According to Suave, participatory learning is an educational model in which students are given as much of a voice as their instructors or leaders in determining curriculum and activities. In this model, if students have as much of a voice...
moreAccording to Suave, participatory learning is an educational model in which students are given as much of a voice as their instructors or leaders in determining curriculum and activities. In this model, if students have as much of a voice as the leaders, what is the role of the leader? Will using this model increase or decrease the likelihood of organizational growth? Why? The role of the leader, or instructor, in the participatory learning educational model is that of a facilitator of student learning. In terms of organizational growth, this model will increase the likelihood that the organization will grow to reach a higher level of effectiveness if the members of the organization are allowed and encouraged to participate in arriving at the increased achievement of knowledge and competency that the learning facilitator (instructor) has proposed has the learning objectives for the instructional module. According to Malcolm Knowles (1990), the interpersonal climate in an organization has a critical effect on organizational effectiveness; therefore on organizational growth. In the area of adult learning, Knowles (1990) reflected that collaboration and mutual respect between learner and learning facilitator is of paramount importance in achieving learning objectives. The voice of the learner, especially in the adult learning domain is not that of an uninformed empty vessel. Rather it is the voice of much prior learning and quite a bit of that may have been formal training. Equally important is the experiential learning acquired over time by the learners within the organization. Their voices are the essential component of a program to raise the level of effectiveness and stimulate organizational growth.
