The power of the guide by the side…

This LinkedIn post from Joe Fredericks from PCA really connected with me…

It spoke to so many aspects of how I think about how people learn and develop in their roles…

I recently met Joe and his team when I attended a launch event for a new learning concept that PCA had developed called ‘The Converstion’. It is a Netflix style docu-drama that doubles as an immersive learning experience.

I found it really compelling and could see so much utility across many industries. It prompted me to have a follow up conversation with Joe and I discovered that we shared a deep passion for supporting organisations to move beyond dull, compliance led, content driven, learning that seems to be the mainstay of learning provision in so many areas of life.

Anyway…back to ‘Rigel’…

This story about a medical professional being supported and supervised by a more experienced colleague to provide care is such a poignant example of the power of experiential learning…

It is also a reminder of how we can be more imaginative in defining where people’s strengths are…

In Rigel’s case he is someone who has loads of strengths when it comes to empathy, emotional intelligence, care, commitment, humanity…

What he lacks is some knowledge and skill that will come with time…

And with the expert guidance of Nurse Rachel…

The apprentice and the master…’the guide by the side’.

A powerful model for learning and becoming skilful used by craftspeople and indigenous populations over centuries…

But, too often this ‘human centred’ learning model is stripped away to be replaced by cheaper and quicker alternatives.

One that leaves the learner unsupported and those in their care vulnerable.

Don’t get me wrong…I’m not saying that technology and modern solutions don’t have a place in learning…I think they are powerful forces for good…

But they need to ‘augment’ the human to human interaction, not replace it.

My quest is to support learning designers and system builders (and their leaders) to establish better and more impactful learning experiences for practitioners…experiences that help them feel supported and protect them from causing harm inadvertently!

One way I do this is by shining a light on innovators and changemakers in this field and connecting them with trailblazers who are looking to enhance their learning ecosystem.

Bravo Joe Fredericks and PCA - your philosophy and ideas are exactly where the learning world needs to go!