Keynote Speaker Professor Alan Felstead

Often the most powerful learning takes place through participation in everyday activities: by doing, we learn.

Such a truism – but often blithely ignored.

As such, I subscribe to Professor Alan Felstead’s* pioneering research work on the new frontiers of learning and work in times of crisis. This includes mapping and explaining patterns of skill development. He also looks at the changing quality and nature of work and explores the limits and opportunities for workplace learning.

His area of focus is spot-on. He investigates how work and learning are collaborative forces for good. The work environment has largely changed in the 20^th century. To succeed in this brave new world, we must be able to participate in a growing array of knowledge flows in order to rapidly refresh our knowledge stocks.

What is remarkable in his papers is his argument that the “learning as acquisition” and “learning as participation” metaphors nicely captures the importance of social relationships and mutual support in enhancing individual performance at work. The significance of good job design also helps to promote and facilitate learning at work.

 Felstead also champions the notion that learning is not something that only happens when we plan it; it is not restricted to the classroom. Nor is it a ‘one-off’ event that will, in isolation, transform an individual or workplace’s productivity.

Through the Working as Learning Framework (WALF), his view is that learning is a silver bullet to be fired when things are going badly in the workplace is passé .

To Felstead, learning is truly an integral part of the work process. The wider context of the productive systems and processes that shape the workplace as either an expansive or restrictive learning environment needs to be diligently considered.

The future is where it is at.  Good learning needs to be there as well.

So come on down to the symposium and hear them out and take away some key learning points. With those in hand, you can continue to take meaningful action to address the needs in your organization or institution.

Drop us a comment if you have thoughts to share on the above.