Learning Events vs. Meetings, What’s the Difference?

At GLP we see “learning events” and “meetings” as distinct and unique gatherings. The principles and practices of a learning-centered approach apply to both, however, there are also differences that need to be considered.

The main difference:

• In learning events, we determine what learners want or need to learn that is new. As designers of these events, it is our responsibility to design a session to ensure this desired content is learned so there is the possibility of real change or impact as a result.
• In meetings, we determine what work participants want or need to accomplish/achieve together in the available time. It is our responsibility to design a session that does this so we can advance work or take action.

Here is the tricky bit… Meetings can have multiple purposes. They can be:

• to decide
• to work
• to offer input
• to review
• to plan
• to build a sense of team

As well, it is true that we often need to learn something in a meeting to be able to accomplish these things. For this reason, meetings can include the achievement: TO LEARN [a model, system, tool, policy, framework, process, etc.].

The criteria for including a learning component is simple. Ask yourself: Does the group need to learn something in order to:

• decide (we need to learn how our competitor does it)
• work (we need to learn a helpful framework)
• offer input (we need to learn a new feedback model)
• review (we need to learn three items to be especially attentive to)
• plan (we need to learn the 4-step process that will be used)
• build a sense of team (we need to know why this is needed at this time)

If the answer is Yes, then we may want to design a learning task (or tasks) within the meeting. The task(s) can follow a normal sequence for learning and include connections to previous knowledge or experience with the topic as well as an opportunity to apply the new knowledge and a next step “away” from the meeting.

Here is an example of a learning event within a GLP meeting to review a process for feedback.

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How do you decide if a meeting should include a learning component?

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Jeanette Romkema is GLP Senior Partner, Knowledge Broker, as well as Partnerships & Network Leader. Here are more GLP blogs by Jeanette.

Rachel Nicolosi is a GLP Partner and Communications Leader. Here are other GLP blogs by Rachel.

This blog originally published on August 30, 2021

Here are other GLP blogs you may be interested in:

• Trust Your Design
• Four Tips to Ease Your Virtual Meeting Stress
• Put Yourself in Someone Else’s Shoes – a technique
• Stand on a Line and Invite Some Truth Telling – a technique