Accelerated Learning: a Blended Action Learning

Excellence through Culture, Talent, and Change

Accelerated LearningBlended Action Learning

by Dr. Hora Tjitra & Daisy Zheng & Zhao DanHangzhou, November 2008

Excellence through Culture, Talent and Change

Accelerated Learning_v1.0/2008-11 2

• Tjitra & associates is a management consultancy founded by Dr. Tjitra with offices in Hangzhou and Hong Kong. Our work focuses on the CULTURE, TALENT and CHANGE.

• In the last twelve years, Dr. Tjitra and his team have collected International project experiences at the global, regional and national level in the US, Europe and Asia with senior leaders from over forty countries.

• A team of multilingual psychologist are dedicated to strive for excellence and provide tailor-made service solutions. We devote ourselves in ensuring sustainable business results by understanding the exact needs and situation of our clients.


Accelerated Learning_v1.0/2008-11

Agenda

1 Organizational Learning & Action Learning 4

2 Project Best Practice 8

3 About Us 16

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Organizational Learning & Action Learning



Organizational Learning

Individual Learning ⎨⎩⎧Organizational Learning

Interaction among individuals

The process of acquiring knowledge, attitudes, or skills from study, instruction, or experience. ( Miller &Findlay 1996)

Learning

A learning organization actively creates, captures, transfers, and mobilizes knowledge to enable it to adapt to a changing environment.

OrganizationalLearning



Action Learning• Action learning is a method to generate learning from human interaction occurring as learners engage together in

real-time work problems. (Reg Revans, 1945)• Action learning is a well-proven individual, collective and organizational development philosophy. (Peter Smith,

Judy O'Neil,2003).• In action learning:

- programmed instruction is given- sponsors sanction a real live project- the participants apply their prior and new knowledge to the project- learn by taking time to reflect with their colleagues- facilitators help them make sense of their experiences in light of relevant theory

Most action learning theorists consider the later to be the component that produces the most behavioral change.

L = P + Q

Programmed instruction Spontaneous questioning

Material already formulated, digested, and presented typically through coursework

Apposite questioning, investigation, and experimentation



In our literature review, we found some key studies about Chinese learner.

Key Characteristics of Chinese Learner were Found in Empirical Studies

Key words Literatures

Rote learning/ Repetition Yee (1989), Martinsons & Martinsons (1996), Biggs (1994), Dahlin & Watkins (2000)

Passive learning/Lack of participation in classroom activities

Chow (1995), Scollon and Scollon (1994), Chan (1999), Biggs (1994)

Chinese-style group work Jin & Cortazzi (1998), Biggs (1994), Chan & Watkins (1994), Tang (1996)

Extrinsic motivation Watkins & Biggs (1996), Salili (1996)

Exam oriented Gao & Watkins (2000)

Teacher/trainer-centered Kirkbrede & Tang (1992), Biggs (1998)

Authority relationship between teachers and students Ginsberg (1992), Chan (1999), Pratt (1999)



Project Best Practice

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OBJECTIVEExploring a training procedure which aims at developing students’ active learning with multiple channels.

BACKGROUNDIn order to accelerate young Chinese academicians’ learning process and prepare them to work more effectively in international working environment, an acceleration development project was designed, executed and evaluated:- Action learning task simulation - Building a website providing useful information for foreigners in

China (Group work)- Task relevant skills need to be trained - Speed reading, time management, teamwork, effective

communication, conflict management, software learning, etc.- Participant - Young academicians from one of the top universities in China

EXPECTED RESULT- Helping learners to find out effective learning methods, media, and styles, which facilitates learning efficiency

- Increasing learners’ ability of “Learning by Doing”, which bridges knowledge to application effectively

- Exploring practical product for developing learning organization employees successfully

- Selecting 4 young researchers out of 20 candidates to become the team member

Induction Training Program for Potential Academician

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Participants and Selection Process

Final Evaluation

Accelerated Learning

SelectionRecruitment

60 20 8 4

Participants Screening Process (candidates number)

InterviewSelf-introduction with slides and answering questions

Group DiscussionGroup discussion about a topic, make a final conclusion

Online ApplicationApplicants should fill out an online application web page

MarketingIntroduce the team and the ongoing and closed projects

TrainingTraining include self development, academic knowledge, soft skills

PracticePractice the obtained knowledge by doing the real tasks

AssessmentAssess the performance of the 4-month training and the action project

Individual talkIndividual talk with supervisor for learning balance and future plan



Structure and Characteristic of Accelerated Learning

Knowledge utilizationAction Learning

• A real “business” challenge is used as the content.

• Participants work with others, in teams, and learn from each other.

• Put the acquired knowledge into practice in the suitable way.

Knowledge acquisition Classroom Learning

• Participants learn from trainers by attending lectures.

• Group discussion helps the participants structure the knowledge.

• Face-to-face feedback from classmates and trainer.

Knowledge optimizationWeb-based Learning

• Reflect on periodical tasks and the whole process.

• Learn from forum based reflections by other members.

• Found a sustainable knowledge database by organizing reflections

AcceleratedLearning

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A Four-month Accelerated Learning Design

Web-based Learning Classroom Learning Action Learning

• Know methods of speed reading• Build English reading efficiency

Speed Reading

Time Management

Scientific Presentation

Cross-cultural Psychology

Web-construction Project

• Make reasonable plan and implement • Have a well control over time

• Make beautiful slides and logical speech• Communicate idea efficiently

• Understand research topics in team• Form the sensitivity of culture

• Use obtained skills and knowledge• Cooperate with and learn from teammates

Software practice (4 months)

Audio book

Audio book

Audio bookRead a book

Read the book Presentation (2 persons)

Be able to read more and learn more

Handle tasks with high time pressure

Report the exact work result

Provide knowledge base

Learn from the project process

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Sample Training Module: Time Management Training

Time Management

Presentation

• Goal setting• Covey’s priority matrix• ABC priority system• To-do list• Weekly plan• Daily plan• Lakein’s theory

Discussion

Weekly plan

Classroom learning Web-based learning

Audio Book

Action learning

Project

• High time pressure

• High self independence

• Goal setting• Covey’s priority matrix• ABC priority system• To-do list• Weekly plan• Daily plan• Lakein’s theory



Sample Training Module: Presentation Training

Presentation

Presentation

• Scientific presentation

• Speech

• Structure

• Visual aids

• Delivery

Practice

Presentation on one chapter of cross-cultural psychology

Classroom learning Web-based learning

Audio Book

Action learning

Project

• High time pressure

• High self independence

101 Highly Effective Speaker• To command attentions• To control fear• To build credibility• To prepare like a pro• To close with power• To sharpen delivery



Participants Show Significant Progress after Accelerated Learning Project

• The most exciting fact, at least to me, is that I know myself better than before: my strength, my weakness; what I can improve, what I should keep, and what I could manage.

Know oneself

• I cared not enough about "human"! That's a big problem! So, this is very important…• I know my team members better…• For me, the most important experience is how to deal with the quarrel…

Deal with teammates

• …never say any word that may diminish our confidence at the critical moment.• A clear evaluation of our the whole situation, instead of dreaming of the good outcomes,

will help us to perfect our website.• We checked every points, and do our best to meet demands.

Deal with the job

• …the [other group’s] plan was more detailed and I appreciated them [the other group] in that they could keep to the plan and had reflection on what they had done.

Learn from others

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About Us



Professional BackgroundDr. Tjitra has performed international management consultancy, training, assessment, coaching and research in Asia and Europe. His working areas are focused on intercultural management as well as human resource, organizational and strategic development.Prior coming to China, he used to live and work in Germany for fourteen years and was responsible for the global diversity as well as Asian business and management development practices of leading HR consulting companies in Germany. In addition to his consulting works, he held a position as associate professor for applied psychology at the Zhejiang University (China).

Education and Professional QualificationDr.-Phil. in cross-cultural psychology and strategic management from the University of Regensburg (Germany)Dipl.-psych. in organizational behavior and HR management from the Technical University of Braunschweig (Germany)Certification in Hogan Assessment System (China/US), Strategic Management from McKinsey&Co (Italy/Germany) and HR Management from INSEAD (Singapore/France)

Language and other qualificationHe is fluent in Indonesian, German, English, and can communicate in Chinese and is a member of the International Academy for Intercultural Research and International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology.

References / Sample ClientsInternational project experiences for top and middle management at the global and national level in over ten countries in Europe and Asia. SAP, Saint-Gobain, Barco, Ameco Beijing, SCHOTT, Siemens, BASF, DHL, Telkom Indonesia, etc.

Executive Director and Senior Consultant• Intercultural Qualification, Training

and Consulting• Executive Assessment and Coaching• Talent Development and Management• Strategic Change and Organizational

Development

Consultant Profile - Hora Tjitra, Ph.D.

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Contact Address and Associates

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Hangzhou Office:Guangyin Plaza, Suite 81242 Fengqi Road, Hangzhou 310010P.R. CHINA

中国浙江省杭州市凤起东路42号广茵大厦812

Phone +86 571 8763 1203Fax +86 571 8763 1210

Hong Kong Office:Success Commercial Building, 6/F, Room A245 - 251 Hennesy Road, WanchaiHONG KONG

香港灣仔軒尼詩道245-251號守時商業大廈6樓A室

Phone +852 2585 8064Fax +852 2802 1803

Contact Person:Daisy Zheng

Phone +86 571 8763 1203Fax +86 571 8763 1210

Email: [email protected]

Accelerated Learning: a Blended Action Learning

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