Wow! Safe learning environments really was a hot topic for a few days
there. Is any body still interested?
A special thanks to Malcolm Burson for his summary (LO12559) - it really
helped me to get my head round the issues being discussed.
Thanks also to Brock Vodden(LO12554) - The story of the manager and
"Harry's 'Dumb Idea'" was a beautiful example of the possible effects of a
'non-safe' environment.
I have to say that I am still struggling with this idea that learning has
to be painful. Why? I am perfectly prepared to understand that pain is
necessary for some people - I get my pain on the Rugby field - and at the
same time I am worried by a generalisation of this. If we assume that
learning through pain applies to everybody just imagine how many people we
could be turning off - I never expect anybody else to want to play Rugby -
I let them make their own choice.
I was particularly distressed by the comparison of Safe Learning and
Vision Learning, Andrew Wong LO12546. The items listed as 'Safe Learning'
were not safe and were not learning. For example, Safe Learning is trying
to stop the robber and getting hit - Unsafe Learning is getting hit then
being told by everyone how stupid you were. Also, Vision Learning sounds
great - I guess it's what I do (and call Safe Learning!) for many people
however I suspect that it is currently out of their reach - since they
have never been encouraged to learn in a 'Safe' environment.
Through learning in a safe environment the comedian is able to learn how
to deal with the 'Unsafe'. Without that break I suspect that most people
would give up.
A little quote (I have forgotten the source) that I like is 'Imagine what
you could do if you could not fail'. I have developed this for my
personal use to read 'Imagine what I can do now I know I cannot fail'. I
have effectively eliminated risk for myself by reframing it. Any outcome
is positive because I have learnt through it. In my view the idea that
learning involves pain is one of the biggest hindrances to the development
of Learning Organisations.
In answer to the "What is this Vision Process?" I propose that it is an
ability to recognise the benefits of learning and change as a result of
having learnt in a safe environment.
Yours
Matthew
--Matthew Holmes <HOLMES_M@WMGMAIL.wmg.warwick.ac.uk>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>