This is a reflective Account of Practice paper that delves into the author's role as an Action Learning coach, emphasizing the crucial role of intuition in facilitating breakthroughs and creating an environment conducive to problem-solving. It narrates a transformative 2019 coaching session where the author used unconventional techniques to…

This case study measures the impact on elements of schools' professional environment after school leaders participated in eight action learning (AL) sessions over one summer. The guiding research question asks, What, if any, impact on a building level administrator's leadership practices result after their participation in an Action Learning…

Action Learning (AL) in higher education has been mainly used at the postgraduate level so far. In this article, we contribute to deepening the academic conversation about the adaptation of AL at the undergraduate level. Building upon our own personal experiences as teachers and insider researchers we analyse 53 learning diaries of undergraduate…

Insights into the learning environment are required especially when applying action learning commonly used in management development programmes (MDPs). The study reports on an emerging action learning conceptual framework that fosters an environment for individual transformative learning in an MDP. The purpose of this research was to make clear…

Scholars have examined Revans' problem-solving praxeology in many contexts but have not fully explored the concept in the case of physical co-location. Hence, we focussed on investigating Revans' conceptualisation in a co-located context by paying particular attention to the 'different forms of learning' that emerged from it. The research setting…

This paper explores the thinking and practice of 'action inquiry' an embedded learning practice that can help navigate complexity when practising change together. The paper uses examples from social contexts where there are concerns about community wellbeing and health care. These are drawn from collaborative or collective leadership development…

This paper gives an account of how Action Learning Sets (ALS) are used in two of The Rank Foundation investment streams to support the social action impact of charities and social enterprises. With the aid of two Case Studies, the paper illustrates how the ALS can help to connect, sustain and support the social action responses of the local…

Since the first descriptions of design research (DR), there have been calls to better define it to increase its rigour. Yet five uncertainties remain: (1) the processes for conducting DR, (2) how DR differs from other forms of research, (3) how DR differs from design, (4) the products of DR, and (5) why DR can answer certain research questions…

A secondary school in Singapore incorporated twenty-first century learning into their science curriculum through an inquiry-based Integrated Science module. This study examines Secondary 2 students' perceptions of twenty-first century learning through this module. Through pre- and post-study surveys of 227 students and focus group interviews with…

This paper explores the practice of action learning (AL) facilitation in supporting AL set members to address their 'messy' problems through a self-reflexive approach using the concept of 'living theory' [Whitehead, J., and J. McNiff. 2006. "Action Research Living Theory." London: Sage]. The facilitation practice is investigated through…

I advance a theoretically and empirically-grounded case for designing for and learning from failure, and instantiate it in a learning design called Productive Failure (PF). I describe the key mechanisms and the design principles of PF. The PF learning design comprises a generation and exploration phase followed by a consolidation and knowledge…

Parents in dysfunctional family situations and those in intact well-functioning families have distinct requirements for parental learning and parent education. For intact well-functioning families, a developmental-educational paradigm for parent education is more appropriate. Although school-based parent education is ideal for well-functioning…

Learners who lack knowledge often also lack the ability to assess their limited competence correctly. Due to the incorrect self-assessment, they are unlikely to apply strategies that would help them to acquire relevant knowledge. This effect is known as the double curse of incompetence. When students solve problems prior to being taught the…

This account of practice describes how a manufacturing company in the North of England transformed their approach to problem-solving and action through the use of a Critical Reflection Action Learning (CRAL) methodology. The company, who had been in business for over 25 years, experienced problems due to a diminishing customer base and substantial…

This paper applies an action research (AR) design and action learning (AL) approach to network capability development in an entrepreneurial context. Recent research suggests that networks are a viable strategy for the entrepreneurial firm to overcome the liabilities associated with newness and smallness. However, a gap emerges as few, if any,…