There were many challenges throughout my course. Electricity was intermittent. English, the language of communication, had varying levels of understanding among participants. But the biggest challenge was the cultural shift to a dialogue approach to learning; a big...
Digital Learning in a Community of Practice (Part V of V)
Silence. Total silence. It was after one of the highlights for me of the Digital Education Masters program through The University of Edinburgh. Two world experts in their field had been discussing their topic together in a Skype class, with the rest of us listening in...
Turning Lemons into Lemonade
I could have titled this blog post “The Travelling Consultant’s Nightmare” but I’ve opted for “Turning Lemons into Lemonade.” This is a story of turning a bad story into a good one! When you were a child, did you ever hear the riddle: What’s the most important thing...
Tips for Successful Community Engagement for Social Transformation, in Illiterate Communities
Social change is a complex process and does not follow linear steps or procedures. And, it is not usually fast. Recently, I met some community members in rural areas of Ethiopia where many international and local NGOs have worked for a long time. I asked the community...
The Art of Co-Facilitating
Learning events that are co-facilitated can pose unique challenges, but the payoff is worth it. Two (or more) facilitators, when they work well together, can bring different styles, offer varied perspectives, and model teamwork.
School of the 80s: Learning from Leisure, Experience, and Vulnerability
I’ve been in school, one way or the other, on both sides of the desk for the past eighty years. I have never been in a school where my learning was so delightful, my appetite for it so voracious, my joy in it so deep – as this “School of the 80s.” As I tried to...
Training Wheels for Trainers
“Imitation is not just the sincerest form of flattery - it's the sincerest form of learning.” -George Bernard Shaw Prakesh handed a worksheet to each trio of participants. Then he directed us all to the poster hanging on the wall behind him, which his teammate had...
From Exercises to Real Work: Revolutionizing Radio Broadcaster Training
Farm Radio International (FRI) teaches broadcasters across Africa how to produce high quality, entertaining, relevant radio programs that will improve results for rural farmers. In-station training is a fundamental part of our work with broadcasters, but we identified...
Four Questions to Transform Your Meetings
It just appeared in your calendar – the mysterious 1.5-hour meeting. You are one of eight invitees. The attached agenda has four topics you’ve heard something about around the office. You click “accept” and quietly say goodbye to 90 minutes.
A Structure for Effective Check-Ins*
While facilitating a day-long or week-long learning event, setting aside some time for a “check-in” can give participants the pause they need to process and prepare for what’s next. It allows them to reflect, re-energize, and reconnect before jumping back into a...
In Memory of Karen Ridout
Karen Ridout, Senior Partner and Owner at Global Learning Partners, Inc. passed away on February 1, 2018. Additional information regarding the funeral and obituary will be posted here when it is available. Please feel free to leave any comments for the GLP community...
Technology Tools to Support Online Learning
According to Clark (2012), there has been “more pedagogic change in the last 10 years than the last 1000 years and it is all driven by technology innovations.” The online learning space continues to grow in numbers, content, technological advancements and...