Human Learning Systems
Human Learning Systems (HLS) is an approach for making improvements to outcomes that focuses on:
- Human relationships - building strong connections between people.
- Continuous learning - encouraging learning and improvement.
- Systems thinking - viewing things as interconnected and interdependent.
It aligns with Our Nottinghamshire Approach, and Our Nottinghamshire Approach to Participation, because it is a relational, restorative approach that prioritises the experiences of children, families and practitioners as being drivers for change.
What are the key elements to Human Learning Systems?
Understanding the system
- Understand how things are interconnected and interdependent.
- By defining our 'system of interest' around an outcome or a theme.
- Thinking about the people who are involved/affected and the factors which contribute such as policies and processes.
- By seeing how all parts of that system are related, including the strength and impact of those relationships.
- Looking at the whole picture so that we appreciate the cumulative effect of those relationships that lead to patterns of outcomes.
- Recognise that the system is complex and contains dynamic relationships, so we need to continuously learn and adapt.
This helps create more responsive change in services.
Co-design and co-production
Co-production is a collaborative process where services, and the people who use them, work together to design, deliver and assess services with:
- Equal partnership: children, adults and communities share power and responsibility in delivering change.
- Shared decision making: decisions are made together ensuring the voice of those with lived experience are at the centre.
- Mutual learning: both parties learn from each other, learning to more efficient and responsive services.
This approach ensures services and change are tailored to the needs of those most impacted leading to better outcomes and greater satisfaction.
Test and learn
We can try things out in very complex circumstances and understand the system better.
- Testing and experimentation: trying out new approaches and ways of doing things based on the learning from co-production activities. This involves testing, evaluating, and refining to see what works best.
- Continuous learning: constantly learning from each other and the system and regularly feeding this back into the process. Realtime feedback helps services adapt quicker.
- Reflective practice: Regularly reflecting on what has been learnt and using the learning to inform future actions.
This approach encourages innovation and helps services adapt quicker, so they are more effective and responsive to change.
Grow
- Embedding: integrating successful practices and learning into everyday work. This helps new methods become standard practice and encourages longer term sustainability.
- Influencing: Using success and learning in an effective way, sharing knowledge with other services, influencing policy, and becoming advocates for change.
What is system stewardship?
Learning Cycles exist at different scales including individuals, teams, organisations, a wider geographical area, and a regional/country scale.
System stewardship means:
- Managing and governing the cycle of ongoing learning.
- Having a decision-making framework that is logical, robust and repeatable.
- Defining the roles and responsibilities of the project team and others involved or affected.
- Good project governance and being accountable for aligning the project to the organisations goals.
- Creating a supportive condition for continuous learning and development, including the ability to fail.
- Fostering trust and collaboration amongst everyone involved/interested/affected.
- Helping people and different services work towards a common goal or shared purpose, such as supporting families to help them achieve similar goals and outcomes.
