Learning at the edge of chaos

, / by https://blog.itcilo.org/author/wambeke/

“Aid on the edge of chaos” , written by Ben Ramalingan  re-confirmed definitely the need of changing the paradigm when we think about aid in times of complexity. The book has inspired us to explore what ‘complexity adaptive thinking’ could mean in the context of learning and training.

Learning and knowledge sharing is not just about combining relevant subject matter expertise with appropriate learning methodologies and technologies. It’s more and more engaging in a process of transformational learning where new approaches with specific patterns, principles and flows bring inter-disciplinary perspectives together to address complex inter-related challenges.

booknew21

On October 6th and 7th a group of complexity experts will gather at the Centre to tackle this paradigm and come up with a roadmap that will guide us on how transformational learning can be embedded in the learning approach of the Centre, starting with a specific focus on gender and diversity issues.

While we are preparing this meeting we would be interested if you can share with us links, resources, insights on:

– Complexity adaptive thinking applied to learning and knowledge sharing
– Guidelines on how to integrate and use complex learning methods (future search, change lab, deep democracy, appreciative inquiry, social network analysis, …)

The focus group meeting will be prepared and documented on the following wiki “Transformational Learning” and we will integrate your contributions.

The Compass Cards are out there! Your direction for learning and training.

, , / by https://blog.itcilo.org/author/wambeke/

A few months ago we launched a crowd-funding campaign to design and develop the compass cards based on our on-line toolkit. The idea was to develop a mobile card set of participatory knowledge sharing methodologies and technologies. The campaign did not reach its financial goal but crowd-sourced on a variety of interesting  and alternative ideas to transform this concept into reality. We are proud to present these compass cards here on our blog.  Below you will find an overview presentation of what the cards are all about.

cards

In case you are interested to obtain a set of compass cards fill in the following form. You will be contacted shortly after with additional instructions:

[contact-form subject=’compass cards order’][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Website’ type=’url’/][contact-field label=’Address’ type=’textarea’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’How many compass card sets do you want? (50 EURO per box)’ type=’text’/][/contact-form]

Graphic Facilitation, what is it all about?

, / by https://blog.itcilo.org/author/wambeke/

Tomorrow 35 colleagues will participate in the Centre’s first graphic facilitation workshop. To know what it all is about and to give you a visual taste we interviewed the facilitator, Nancy White.
nancywhite

1. What is visual facilitation all about?

 Graphic or visual facilitation is the intentional use of visual practices, including drawing, using pre-made visual artifacts and other forms, by an individual or by members of the group to support the group’s process. Some of the intentions behind visual facilitation include:

•using visuals as sense-making tools
•using the negotiability of images to think together when words (written/spoken) may block us
•the value of people creating a shared artifact of their work/learning/experience • the power of “making my mark” as an individual in a group
•using as many of our senses as is useful in a particular context

graphicfac2

Read more

Mobile Learning for young entrepreneurs

, , / by https://blog.itcilo.org/author/a-messutiitcilo-org/

The mobile learning story is continuously evolving at ITC-ILO and we are now ready to share the Mobile Learning Toolkit which will be used in the framework of the “Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB)” training package, currently activated in the Youth Entrepreneurship Facility in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

The toolkit mainly considers low-end mobiles rather than smartphones and relies on text based communication such as SMS to support learning, as it has been more popular in previous African mobile projects. Inspired by the MyCoop Mobile Learning Toolkit launched in 2011, the SIYB toolkit includes custom-made scenarios of use, instructional videos, downloadable step-by-step guides and a list of additional resources.

With adding a mobile component, SIYB trainers will be able to choose out of 14 different mobile methodologies and among a list of free tools to be used in order to apply the methods..

toolkit screenshot2 (1)

Read more

Compass, a navigational instrument for innovating learning and knowledge sharing

, , / by https://blog.itcilo.org/author/wambeke/

Last week we launched our new and enhanced COMPASS Toolkit. The Compass toolkit uses the metaphor of a navigational instrument to guide you through a repository of 60 participatory learning, training and knowledge sharing methodologies. The Compass toolkit orients you in the way you design learning, training and knowledge sharing activities. It does so by identifying 7 learning and training objectives:

– Focus on learning
– Participate and network
– Access and build knowledge
– Assess, reflect evaluate
– Inspire and generate ideas
– Problem solve and plan
– Map ideas and relationships

Compass_Logo

By clicking on one of the learning and training objectives, you will be directed to more detailed sub-objectives. If you click on the sub-objective that matches your learning, training and knowledge sharing needs the best, you will find an overview of possible relevant methodologies. The Compass toolkit provides you with detailed instructional fiches of all the methodologies. You have the possibility to print or download the instructional fiches of the 60 methodologies so you can use and distribute them in your learning and training activities.

We aim the instructional fiches to be as practical as possible. Therefore we illustrated each methodology by a case study of the application of the methodology in the context of the Turin Centre. The instructional fiches further provide you with some additional tips and suggestions of how to adapt the methodology to your specific learning and training needs.
The Compass is brought to you with the support of the Innovation Fund project on “Enhancing the Knowledge Sharing Capacity of the Centre”. With this toolkit, we aim to support all units of the Centre to embed knowledge sharing in their training and capacity development approaches, as well as in their internal working processes.

Compass_Logo+slogen_High

Appreciative Inquiry

, / by https://blog.itcilo.org/author/wambeke/

In the facilitation of strategic retreats or meetings we use often the “appreciative inquiry” technique to facilitate positive change within an organisation/team. With this blogpost we would like to provide you with some background materials that can help you in designing and implementing your own ‘appreciative inquiries’.

Appreciative inquiry is an excellent method of organizational development that has the potential to engage every stakeholder, every colleague, every member of the organization when it has to deal with a period of change, renewal or improved performance. It is very suitable for strategic planning, project planning, problem solving, stimulating innovation, enforcing positive forces in an organisation, team building, monitoring and evaluation. Everything is based on the assumption that every organization has something that works well, and therefore can be amplified or strengthened. What do we want more? What is good here?

The following steps of the 4D model can be used to create positive change:

appreciativeinquiry

Read more

Setting up a coaching programme

, / by https://blog.itcilo.org/author/wambeke/

Almost two years ago our Center started to design and develop a coaching programme which aims to contribute to the transformation towards a knowledge based learning organization. After the initial pilot phase we thought it was useful to reflect back on our experience and interviewed Nat Clegg on the importance of coaching and the creation of a learning culture. 

Why is coaching important for a training institute as the ITC-ILO?

The ITC-ILO must be an organisation that has to be fluid and robust in today’s forming, reforming and demanding world arena to conclude good results within their teams and for others. With efficacy in mind, the only competitive advantage you have is your people, so investing in them and helping them be the best they can be gives your organisation an advantage.

With this in mind it is important that people who work and deliver for the Center have a point of contact with someone who can not only listen to their aspirations and tribulations but can help them contact their authentic self and in turn can discover how to further their external skills and approach with others.

The important factor here is that I believe people operate well when they function as a whole person, with clear intention and integrity.

coachinghand

Read more

Liberating Structures

, , / by https://blog.itcilo.org/author/wambeke/

From 12-13 March 2013,  colleagues from all units of the International Training Centre of the ILO came together to strategize on how to best “deliver as one” in responding to the latest challenges and opportunities in the world of decent work and sustainable development. Using the knowledge sharing methodologies we regularly apply in designing training activities for partners and constituents, we engaged in substantive discussions about future directions of the Centre and proposed bold new topics for training activities to stay ahead of the curve. Working with consultants from “Liberating Structures,” we also enjoyed the opportunity to update and refresh our repertoire of knowledge sharing methodologies. Watch the video to learn more.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/Rmj1Oez0mdg]

Haley Horan

Human centered learning design

, / by https://blog.itcilo.org/author/wambeke/

Organizations, institutions and businesses have applied human centered design to find innovative solutions to problems and challenges. Why not apply these principles and methods to the world of learning and training? The HCD toolkit, developed by IDEO might be a good starting point as it walks you through the entire human-centered design process that according to IDEO will support you in activities such as building listening skills, running workshops, and implementing ideas.

Read more

learning about scenario planning and thinking

, / by https://blog.itcilo.org/author/wambeke/

To learn about the future and to see what kind of patterns and trends will affect your strategy it is always useful to rely on scenario planning. A scenario is basically a story that describes a potential future. For learning professionals it can be a powerful method to learn about the possible driving forces that will affect our world so that we can incorporate them in our future learning strategies. The development of a scenario entails a collaborate process, the creation of a common language and specific tools that can bring people from different backgrounds together. Jisc Infonet puts it as following:

Scenarios provide alternative views of the future. They identify some significant events, main actors and their motivations, and they convey how the world functions. Building and using scenarios can help us explore what the future might look like and the likely changes of living in it.

At Online Educa last year DELTA participated in a learning scenario planning exercise with Hans De Zwart and Willem Manders. During this meeting we mapped out the (corporate) learning environment, the important actors and the driving forces which gave us a solid base to map out different scenarios. Click here for an overview of the used scenario methodology.


Read more