Further reflection on the Tavistock experience – As said, it is a very uncommon learning experience. To the extreme, for some parts, I could not help comment them as bad learning design. On the surface of it, there were things looking like ‘shallow debrief’, ‘loose instruction’, etc. On the other hand, I questioned myself on ‘What am I missing?’. In sharing these thoughts with others, I was challenged with a question ‘So, what does good learning design mean to you?’
I think this is a good question to ponder on. Given how unusual the Tavistock experience is, the question can really uncover and challenge my assumption on learning design. I think there are a few elements which a good learning experience should consist of (not meant to be a prescriptive answer to good learning design).
A good design should create an environment which generates more learning around the topic as agreed with the learners than environments otherwise experienced by the learners. What such intended environment should look like thus depends on what the topic is. By environment, it includes the process, facilitators, the physical set up, the material, the learners mix, etc.
In order to achieve the above, a good design should take into account the Adult Learning Principles. To me, the key ones are WIIFM, variety in learning styles, repetition, a balance of realness and unfamiliarity, learning transfer, effective use of pre and post experience.
In particular, a good design should enhance learning transfer as much as possible so long as it does not crowd out learners’ own responsibility and compromise learning depending on the nature of the intended learning topic. To be more specific on experiential learning, a good design should provide space for learners to make sense out of the experience individually and collectively with fellow learners.
In that sense, my Tavistock definitely create an unique environment to learn about group relations which the participants would not experience otherwise. In particular, it is very successful to create the learners’ mix – the size, the willingness to learn and the variety. Re the Adult Learning Principles, being an open program, the Tavistock conference has limitation on repetition and ‘pre & post’. I think it did well on variety in learning styles and realness. Yet, i think there is missed opportunity in WIIFM and learning transfer.
For those who have been to Tavistock experience, what good learning design means to you and what do you think of Tavistock from the learning design perspective?
