Balancing Theory and Practical Work
When designing a learning event, our decisions on the most effective balance of theory and practical work are based (a) on our experience of what works, and (b) the specific requirements of the organisation we are working with.
(a) Our experience of what works
Typically, we start with this basic balance of activity:
- 30% Experience of the people attending the event
- 20% Case studies - examples of best practise from other industries, contexts, departments
- 20% Management theory - research, models, and ideas
- 30% Practical application exercises and hands-on learning
The four elements are weighted this way because, in our experience, people generally learn better from applying models (or theories) than from the models themselves. Applying a model makes it real, and allows the user to understand it in their context. By applying a model, the user can 'own' it, and maximise successful use of the model in their workplace. This is a generalisation, but is a helpful starting point for the design process. It's essentially about understanding the theory, internalising it, and then applying it for practical use.
(b) Specific requirements of the organisation we are working with
The second stage in balancing theory and practical activity is about understanding the client organisation; armed with the simple model above, we look at the four factors below, all of which have implications for course structure and design:
1. The desired outcomes
2. The target audience
Seniority: The higher up the organisation a person is, the more likely they will have encountered leadership and/or management theory before. Thus, it is a case of checking their understanding and then getting straight into theory application. Lower down the organisation, however, more time is needed in exploring theory, and understanding its use and relevance. Our work with the Court Service catered for managers of varying grades, and the balance of theory and practice was tailored to suit their learning preferences.
3. The time available
To understand a model well enough to be able to work with it, requires a session of around 45-60 minutes. Also, we have also found that exploring more than one model or theory in one day is unproductive.
4. A history of what works...
... and what doesn't work within the organisation's own culture. Some organisations love theory and only need short practical sessions to understand the relevance of a model or theory to their own workload and responsibilities. Others hate theory and therefore need a solid focus on practical application in order for a theory to be relevant to them.
