Learning in Organizations

Chapter 6: 186-201Organizational Behavior 261

Gabrielle Durepos

Reminders for Today

• Attendance

• We are covering the second part of the learning chapter first

• Written Group projects are due November 22nd

– This is in 2 weeks

Outline

• Towards an understanding of learning

• Adult Learning Theories– Andragogy

– Self-directed learning

– Transformational learning

• Learning theories in practice– Kolb’s learning cycle

• Conclusions

Towards an understanding of

Learning

• A relatively permanent change in behavior or human capabilities that results from possessing new:

– knowledge

– practice

– experience

Adult Learning Theories:

Andragogy 1/4

• Refers to the art and science of helping adults learn

• Knowledge is actively constructed by the learner

• Learning is understood as:– the construction of meaning through experience

• Adult learning theories– Learning based MORE on needs of learner– Takes MORE into account the context of learning– Theories OFTEN assume learning as self-directed

Adult Learning Theories:

Andragogy 2/4

• According to Knowles adult learners are:– Independent and self-directing– Mature and experienced– Motivated by what they need to know– Problem centered– Intrinsically motivated

Adult Learning Theories:

Pedagogy and Andragogy 3/4

• Pedagogy– Helping children learn– Learner is dependent– Learner’s experience is

more standard– Learners learn what

curriculum dictate – Learners see education

as acquiring subject matter

• Andragogy– Helping adults learn– Learner moves from

dependency on teacher to self directness

– Experience of learning is important, more participative

– Learner targets what they need to know

– Learners see learning as increasing their personal competence

** According to Knowles (Jarvis, 1987)

Adult Learning Theories:

Andragogy 4/4

• Criticisms:

– No discussion of the impact of social structures on learning • Social

• Political

• Cultural

– Is the learner unaffected by these socio-political factors?

– How do socio-political factors impact or restrict the adult learner?

Adult Learning Theories:

Self-Directed Learning 1/4

• Learning process focuses / based on:– Self-development

– Self-discovery

– Human potential for growth

– Acquisition of practical and pragmatic knowledge

• Learner is encouraged to assume responsibility

and move towards a state of self-directedness– Occurs incrementally

– Does not occur simultaneously in all aspects of one’s life

Adult Learning Theories:

Self-Directed Learning 2/4

• Full state of self directedness occurs when the learner engages in:– Critical thinking / reflection– Questioning commonly held assumptions about their lived in

world– Exploring alternative perspectives and meaning systems

• A facilitator as opposed to a teacher– Specifies learning objectives– Facilitates learning– Negotiates content of what is learned– Empowers learners– Helps develop plans for personal growth

Adult Learning Theories: Self-Directed Learning & the learning organization 3/4

• Team based learning where:– Individuals are empowered to act– Are critical and self reflective– Monitor their own and others actions – Continuously enact cues from their environment – Change based on what is in the best interest of the organization– Very organic, continuous, self-directed

• Criticism – Learning in line with adopting capitalist ideals? – Another managerial tool to increase the bottom line?

Adult Learning Theories: Self-Directed Learning & the learning organization 4/4

Maple Leaf Foods – a “Learning Organization”

• Maple Leaf and Western University partnership– HR emails list of courses available– Courses are offered to enable employees further develop work

skills– Employees qualify if:

• Based on performance (top 50% of organization)

• Employees express interest

• Long waiting list

– Courses from 4 days to 1 week– Topics of course range from Leadership to …

Adult Learning Theories:

Transformational Learning 1/3

• Refers to a learning process where:– Learners not only enact a stable change of behavior– Learner is SHAPED by the learning process– Learner is profoundly changed by the learning experience

• Process can be:– Sudden or incremental– Formal (university), non-formal (workshop), informal (everyday – at work) or

incidental (tacit)

• A process which is liberating:– Learner becomes aware of how previously held assumptions and

perspectives can act to constrain the ability to see otherwise– Learner is opened to other ways of seeing

• Goal of transformational learning:– Learner gains a sense of agency over their life

Adult Learning Theories:

Transformational Learning 2/3

Three Core Beliefs:

1. Philosophical assumptions about the nature of human beings– Learner gains a sense of agency over their life

2. Beliefs about knowledge– Knowledge as a social construction– Knowledge as subjective and actively constructed by individuals

3. Ideas about the relationship between the individual and society– Individuals are autonomous individuals who learn and enact change

at a societal level

Adult Learning Theories:

Transformational Learning 3/3

• Criticisms:

– Assumption that all have access to “shaping” learning experiences

– Theory neglects how issues of:• Gender• Class• Race• Social context affect the learning process and the learner?

Learning Theories in Practice 1/2

• Kolb’s learning cycle

– Not an alternative theory but a holistic approach

– Incorporates cognitive, behavioral, perception and adult learning theories

– No beginning or end

REFLECTIVE OBSERVATION

Actively thinking about what Happened and its meaning

ACTIVE EXPERIMENTATION

Trying out what was learned in Other settings

CONCRETE EXPERIENCE

Planned or actual event

ABSTRACT CONCEPTUALIZATION

What was learned?Implications for future?

Learning Theories in Practice 2/2

• Kolb’s model emphasizes:

– Experience is central to learning

– Individual needs and goals are important

– That learning occurs in various stages

– Learning is active, passive, concrete, abstract

Conclusions• Vast array of learning theories

• Today we looked at theories that view:– Learning occurring due to experiences– Knowledge as acquired through relationships with others– Learning as more organic

• Next class we will look at traditional leaning theories:– Brain as a container of knowledge– Knowledge as easily codified and transferred– Learning theories modeled on how machines operate

• Which one would you use to explain how you learn?

• Are certain learning theories superior to others?