The Power of Action Learning for Teachers

What Is Action Learning?

Action learning is a form of professional development which seeks to engage teachers and school leaders in tackling real-world problems through reflective, collaborative, and experiential means.

An action learning group will typically consist of a small number of professionals who meet together to discuss and research live issues that they are facing. Rather than looking to an expert for an off-the-shelf solution, participants take responsibility for sharing experiences, evaluating options, designing potential solutions, and testing their effectiveness. Action learning promotes professional development by encouraging participants to critically reflect on their own professional practices.

Despite being successfully applied in business and other public sector settings, action learning has been little used in schools. However, a recent pilot scheme among teachers in Slough, England, demonstrated its potential to be a valuable form of professional learning.

Action learning should not be confused with the similar-sounding concept of action research. While overlapping with it somewhat, action learning prioritizes peer-to-peer learning around professional practice, whereas action research is a more formalized method of investigating a professional problem.

The value of action learning can also be understood in terms of the professional development insight provided by Sir Tim Brighouse in his account of the Persian Hyacinth and the Loaf. A good education system requires more than the functional, minimalist provision of skills and techniques. Education professionals need to be inspired, challenged, and nurtured to bring a broader range of competencies and qualities into teaching and school leadership.

Professional development is not just about functional skills. Educators need opportunities to think creatively, critically, and collaboratively to sustain their enthusiasm for the job. Action learning can be a valuable tool for supporting broader professionalism and reflective practice. By providing a platform for peer-to-peer support and knowledge exchange, as well as being intrinsically enriching to participants, it has the potential to be a powerful motivator for educators.