Learn
We learn
In the Learning and Leadership Unit, we base our work on the premise that learning is the link between knowledge and action. We promote learning, about our sustainability work, our organization, and about the individuals within the Union, to ensure we are constantly improving our processes with this knowledge and choosing together the most effective pathways to achieving our sustainability goals.
We believe that organisations and individuals can best create and share knowledge through effective peer-learning mechanisms, both traditional and non-traditional. Because adults have a diversity of learning styles and preferences, learning contexts can range from the formal, classroom-style learning formats, to more informal means such as the unofficial, unscheduled, impromptu opportunities provided by generative conversations, networking, web-based communities of practice, and new media tools. Learning can take place in all of these formats and more, and is primarily driven by the learner's needs and wishes. This learner-centred approach heralds a new paradigm in capacity development.
Reflection becomes one of the key components in taking our knowledge and reintroducing it into our practice, effectively completing the learning cycle (see Kolb's learning cycle diagram on the right). We experiment with reflection processes and tools, from blogging to storytelling, to help people capture more of the richness of their learning process in an iterative way, rather than simply reporting at the end of a major project, or piece of work.
Our work in learning includes the following:
Exploring and exchanging learning approaches
We experiment with new approaches and available tools for formal and informal learning, such as Appreciative Inquiry, systems thinking, change management, and a variety of workplace productivity approaches.
We create space and experiential learning opportunities for continuous skills and knowledge updating in the sustainability community. We invite external perspectives to stimulate discourse around learning.
Examples include developing a learning framework process for the Allanblakia project (Our Work page).
Capturing learning
We use social software tools to capture and make available lessons and reflections on learning at the institutional and individual level.
Internally, we establish feedback mechanisms to identify learning from our interventions within our own organisation (including review workshops, forms and job aids) and use it for continual improvement of our organisation's management.
We keep a blog and wiki for capturing learning and reflective practice. Other wikis include one for a New Learning for Sustainability in the Arab Region workshop.
Understanding supply
We actively engage in learning communities to keep abreast of new learning approaches, tools and processes, including technology-enhanced learning tools.
Ask us for information on the communities we belong to.
Developing capacity
We build organisational capacity for the design and facilitation of interactive learning activities, both face-to-face and virtual.
We provide training in a set of competencies that support learning including systems thinking (to use your learning for most leverage in your system), and facilitative leadership.
