Tate sees these three methods as a path to lasting behavior change. In my experience, behavior change occurs when people have intrinsic motivation, peer support and take small steps. Professional learning communities (PLC) often provide all three. Exploring one’s work and goals in a PLC can often help you find your internal motivation for making a change. Fellow community members can provide support when you may be struggling with change. Because PLCs meet over time they allow people to see their behavior change as happening over time in small steps.
Application: Working Out Loud circles are professional learning communities. A small group meets over about 12 weeks to share their experience and efforts to change their behavior. Each week the circle meets, usually for an hour. Each meeting begins with a “check-in,” an opportunity for circle members to share their experience over the past week. This time serves as an opportunity for peer support and for building trust between members.
The bulk of each circle meeting is spent working through a series of exercises together. As each exercise is completed the circle reflects on their experience. Circle meetings end with an opportunity for celebration and some optional items to try in the coming week.
Assessment: Free Discussion (Barkley & Major, 2016, pp. 271-276)
Free discussion is my go-to assessment for almost every WOL activity. It creates space for individual reflection and for finding shared meaning. After each activity, I give participants about a minute of silence to reflect on their experience. Then I ask someone to share. If no one wants to share, I’ll share some of the reflections I’ve heard in previous workshops, which often prompts others to share.
References
Barkley, E. F., & Major, C. H. (2016). Learning assessment techniques: A handbook for college faculty. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Tate, M. L. (2012). “Sit and Get” won’t grow dendrites: 20 professional learning strategies that engage the adult brain. (2nd Ed.) Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.