The Action Learning Journey
Kate Cocozza
Lead Nurse – PracticeDevelopment
NHSGGC
Learning Outcomes
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Recap on the theory of adult
learning
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What is action learning
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What is an action learning set
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The roles of the set members
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What we hope to achieve
through action learning
Adult Learning
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Adults learn best when they are
involved in their own learning
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Adults who voluntarily choose to
learn – learn more readily
Action Learning is
Based on the premise that:
“There can be no learning without
action and no (sober and deliberate)
action without learning” Revans
Origins Of Action Learning
Developed by Reg Revans
Designed to enable individuals to :
 learn from experience
 share that experience with others
 have colleagues criticise and advise
 take advice and implement it
 review actions taken and lessons
learned
Action Learning Principles
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Support and Challenge
Listening
Reflection
Asking Questions (not giving
advice)
Feedback – give and receive
Action Learning/
Traditional Learning
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Historic cases
Individual orientation
Learning about others
Programmed knowledge
Planning
Past orientated
Low risk
Passive
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Current real cases
Group based learning
Learning about self &
others
Questions +
Programmed
knowledge
Present and future
orientated
Higher risk
Active
What does it mean to be involved in
action learning?
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Person joins Action Learning voluntarily
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Subscribe to the ground rules - timing,
format, confidentiality, acceptable
behaviour
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Requires commitment to :
self awareness
to the set and its members
to action
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Each person commits to bringing an issue
they own and want to act on and learn from
Learning on 3 Levels
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About the issue which is being
tackled
About what is being learned –
oneself
About the process of learning
itself ie. learning to learn
The Set
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Equal amount of time
Listen/encourage
Do not interrupt
Empathise
Ask questions
Respect other individuals
Presenter
You think of a task/issue that you
face at work. Discuss it with the
group. Be brief but specific.
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What am I trying to do?
What is stopping me?
What can I do about it?
Who knows what I’m trying to do
Who cares?
Who can help?
Enabler
Helps the presenter with their issue.
The object is to help them define or
redefine the problem or issue and their
relationship in it so that they can take
steps towards solving it. Use open
questions.
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How does that make you feel
What do you think would happen if
Do you think that
How would you know that
What could you do
How can you
Things To Avoid In An Action
Learning Set
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Do not impose your values,
opinions or views
Don’t give advice
Don’t be judgemental
Don’t criticise or trivialise what
the person is presenting
Action Learning Allows
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Learning from experience
Share experiences
Have colleagues challenge or
support
Take the challenge and
implement it
Review with colleagues the
action taken and the lessons
that are learned