Action Learning Facilitator Training Programme

Action Learning has made powerful contributions to personal, workforce and organisational development in a wide range of public, private and third sector contexts. Building a network of action learning sets within or across organisations can provide a cost-effective process for developing staff and supporting change as well as developing a range of vital generic skills for team working, supervision, management and leadership. It has strong advocates and enthusiastic practitioners but it is promoted in a variety of forms that can be confusing.

The University of Chester's Action Learning Facilitator Training Programme, designed in conjunction with North West Employers, is built around a short series of workshops and linked practice (a two day event followed 3 months later by a third day) that provide underpinning knowledge and skills development to enable participants to become confident and competent facilitators of Action Learning Sets. It has strong advocates and enthusiastic practitioners but it is promoted in a variety of forms that can be confusing. Sometimes it is also over-promoted as a multi-purpose tool or technique to use in response to any challenge.

Programme aims and content:
The aims of the programme are to support delegates and their organisations in developing, through training in the facilitation of Action Learning:

• Increased capacity for securing effective change and problem solving within and between organisations
• Improved capabilities in areas such as leadership, supervision, motivation, performance and quality management, relationship development and communication
• High levels of transfer of learning back to the workplace supporting organisational and cultural change
• Increased capacity to engage in further learning and a spur to organisational development

Workshops include sessions that provide both underpinning knowledge about Action Learning within work-based contexts and actual practice in Action Learning facilitation with feedback and analysis from the tutor. The two are interwoven to develop critical awareness, understanding and effective practice.

Programme participants are encouraged to create and facilitate their own Action Learning sets outside the course after the initial workshop sessions and to feedback and learn from their experiences with the other participants, especially at the final workshop session.

The target audience for the programme is middle or senior level managers and councillors who are involved and interested in workforce and organisational development. HR managers may find the programme of particular interest too.

Programme Outline:

Pre-course: We will provide short briefing material in advance to ensure that potential participants are aware of the course aims, expectations and content and each delegate will be asked to complete a short form to map their prior relevant experience and interests. An ALSF Handbook will be provided on day 1 with copies of appropriate supplementary resources at each subsequent session.

Training Day 1: Introduction to Facilitating Action Learning Sets: Principles, people and practice - including the foundations and appropriate use of ALS, ground rules, roles of set members and facilitation skills - all embedded in a structured opportunity to experience a working ALS.

Training Day 2: Starting up your own Action Learning Set: Setting up and facilitating your own set - more intensive experience of working with an ALS; survival skills for facilitators; practical guidance on setting up your own Set; and using ALS fit for purpose in different contexts.

Transition: A critical transition period of three months is provided to allow delegates time to practice facilitation with their own ALS that they will recruit and organise in their own/work time. Participants will be encouraged to maintain a learning log of their practice and reflections on experience to bring to the final day. During this transition period the tutor will send by e-mail two short briefings and offer feedback in response to issues raised by delegates as they set up and run their ALS.

Training Day 3: Action Learning Facilitators' Clinic and Gym: Next steps in facilitation - sharing and reviewing experience of starting and facilitating sets; building and embedding skills using the University of Chester ALSF Skills Assessment Schedule; and developing sustainable ALS, including preparing sets for self-facilitation.

Post-course: Delegates will be asked to review the programme and their achievements. They will be signposted to further development and networking opportunities with North West Employers and/or University of Chester to encourage them to sustain their Set and facilitation skills.

The programme will be directed and led by David Cracknell, Professor in Education from the Faculty of Education and Children's Services at the University of Chester who has extensive experience of facilitating Action Learning Sets and training facilitators.

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