Understanding my own professional inquiry through work based learning theories.

While reading through reader 4 in particular the section on work based learning. My thoughts wavered to questioning its relevance in my day to day professional work outside of BAPP. I found my self  reflecting on my working day and questioning Is there ever a day where I don't learn from my work?  Frankly the answer is no. Each class I encounter throughout my day will help me to develop my skills as a dance teacher, adapting our methods and teaching approaches for each student is one that we teachers do each time a student does not understand an explanation or instruction we have given.

This made me realise the reason WBL is so effective for our profession. We are always changing, as is the art form we are gifting to our students. A regular degree would not allow us the freedom to enquire into those questions that are relevant or within that moment you are currently experiencing as a teacher. It gives us the freedom to further reflect and learn from what we are currently experiencing, is there any better way to develop than to learn and grow from your own experiences?

Whilst researching WBL theories I came across a quote from Stephen Billett. (Billett 2005) talks about one of the reason behind why I felt I needed to credit myself with a university degree. 

The kinds of occupational practise denied courses and certification are often low paid and characterised as being "low skill" and occupied by disadvantaged groups… Finding means to legitimately and authoritatively recognise skills acquired through work hold the prospect of providing just arrangements for these otherwise disadvantaged workers as well as those requiring recognition throughout their working life.

Although of course I would not say our work is low skilled far from it in fact. However, there is a population of people in the world that will not credit the qualifications and there for skills that I have. Whether this will change once I gain my degree is another issue nether the less WBL has opened doors for skilled workers to gain the recognition they deserve.

Double Loop Learning

Argyris and Schön (1978: 2) proposed a theory that will help teachers to change learnt behaviour. Firstly they devised that people follow particular patterns. These mind maps dictate how we will act in a situation, we will automatically follow these patterns without thought to any theories we understand. The theory behind single and double loop learning investigates how we can break this cycle to address the cause of the problem (double loop learning) rather than taking a quicker/easier problem solving approach (single loop learning). By taking a more critical reflective approach on a learning situation we can re-frame the way we will react. I find this an interesting theory. How many times do we stick to what we know? we react to a situation when a problem arises but if we took time to think and reflect on that problem would we arrive at a different outcome? Would it not be better to solve the underling issue and change the way we approach a situation than solving an immediate problem that has it occurred. I hope that this journey in inquiry helps me to develop my skills of double loop learning.

I found this video helped put they theory into perspective. using a real life scenario it helped me to understand how double loop learning can help us to gain a superior outcome to simply solving the problem at hand.

Interestingly I also found an article on Bible.org helpful when trying to clarify the meaning of single/double loop theory. Although I am not a religious person myself I found the explanations simple and helpful.

The Learning Organisation

Peter Senge developed the theory of learning organisation. Senge (2003) describes learning organisations as

…organizations where people continually expand their capacity to create the results they truly desire, where new and expansive patterns of thinking are nurtured, where collective aspiration is set free, and where people are continually learning to see the whole together.

Many of his thoughts and ideas I find relate to my day to day learning, I am fortunate to be surrounded by a great many talented teachers with there experience ranging through the different fields in our profession from ISTD examiners and committee members to experienced ex performers and choreographers. We all strive to continue to develop our skills and the staff room becomes a great source to help us achieve this. Working together, swapping techniques and ideas helps us to better ourselves and others. I would consider myself to be part of a great team. This has always been a great instrument in my self development and I feel it will be a useful asset when developing my inquiry. This did get me thinking about freelance teachers and those of you who work in schools with people outside of the theatrical world. Our staffroom discussions centre mainly around the business and our experiences of working in the industry, I would be interested to hear how working with others can help to develop your work and whether you use the social media to expand your learning.