The
Learning project report instructions
The Learning project is an integral
part of the learning process of the course. Real learning does not happen until
ideas are put into practice and tested. It is important that students not
only learn in the workshop settings of the course, but also students
“learn by doing”. The learning project challenges students to
plan and conduct a project where they apply principles and practices of
leadership in a “real life” situation. This could include
activities such as enhancing your leadership practice with an existing group or
organisation, working with existing leaders, or contributing to a leadership
initiative. The learning project can be based on a workplace or community
situation incorporating your normal work or interests. There is also sound
evidence that leadership is best learned in personal situations.
An excellent project would include:
Consideration of new concepts and skills
learnt that stand out for you.
Test several new leadership skills and
concepts in a small, low-effort, real world situation during semester, to
gain new insights, Identify what you might do to design or re-design
future work to show how you will apply new skills and concepts to get
better results
Not all students may be able to conduct
an active project directly with a current group or leader. There are
various other options (least preferred since these offers you less practical
learning). For example, with the input and approval of the course
facilitator, a learning project could be based on one of the following
activities:
Observe a situation appropriate to leadership
and analyse it using the relevant concepts, frameworks and techniques from
the course
Review, analyse and redesign a past activity
or leadership situation from your experience.
Time is set aside during the early
workshops or zoom meetings for students to develop their learning project plan
with guidance from the course facilitator. Please discuss your options with the
facilitator. During the semester, please contact the course facilitator if you
have any questions or need any guidance with your learning project. Module One
slides and papers provided in Learning Resources area offer example situations
in which past students have practised and developed their leadership skills.
Participants must submit a written
report on their learning project. Full instructions will be given and discussed
early in the semester. Your learning project report should build on your
learning project plan but you won’t be held to anything that you included in
your original learning project plan. You need to layout your learning project
report in the way that you feel is best. Using the four phases of the Learning
Cycle can be a useful framework for describing your learning process. The
following is a possible format for your learning project report, but you may
choose to do it another way provided that it includes sufficient content.
Possible Format
Introduction
Briefly outline what issue, problem or
opportunity your learning project addresses. Describe why your learning project
is important and relevant.
Context
Brief detail of the background in which
you are operating as it pertains to the learning project. This situation
analysis need not be extensive but should cover the main points that make your
learning project important in your work context. You need to have a clear, logical description
of the issues, problem or opportunity that your learning project addresses. This
need to be clearly connected to the context and the learning objectives of your
project.
Objectives
Provide a succinct statement of what
you sought to achieve with your learning project. These should include your own
learning objectives for your leadership development.
Activities
Briefly describe how you conducted your
learning project. Don’t just list actions, describe the logic of what you did
and why. Describe what happened – how things went doing your project. Describe
what occurred as a result of your learning project such as what changed in the
situation, what benefits occurred, how a desired outcome was achieved or not
achieved, and importantly, what you learned from testing and improving your
leadership practice. Describe the principles of leadership that relate to
approach to the project – these may be from the course content, from readings
or other literature or principles that you feel are important from your
own experience. Describe how you know that what you did was leadership and not
management, particularly by comparing your action to the Five Practices of
Exemplary Leadership (Kouzes and Posner) and the course definition for
leadership.
Critically reflect on leadership based
on what occurred during your project and draw out insights into leadership. Are
there any aspects of rural leadership that you think are particularly important
because of your experiences with your project? Describe whether you achieved
the objectives of your project and if not, what prevented you from achieving
them. Detail what you learned, including improved confidence, understanding and
skills in leadership, and contrast this with principles and approaches to
leadership. Discuss what you would do the same and differently next time. This
section should be a major part of your report and make sure that you include
references.
Conclusion
Draw together the main implications of
your learning project and how your new insights and improved leadership skills
can be used to get better outcomes in your life.
