Philosophy

Through the study of learning theories and Lean Methodology, I have developed a list of six principles that can guide my  practice
​​

1. Provide positive reinforcement/motivation
2. Provide structure and context for people to work into
3. Create  an environment where people can connect with each other, the content and the instructor/facilitator
4. Provide opportunities to build experience and apply  knowledge
5. Be  cognizant of the cultural difference and stakeholder perspectives of people and  the impact those differences have on learning/change initiatives
6. Provide opportunities for reflection 

​
To guide my Lean and teaching practice I see myself building a house of learning, with people at the center. The foundation is principle one, positive reinforcement and motivation. The four pillars of the house include principles two to five: content structure; community of inquiry; experience and application; and cultural/stakeholder frames of reference.  Finally, opportunities for reflection cap the learning  journey.

---

---

The principles above are based upon a blend of Behaviourist, Cognitive and Constructivist theories, with the predominant focus on Cognitive and  Constructivist. These theories  interest me because in the 21st century, being able to differentiate instruction to fit learning  preferences will be a necessary skill (Annand, 2007; Ehlers, 2004; Schunk, 2012). Teaching people how to think, not what to think develops them for the skills they need to continuously improve and adapt.  The 21st century requires that people are able to identify and solve problems quickly and become  lifelong learners to continuously make contributions to society and organizations.