Whatever happened to “free range learning”? Jay Cross used the term free range learning for a while in reference to informal learning and Tom Haskins picked up on the free range chicken metaphor. I even suggested a logo, but I don’t hear much talk about it any more. I think it’s still a great descriptor for learning and working on the Web, especially for events like #lrnchat on Twitter.
Free range learning may help deal with the disorientation that is more and more common in our complex lives and workplaces. Marilyn Taylor developed a model of learning, based on classroom experience, that has workplace implications as well, I believe. Her work has not been widely published but there is a reference in this PDF from NALD [dead link] (see page 53). You can also read about the model in Making Sense of Adult Learning.
Taylor observed university students in classrooms, and saw a pattern of continuous Disorientation, Exploration, Reorientation & Equilibrium. Each stage took different periods of time with each student and not all students completing a cycle during a formal course. The successful students were the ones who could work through the entire process and continue into another cycle. When students are shown the cycle, many get an “ah ha ” moment and realize that their confusion (disorientation) is quite normal.
According to Taylor, disorientation is a natural state in formal education:
Stage 1 – Disorientation: The learner is presented with an unfamiliar experience or idea which involves new ideas that challenge the student to think critically about his/her beliefs and values. The learner reacts by becoming confused and anxious. Support from the educator at this point is crucial to the learner’s motivation, participation and self-esteem.
Working and learning in our information-rich environments with constantly changing tools and business rules presents us with frequent and longer periods of disorientation.
Leaders and managers today should be helping fellow workers with their disorientation and exploration . A first step would be to show that disorientation is quite normal. It’s OK to be confused, but the strategy is not to close up but to be open to free range learning. Instead of looking for a simple solution, sometimes it’s necessary to poke around and explore to reorient our thinking. Consider what implications this has for training and workplace norms. Maybe I’ll go for a walk or perhaps I’ll check out Twitter or Facebook. How many workplaces encourage that? In the long run, it may be best to allow for a fair degree of exploration. Aren’t workers constantly encouraged to think outside of the box? That’s where the free range chickens are.
Over the past three years, that post of mine has received hundreds of hits from Google searches for “free range chickens”. People came to that page hoping to find assistance on husbandry tips and choice of feeds. I suspect most fit your “Life in Beta” model here. They were disoriented by use of the chicken metaphor applied to learning. They then explored that unexpected possibility and got reoriented to how “free ranging” isn’t just for chickens anymore. Great post! Thanks for the mention Harold.
Thanks for dropping by, Tom; now get back to your free-ranging ;)
Nicely said. I find the free range metaphor personally gratifying given the 52 free range hens I raised when i was younger.
I learned a lot from those hens. So much, in fact, that I think you just inspired my next blog. Thanks for that.
Oh, and I’m going to be sharing this article and its related concepts at work on Monday.