Welcome to Work Focussed Learning

This web site introduces Work Focussed Learning, a new approach to learning where a change or innovation project at work becomes the subject of study. Being supported throughout online by staff and peers enables full time working to be continued. A rich portfolio is maintained throughout and is used for both feedback and final assessment. All the material on this web site is made available under a Creative Commons licence. Rather than keep Work Focused Learning to ourselves, the intent is to share it as widely as possible and create a community of practice around it to extend its use and further enhance and develop the model, thus continuing the implementation, research and development undertaken since 2003 in projects such as Ultraversity, Inter-Disciplinary Inquiry Based Learning, Co-Educate and others (see Track Record - http://wflearning.com/track-record).

(Explain the value proposition to the audiences we need to address) http://wflearning.com/track-record

The “Innovation at Work” programme, highly innovative in itself, makes it possible to obtain a certificate, diploma or a degree, whether Undergraduate, Masters or PhD, while you remain full time at work.

This is achieved by making a change or innovation in your current occupation the focus of your study, with the course being fully online. The project, with clear benefits, has to be agreed and committed to by the learner and their manager at work, with significant work time allocated to the project.

The context, its threats and/or opportunities are studied; creative ideas are explored, developed and evaluated; actions are planned and taken; and the impacts are researched and assessed.

Reflection on what worked well and what not so well becomes the starting point for the next round of creativity and action.

The cycle is repeated until a satisfactory state is achieved.

At all stages, unless solo working, engagement with colleagues at work and their participation in activities is necessary.

A portfolio of all stages is maintained and drawn on to present work to colleagues, peers and facilitators, and for formative and summative assessment.

Mutual support in small groups of peer learners is a core component of the learning process.

Benefits include:

an improved product, service or working situation
learning a generic method for responding to changing circumstances
enhancement of online collaboration, communication, and media skills
a continuing support network
a degree, earned while further developing rather than stopping work