocked anywhere. – is not being blocked anywhere. – William van den HeuvelWilliam van den Heuvel

University evaluationsUniversity evaluations Administrators – entrenched or supportive of change?Administrators – entrenched or supportive of change? Assess curriculums – objectives match outcomes?Assess curriculums – objectives match outcomes? Tests/exams part of learning process?Tests/exams part of learning process? Primary teaching skill = motivation to be creativePrimary teaching skill = motivation to be creative

Innovation center for all staffInnovation center for all staff Weekly meetings [dialogue, innovation, learning]Weekly meetings [dialogue, innovation, learning] Encourage informal & formal learning [pro. development]Encourage informal & formal learning [pro. development] Days off-campus to outside interests [share outcomes]Days off-campus to outside interests [share outcomes] Sharing experience [learning from successes and failures]Sharing experience [learning from successes and failures]

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Lifelong Learning SystemsLifelong Learning Systems

Big Dog and Little Dog’s Performance Juxtaposition, (2009). Big Dog and Little Dog’s Performance Juxtaposition, (2009). Bloom’s Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning Domains: The Three Types of LearningTaxonomy of Learning Domains: The Three Types of Learning. Found . Found on the World Wide Web on November 23, 2009 at: on the World Wide Web on November 23, 2009 at: http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/bloom.html

Learning Rx, (2010). Learning Rx, (2010). Some Types of Learning DisabilitiesSome Types of Learning Disabilities. Found on . Found on the World Wide Web on June 7, 2009 at: the World Wide Web on June 7, 2009 at: http://www.learningrx.com/some-types-of-learning-disabilities.htm.http://www.learningrx.com/some-types-of-learning-disabilities.htm.

Skyrme, D. & Associates, (2008). Skyrme, D. & Associates, (2008). The Learning OrganizationThe Learning Organization. Found on . Found on the World Wide Web on May 15, 2010 at: the World Wide Web on May 15, 2010 at: http://www.skyrme.com/insights/3lrnorg.htm.http://www.skyrme.com/insights/3lrnorg.htm.

Smith, M., , (2001). Smith, M., , (2001). Peter Senge and the Learning OrganizationPeter Senge and the Learning Organization. Found . Found on the infed website on September 3, 2003 at: on the infed website on September 3, 2003 at: http://www.infed.org/thinkers/senge.htm.http://www.infed.org/thinkers/senge.htm.

University Washington, (2010). University Washington, (2010). Types of LearningTypes of Learning. Found on the World . Found on the World Wide WebWide Web on 13 May, 2010 at: on 13 May, 2010 at: http://www.washington.edu/doit/TeamN/types.htmlhttp://www.washington.edu/doit/TeamN/types.html

van den Heuvel, W. (2007). van den Heuvel, W. (2007). The Flow of MeaningThe Flow of Meaning. Found on the World . Found on the World Wide Web on February 19, 2008 at: Wide Web on February 19, 2008 at: http://www.david-bohm.net/dialogue/flow_of_meaning.html.http://www.david-bohm.net/dialogue/flow_of_meaning.html.

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ReferencesReferences