"The means is dialogue, the end is learning, the purpose is peace." ~ Founder Dr. Jane Vella
Traditional teaching or training is usually one-sided: the expert talks; the learner listens. But how much does the learner actually retain? Typically, not enough for the long-term. While it’s true that instructional methods have evolved to incorporate more discussion and participation amongst learners, it’s also true that it’s often done without consideration of how that activity is linked to what the learner had hoped to learn or what the trainer had hoped to teach.
What if you could experience training or teaching that genuinely inspires you – not just during the learning event, but in a way that creates lasting and profound changes in your knowledge, skills, and attitudes, years after the session ends? Training based on deep theory, and structured to be responsive and accountable to your needs? In other words, training that is designed to profoundly change your experiences.
Global Learning Partners uses Dialogue Education™ as the framework for exactly this type of experience. Whether you are an individual seeking a great learning opportunity or a training/teaching professional wanting to create amazing learning events, Dialogue Education will ensure that transformative, lasting learning takes place.
What sets Dialogue Education apart from other methods is the shift in focus to the learner and their learning. (See the chart that compares Dialogue Education to other teaching methods.) We recognize that when people have the power to be active decision-makers in their own learning, they are likely to experience real and lasting development. We do this by creating a framework that is uniquely tailored to each learner’s goals and needs (see the diagram, above). Our methods are based on theory, facilitated by teachers who are compassionate, creative, skilled, responsive, and attentive, in sessions that are both focused and fun. With Dialogue Education, the learning atmosphere is safe and respectful, a place where people are both challenged and supported to maximize learning. As a result, you’ll experience a higher, more organic retention of skills and knowledge for the long-term.
These principles of Dialogue Education draw on the work of Paulo Freire, Malcolm Knowles, and other acknowledged visionaries in the field of adult education. In expanding on these principles, Dr. Jane Vella has synthesized and codified the concepts into six practices that have enormous power to help you gain direct, measurable and effective results. In some places, people still refer to Dialogue Education as "The Vella Approach" in honor of its founder, Jane Vella.