[best] Will Thalheimer's Learning Landscape

I think I managed to go through all January postings on my reader list by now. I'll try to share what I consider the most inspiring post I've seen in any given month. Obviously, this is biased by what is on my mind at the moment, and the particular blogs and folks I'm following. But for what it's worth: the most inspiring article of last month was posted relatively early in January but I didn't pick it up until some days ago. It's the one where Will Thalheimer explains his new (probably heavily copyrighted and possibly patented) Learning Landscape Model (mind the capitalisation.)

Here is a video describing the model:



In the workshops I give on shaping learning environments for the HoCo, we do this exercise where we show many learning models for one minute, and then pick out the best elements of each of them. This model is surely one to add to that list and one in a series of many learning models. (You can do your own workshop with the material earlier in this blog "Do your own HoCo workshop".)

Why did this particular model strike a note? Because it made me realise I've been neglecting a vital part of how learning leads to success: prompting. It is not good enough we pour knowledge, skills, behaviour inside the learner's head and then hope the learning is strong enough so it will be remembered when needed. We should provide the learner all means necessary to recall that particular learning outcome at the moment of need, and that includes prompts.
As a modern learning landscape model should do, it stretches beyond the 'black box' operational boundaries of learning, and goes into performance and value. As such, it is close to my doodle:

The model also underlines the shift in thinking of learning not so much as a creation and delivery process, but as the architecture of a landscape / workscape / culture where self-reliant professionals can optimally develop themselves with the aid of their peers and all what their organisations offer.

I also recommend you read Harold Jarche's review of the model.

The model also shows the varous points where evaluation can take place, and the 4 points that are picked out of that by the often used Kirkpatrick model for learning evaluation.