Introduction

One of the aims of professional development is to improve practice through change in the ways of doing or thinking about one’s work.  Different types of learning are outlined in the PDF – both structured and unstructured, collaborative, accredited and non-accredited.  All of these methods can be useful approaches to take when considering how to advance ones professional development.

 

Types of learning outlined in PDF:

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Peer Learning:
A peer learning approach can be a useful process to promote joint reflection and reciprocal learning between library professionals, a way of sharing knowledge, experience and ideas

Getting Started:

  • Paying attention to facilitation, structure, sharing roles and responsibilities are aspects of the process.
  • Ignore rank and status – do not allow those in senior roles to dominate, to control, or to be accorded more authority or wisdom than anyone else. This is not a meeting.
When Speaking:
  • Be clear.
  • Take the time to clarify if needed.
  • Share what you feel is appropriate and safe to share.
  • Be clear what response and help (if any) you want from the others.

When Listening:

  • The best approach is to focus on what the speaker is saying, postponing our plans, and focusing all of our attention on trying to understand what the speaker is saying.
  • Check that you have understood what the person has said.
  • Acknowledge what the speaker has said.
  • Thank the speaker.
  • Give the speaker time – do not interrupt.
  • Do not problem solve unless invited to do so.
  • Ask if it is alright to make suggestions.
 
 

Open Questions

  • How?
  • How come?
  • What would you do instead?
  • What is important?
  • Who is important?
  • What is working?
  • What needs to happen for you?
  • How important is getting this sorted for you?
  • When will you do that?
  • What would your desired outcome look/feel like?
  • Does this matter to you/anyone else?
  • What’s in it for you?
  • When do you feel it would be good to have this goal achieved?
  • What does success look like?
  • How are things?
  • What’s up?
  • What would be different/have changed?
  • How will you know what has happened?
  • What would you/others see/hear/feel
  • What does ‘good’ look like?
  • What might get in the way of…?
  • What would make this time worthwhile and of value to you?
  • Is this a ‘moving towards’ goal?
  • What is a measure of success?
  • What have you tried already?
  • What are you experiencing when this happens?
  • What could prevent you from…?
  • Are we still where we thought we were?
  • What evidence can you give?
  • Where does this come from?
  • Why do you think that’s happening?
Checking Understanding
  • What happened?
  • What is really/actually happening?
  • How did this feel?
  • Can you say some more about that?
  • What have you learnt?
  • Changes made?
  • Question assumptions about the reality?
  • What are the consequences of not doing it?
  • What specifically…?
  • What impact does that have on you/others?
  • How do you know that to be the case?
  • What have you tried already?
  • What are you experiencing when this happens?
  • What could prevent you from…?
  • Are we still where we thought we were?
  • What evidence can you give?
  • Where does this come from?
  • Why do you think that’s happening?
  • What might you do, not what you will, but might/could do?
  • What options do you think are open to you?
  • If X happened, what would that do for you?
  • How will you know if that’s right for you?
  • What’s the worst that can happen?
  • How many options are there?
  • And if that didn’t work, what else?
  • Can you do this on your own?
  • What are the consequences of option(s) a,b,c..?
  • What are the alternatives – what if you didn’t?
  • How will you drive that through/embed/follow up?
  • What else? What else? What else?
  • What information or tools could help?
  • If you had a really good friend, what would they suggest you try?
  • How will you know if it has worked?
  • What is the potential reaction to that (your action)?
  • What are you not prepared to do?
  • What action will you take?
  • What else do you need?
  • When will you give time to this – what do you need to make this time?
  • What will you see?
  • What support will you need from others and who is key?
  • What shall we reconnect?
  • What will success look like?
  • On a scale of 1-10, how motivated are you to achieve your goal?
  • How will you know it has been achieved?
  • How will you celebrate success?
  • What will dealing with this feel like?
  • What feedback will you have to confirm the outcome?
  • How will you know?
  • What has been the most useful/interesting/difficult/challenging thing for you in this session?