NET pop up: NET x Human Learning Systems (June and July 2022)
We hosted a series of events all about Human Learning Systems in June and July 2022. Our overall aim was to cultivate collective bravery in the social change sector in the north east and show working in a different way is possible. The NET x HLS three part event series introduced Human Learning Systems, gave time to listen and learn from each other and let ushave a go with the new learning cycles toolkit.
We were delighted to work with NET co-founder Dr Toby Lowe and Becky Elton to plan the event series, and collaborate with others great people as speakers — Ceri Armstrong and Mark Smith — and Stephanie Cole and Robert Laycock from Yes We Can as event hosts. We’re grateful to everyone for their stories, knowledge and love for this work, and for leading and championing this new and emerging way of working.
We think the four speakers across the events 1 and 2 showed a different world is possible. We heard this work isn’t easy as it is about change both for you (the individuals leading the work), and for the teams and organisations you’re leading and walking alongside on this journey. However it is life changing not only for the people you serve — the people you’re working hard with and for to live thriving lives — but also for you and your colleagues in more purposeful work, working on what matters, where you’re learning and getting better all the time.
We hope the courage of each of our speakers has shown in their work will encourage you to be courageous too. We can be brave together…together we can make a change.
Event 1 of 3: An introduction to HLS and short stories from those already working this way
We heard an introduction to Human Learning Systems and it’s principles and about the new HLS learning cycles toolkit from Toby, and short case studies about how people are using Human Learning Systems in their organisations from the other speakers.
Our speakers were
- Dr Toby Lowe, Visiting Professor of Public Management, Centre for Public Impact
- Becky Elton, Deputy CEO, Changing Lives
- Ceri Armstrong, Strategic Lead — Adult Social Care and Health Transformation, Thurrock Council
- Mark Smith, Director — Public Service Reform, Gateshead Council
You can re-watch the event (also embedded below) and see Toby’s [coming soon] and Ceri’s slides. Full disclosure: I have edited out the two minutes (but felt like two hours) in the middle of me (Stephanie) frantically trying to share Ceri’s slides for her.
You can download the toolkit Human Learning Systems: A practical guide for the curious (email registration required), and for more on Human Learning Systems and learning cycles read the free e-book Human Learning Systems: Public service for the real world.
Event 2 of 3: deeper exploration and rummaging
Our plan — our best laid plan — for event 2 was for each of the three speakers from event 1 to host a conversation in small groups about their work with Human Learning Systems. We planned for each speaker to invite people in to their work, show you around, and talk about how they got started, what they’ve done so far, what’s happened for them, their organisation and the people they serve, and what they’ve learnt. We wanted it to be an opportunity to explore and have a rummage around what they’ve been up to.
Sadly, the start of the event coincided with a global Zoom outage. We went ahead with a third of the planned event — one speaker (thank you so much Becky for holding the fort so valiantly) and about a third of the attendees. Frankly we couldn’t quite believe what was unfolding in front of our eyes as one of our speakers couldn’t join us at all (sorry Mark) and one was unceremoniously booted out (sorry Ceri).
Becky shared her story of taking a Human Learning Systems approach at Changing Lives, and those who were able to be part of the conversation had a great time.
Event 3 of 3: Having a go — moving from theory to practice with a new learning cycles toolkit
Our third event was all about moving from theory to practice, sharing the Human Learning Systems learning cycles toolkit, and helping you to have a go with working and learning about your work in a new way. The third event was faciliated by Robert Laycock from Yes We Can.
Our intention for the event was to create space for us to explore together what it means to use learning as a management strategy, to bring the HLS publication: A practical guide for the curious to life, make sense of learning cycles together, give time to think if it might be helpful for you and your organisation.
We gave an overview of Human Learning Systems and went deeper into the learning cycles toolkit before having a go by beginning the process of creating a learning cycle. To make it as real as possible, we focused our time together on the first stage: Understanding the system, and worked in two small groups.
We’re thinking about running a follow up event(s) about Human Learning Systems to keep us learning and growing together about this stuff. We’ll keep you posted.
About North East Together
Our collective mission here at NET is to create the conditions, and platform for, collaboration to become the norm in the north east and to nurture a healthier social change system. Together we can do this.
We believe bringing leaders together to tackle social injustice will create positive change — in our communities, organisations and the social systems we live and work within. Our network offers mutual support, enables collaboration and inspires social leaders. It’s for leaders from the voluntary, charity, social enterprise, education, public and private sectors. It’s for experienced, new and future leaders of organisations, work, and ideas.
North East Together is hosted by Yes We Can and is a collaboration between Yes We Can and Newcastle University Business School.
Future North East Together events
- NET Connect: [we’re still waiting on a ABBA-themed title from Marie], 14 September, 16:00–17:15, online
- Leader and manager as coach, a training programme for leaders and managers to develop coaching skills, hosted by us at Yes We Can on Wednesday 19 October, 9:30–16:30
- Coaching for social change, 26 October, 15:30–17:30, Newcastle
- North East Together 23: Collaborate for social change whole network event, 30 November, 16:15–20:00, Newcastle
