by Danny Mucinskas
Over the past year, Marga Biller of Project Zero’s Learning Innovations Laboratory and The Good Project’s Danny Mucinskas and Howard Gardner have been involved in a collaboration with the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM). The purpose of the project has been to design a research-based course that combines our expertise in the concepts of “good work” and “unlearning.” Earlier this year, we completed an initial abbreviated offering of the course for a small group of employees at SIM (link to earlier blog here).
This summer, we completed an expanded new version of the course, titled “Navigating Changes Successfully in the Workplace,” for a group of unemployed learners who had previously been working as PMETs (professionals, managers, executives, or technicians). The Singaporean government has been actively involved in encouraging programs that aim to reskill or upskill workers to meet the demands of a changing economy. Certain sectors of Singapore’s economy, including travel and tourism, have been negatively affected recently by the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
During the sessions, facilitated by Marga and Danny, learners were encouraged to reflect on their perspectives and actively share their views in discussions with one another. Through the use of probing questions and prompts, conceptual frameworks, and case-based dilemmas, the sessions allowed learners to explore their own attitudes, behaviors, and assumptions about their working lives. The development of a habit of internal reflection was especially important for this group, at a time when they were in the midst of moving from one career to another, often after having been laid off.
Similar to the first pilot, this second round of the course explored the meaning of “good work” and “unlearning” in practice, applying these ideas to real-life situations. We asked participants to consider their mindsets deeply, using exercises about the values, identities, and expertise. We then explored processes of habit formation with the goal of forming habits that support the achievement of good work that is excellent, ethical, and engaging. Finally, we looked at the ecosystem of resources and relationships around participants that they could draw upon in their work, as well as how to connect with and bridge misalignments with others.
Post-course feedback was gathered in surveys and interviews and was generally positive, with participants responding that they were highly likely to recommend the course to others. One individual shared, “As the world is constantly facing challenges and changes, I think the ability to learn and unlearn is very important.” Another stated, “My habit of doing things determine[s] the outcome of the things I'm doing. I need to reflect on my goal, focus on [my] desire[d] outcome, and adjust my cycle of habit.”
Overall, participants in this pilot seemed to derive value from the ideas we presented because of the relevance to their current circumstances, namely their job search and the introspection associated with moving career sectors. They also strongly recommended allotting more time for future students to engage even more deeply with the activities, indicating the power of the exercises we shared for sparking group discussion.
Our team looks forward to further developing the course in collaboration with partners from SIM and to learning as we potentially reach new audiences.
