ACTION LEARNING, ACTION RESEARCH AND REFLECTIVE PRACTICE BY PROFESSOR RON PASSFIELD

to explain action learning and how it underpins Work-Applied Learning to highlight the role of reflective practice in Work-Applied Learning to explore action research as a Work-Applied Learning process PURPOSE OF SESSION

Action learning within an organisational context involves learning in and through action while collaborating with others on personal and organisational improvement. It typically involves a learning group (often called a “learning set”) focused on a project or work endeavour. Action learning takes people outside their comfort zone, provides supportive challenge, builds relationships, raises personal and organisational awareness and builds confidence along with competence. ACTION LEARNING - DEFINITION (Passfield, 2001)

ACTION LEARNING CYCLE

ACTION LEARNING - NORMS offer advice, challenge, and support challenge assumptions reflect & develop questioning insight treat each others as peers admit what we do not know and what is not working well take a system perspective accept responsibility for own actions and own learning.

ACTION LEARNING - VALUES inclusiveness and respect for diversity honesty and integrity collaboration relationships are important

ACTION LEARNING – VISIBLE ROI Improved productivity Reduced costs Innovation Increased sales Quality service Knowledge creation and knowledge sharing

ACTION LEARNING – HIDDEN ROI Confidence to use pre-existing competencies An expanded view of what they are capable of Removal of erroneous assumptions Increased congruence between words and actions Improved understanding of organisational context Capacity for reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action Deep relationships that fuel positive, systemic outcomes Development of new competencies and confidence Enhanced capacity as a change agent.

REFLECTIVE PRACTICE– DEFINITION (Schön 1983: 68) The practitioner allows himself to experience surprise, puzzlement, or confusion in a situation which he finds uncertain or unique. He reflects on the phenomenon before him, and on the prior understandings which have been implicit in his behaviour. He carries out an experiment which serves to generate both a new understanding of the phenomenon and a change in the situation.

KOLB – EXPERIMENTAL LEARNING (1984)

SOME REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS What did I set out to do? What action did I take? What were the assumptions behind my actions? What desired outcomes did I achieve? What were the unintended consequences? How did I/they feel about what happened? How has this experience changed my understanding of the situation? What will I do differently next time?

REFLECTIVE PRACTICE - STANCES Reflection-on-action (Schön) – reflection after action Reflection-in-action (Schön) – reflection in the course of action Reflection about action (Zeichner, 1993) – reflection on the context (social, political, educational)

ACTION RESEARCH (Adapted from Bob Dick, AREOL Resources) Action research focuses simultaneously on action (creating change and improvement) and research (exploration and understanding). Change is created through participative processes designed to achieve the desired outcomes. Research is embedded in the situation and change processes. Action research is cyclical in nature with the constant interplay between action and reflection and between change and research.

ACTION RESEARCH (Passfield 2013)

CHARACTERISTICS OF ACTION RESEARCH Cyclical Participative Grounded Responsive Eclectic Qualitative & Quantitative Critically reflective Emergent

DATA COLLECTION AND RIGOUR Multiple cycles with embedded critical reflection Multiple respondents Multiple data sources Seeking disconfirming evidence

DATA COLLECTION METHODS Interviewing Focus Groups Convergent Interviewing Observation and recording Video and audio capture Survey Journaling Intervention/evaluation tools Software to capture reflections, insights, concepts Reports – verbal and written

AR CONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE Contribution to understanding - process and content Level of knowledge – concepts, principles, theory of action, models Model for action

REFLECTIVE PRACTICE AND ALAR Reflective practice develops individual professionalism Reflective practice enriches the reflection phase of action learning and action research Action learning and action research add the social dimension and rigour to the reflective process

FURTHER READING Kolb, David (1984) Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. Dick, Bob, Action Research and Evaluation Online (AREOL) (online course open to the public – can be accessed in own time or at scheduled times as a 14 week course with a global participant group). Passfield R. (2012) Action Research Strategies for Sustainable Development in Public Sector Organisations in Ortrun Zuber-Skerritt (Ed.), Action Research for Sustainable Development in a Turbulent World, Emerald Publishing Group, Bingley, UK, Schön, Donald (1983) Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action, Basic Books, New York. Shankar Sankaran, Bob Dick, Ron Passfield & Pam Swepson (Eds.) (2001), Effective Change Management Using Action Learning and Action Research: Concepts, Frameworks, Processes, Applications Southern Cross University Press, Lismore, Australia. Zeichner, K.M. (1993) Action Research: Personal Renewal and Social Reconstruction, Educational Action Research, 1,