Learning as a Driver for ChangeEvaluation Workshop

Dr Leone Wheeler

• ‘To transform political and theoretical discourses into concrete strategies and approaches;

• To measure progress over time; and• To evaluate the benefits of the strategies it has

put into place.’– (UNESCO, 2014, p. 27)

Why monitor progress on learning city/community developments?

Source: UNESCO. (2014, p30). Conference Report: International Conference on Learning Cities: Lifelong Learning for All: Inclusion, prosperity and sustainability in cities. Beijing, China.

• Learning as a Driver for Change (Wheeler, Wong, Farrell & Wong, 2013)

and• Learning as a Driver for

Change: Learning Community Framework (Wheeler & Wong, 2013)

Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government, University of Technology, Sydney.

http://www.acelg.org.au/news/community-learning-and-local-government

Learning as a Driver for Change

Gwydir Shire, New South Wales, Australia

At any age you can go to the careers teachers and ask

advice about a pathway and it might be a pathway that you have not even thought

about – Learner

Hume City, Victoria, Australia

The buildings are important. They are learning hubs and

people come in to learn different things – to meet and talk and

read. They will evolve over time. The way they are now will not be

the way they are in five years’ time (HGLV Committee).

City of Melton, Victoria, Australia

Partnership StrengthRelationship Line Strength Numeric

Value

No Relationship No Line 0

Communication 1

Some Collaboration 2

Active Collaboration 3

Partnership Strength 2006= 45

Partnership Strength 2010= 64

Partnership Strength 2014= ???

Establishment Consolidation Enhancement

Establish partnershipsIdentify vision and goalsStrategy and action plans• Governance• Engagement/

participation activities

• Monitoring and evaluation

Evaluate and extend partnershipsReflect on vision and goalsStrategy and action plans• Governance• Engagement/

participation activities• Monitoring and

evaluation

Evaluate and extend partnershipsReflect on vision and goalsStrategy and action plans• Governance• Engagement/

participation activities• Monitoring and

evaluation

• Implement plans• Evaluate• Refine Plans

• Expand learning community, or

• Merge into another framework, or

• Exit

ACTION LEARNING/ACTION RESEARCH CYCLE – BUILDING THE KNOWLEDGE BASE

Adapted from Wheeler, 2004

Life Cycle of Innovation for Learning Communities

Establishment PhaseGovernance and Structure

INNOVATION GOVERNANCE AND STRUCTURE

0% 100%

Consolidation PhaseGovernance and Structure

INNOVATION GOVERNANCE AND STRUCTURE

0% 100%

Enhancement / Sustainability Phase

Governance and StructureINNOVATION GOVERNANCE AND STRUCTURE

0% 100%

(Adapted from Wheeler 2004)

RMIT University©2010 Northern Partnerships Unit 12

Flow Chart for using the Australian Learning Community Framework

Establish the Life Cycle(Establishment, Consolidation, Enhancement)

Plan by using the ten reflective questions as a guide

Rearrange according to checklist categories

Develop/update Community Learning Strategy, including Evaluation

Building a localized knowledge base using an action research approach

Key elements of a learning community approach

• FUNDAMENTAL CONDITIONS– Long-term vision– Leadership – Strategic partnerships– Integrated community governance– Community capacity– Connecting social/learning/technological

infrastructure

Learning City

• A Learning City is a city which effectively mobilises its resources in every sector to – Promote inclusive learning from basic to higher education;– Re-vitalise learning in families and communities;– Facilitate learning for and in the workplace;– Extend the use of modern learning technologies;– Enhance quality and excellence in learning; and foster a culture

of learning thoughout life….• In doing so it will create and reinforce individual

empowerment and social cohesion, economic and cultural prosperity, and sustainable development.

» UNESCO (2014)

International Developments in Learning Cities

• Launch of the UNESCO International Platform for Learning Cities (2013) and Global Cities Network http://www.uil.unesco.org/home/

• PASCAL International Exchanges– http://pie.pascalobservatory.org/

• EU Centre/PASCAL Cities Learning Together conference in Hong Kong (November, 2013)– http

://conference.pascalobservatory.org/pascal-conference-2013/

• Development of PASCAL EcCoWell concept