Agile Learning 
Phil Aspden 
@philaspden 
@egeniuslta
What is the agile learning concept? 
● learning happens all the time 
● learning happens whether you organise it or not 
● agile learning provides just enough information at the 
right time and in the right context 
● information>knowledge>skills through learning
We need more discretionary learning 
Discretionary learning workplaces: 
Portugal 26% of employees covered 
Spain 20% 
UK 35% 
Netherlands 64% 
Denmark 60% 
Professor Ewart Keep 
Sweden 53% 
Centre on Skills, Knowledge & 
Organisational Performance 
Finland 48% 
Germany 44.% 
SOURCE: OECD, 2010
But instead we have a lot of ‘lean’ 
UK 40.6% of employees 
Netherlands 17% 
Denmark 22% 
Sweden 18.5% 
Germany 19.6% 
Professor Ewart Keep 
Centre on Skills, Knowledge & Organisational 
Performance
See 
Hear 
See & 
Hear 
10 
% 
Read 
20% 
30% 
50% 
70% 
90% 
Say & 
Write 
Do 
Edgar Dale 
Cone of 
Experience 
People 
generally 
retain 
[remember] 
Abstract 
Concrete
A whole new field of learning 
facilitation 
● just in time 
● in context - part of workflow 
● good enough [solves the problem] 
● iterative
Agile learning is…. 
● Just in time 
● Just where I need it 
● Just enough
Heuristics and reflection 
● heuristics - devising a solution that is less than optimal 
● reflective practice develops what WOULD have been 
the optimal solution for use next time
Social 
● approval of solutions provided 
● sharing of other ideas/ solutions in a 
‘community’ 
● favourite/ like/ re-tweet/ direct messages 
● capacity for personal development
grow the knowledge community 
NOT the knowledge base/ intellectual capital/ 
etc etc etc
Technology enables and enhances agile 
learning: industrial/ manufacturing 
● video and animation - with hyper labelling 
● augmented reality - from a 2D ‘map’ or target 
● Google glass/ Oculus rift 
● animated process/ cgi 
● simulation/ 3D environment 
● social - ‘favourite/ like’ solution 
or suggestions
Technology enables and enhances agile 
learning: Healthcare 
● specific lifting and carrying advice [animated/ video] 
information - QR coded/ interactive wifi 
● animated guides to using equipment/ processes 
● health condition/ treatment specific info for patients 
● interactive checklist - sequence limited 
● social network - routines completed 
- tweeted
Enablers 
● Internal drivers 
o commitment of leadership 
o cost/efficiency/ safety 
o commitment of time and energy 
● BYOD 
● Social/ Intelligent WiFi 
● Investment
So what does it look like?
Key skills 
curation 
facilitation 
performance management [with empathy/ 
flexibility and sensitivity] - manager 2.0
The Agile manifesto 
We are uncovering better ways of developing software by 
doing it and helping others do it. Through this work we 
have come to value: 
● Individuals and interactions over Processes and tools 
● Working software over Comprehensive documentation 
● Customer collaboration over Contract negotiation 
● Responding to change over Following a plan
An Agile learning manifesto 
We value: 
● Individuals and their interactions over academic models and classroom 
learning delivery 
● Improved working and increased outputs over traditional assessments 
of learning and qualifications or awards 
● Employee collaboration over centralised learning delivery 
● Responding to real wants and needs over simply providing what is 
available
How to Kick-Start Your Agile Learning Adventure

How to Kick-Start Your Agile Learning Adventure

  • 1.
    Agile Learning PhilAspden @philaspden @egeniuslta
  • 2.
    What is theagile learning concept? ● learning happens all the time ● learning happens whether you organise it or not ● agile learning provides just enough information at the right time and in the right context ● information>knowledge>skills through learning
  • 3.
    We need morediscretionary learning Discretionary learning workplaces: Portugal 26% of employees covered Spain 20% UK 35% Netherlands 64% Denmark 60% Professor Ewart Keep Sweden 53% Centre on Skills, Knowledge & Organisational Performance Finland 48% Germany 44.% SOURCE: OECD, 2010
  • 4.
    But instead wehave a lot of ‘lean’ UK 40.6% of employees Netherlands 17% Denmark 22% Sweden 18.5% Germany 19.6% Professor Ewart Keep Centre on Skills, Knowledge & Organisational Performance
  • 5.
    See Hear See& Hear 10 % Read 20% 30% 50% 70% 90% Say & Write Do Edgar Dale Cone of Experience People generally retain [remember] Abstract Concrete
  • 7.
    A whole newfield of learning facilitation ● just in time ● in context - part of workflow ● good enough [solves the problem] ● iterative
  • 8.
    Agile learning is…. ● Just in time ● Just where I need it ● Just enough
  • 9.
    Heuristics and reflection ● heuristics - devising a solution that is less than optimal ● reflective practice develops what WOULD have been the optimal solution for use next time
  • 10.
    Social ● approvalof solutions provided ● sharing of other ideas/ solutions in a ‘community’ ● favourite/ like/ re-tweet/ direct messages ● capacity for personal development
  • 11.
    grow the knowledgecommunity NOT the knowledge base/ intellectual capital/ etc etc etc
  • 12.
    Technology enables andenhances agile learning: industrial/ manufacturing ● video and animation - with hyper labelling ● augmented reality - from a 2D ‘map’ or target ● Google glass/ Oculus rift ● animated process/ cgi ● simulation/ 3D environment ● social - ‘favourite/ like’ solution or suggestions
  • 13.
    Technology enables andenhances agile learning: Healthcare ● specific lifting and carrying advice [animated/ video] information - QR coded/ interactive wifi ● animated guides to using equipment/ processes ● health condition/ treatment specific info for patients ● interactive checklist - sequence limited ● social network - routines completed - tweeted
  • 14.
    Enablers ● Internaldrivers o commitment of leadership o cost/efficiency/ safety o commitment of time and energy ● BYOD ● Social/ Intelligent WiFi ● Investment
  • 15.
    So what doesit look like?
  • 16.
    Key skills curation facilitation performance management [with empathy/ flexibility and sensitivity] - manager 2.0
  • 18.
    The Agile manifesto We are uncovering better ways of developing software by doing it and helping others do it. Through this work we have come to value: ● Individuals and interactions over Processes and tools ● Working software over Comprehensive documentation ● Customer collaboration over Contract negotiation ● Responding to change over Following a plan
  • 19.
    An Agile learningmanifesto We value: ● Individuals and their interactions over academic models and classroom learning delivery ● Improved working and increased outputs over traditional assessments of learning and qualifications or awards ● Employee collaboration over centralised learning delivery ● Responding to real wants and needs over simply providing what is available