Double-loop Learning by Anna Kim

•  What is Double Loop Learning?

     Double-loop learning is an educational concept and process that involves teaching people to think more deeply about their own assumptions and beliefs.

•   The Origins of the Instructional Model

     Double loop learning was created by Chris Argyris, a leading organizational trainer, in the mid-1980’s. This instructional model involves changing methods and improving efficiency to obtain the established objectives. It also calls for changing and questioning the objectives, discovering and inventing new alternatives, objectives, and perceptions, as well as approaching problems in a new way.

• Family Tree Theoretical Background

     Double loop learning falls into the constructivist learning theory that refers to an individual’s learning as a process of constructing knowledge. “Constructivism seeks to tap into and trigger student’s innate curiosity about the world and how things work” (Harasim, 2012, pg.60). Students are encouraged to question how things work and function by applying their existing knowledge and real world problems, learning to hypothesize, testing their theories, and drawing conclusions from their findings. “Thus, students construct their knowledge rather than mechanically ingest knowledge from their textbook or teacher” (Harasim, 2012, pg.69).

By accommodating students’ educational diversity, constructivism focuses on helping students become active learners through four key learning pedagogy such as active learning, learning-by-doing, scaffolded learning, and collaboration. Piaget’s four developmental stages as well as Vygotsky’s social-cultural impacts are the two major theoretical concepts behind the constructivist learning theory.

• The Descriptions of Double Loop Learning

     Double loop learning is an effective educational approach to influence student’s thinking and behavior to become more effective learners and leaders. The intent of double-loop learning is also transformation; the transformation of deeply held perspectives of the world in which we work and act. Double-loop learning can be viewed as an educational strategy that contains high- level potential to shift the perceptions of our learners. “The strategy or method used to achieve this type of deeper learning is a form of communication and dialogue that involves a good deal of interaction among learners. Double-Loop Learning helps students acquire and integrate new information and develop new skills, to question and possibly discard familiar and perhaps dysfunctional ways of thinking, feeling, and acting”(Cartwright, 2002, pg.69)
 This kind of inquiry can lead to experimentation with new designs and new actions, which in turn can lead to further new designs and actions when learning to lead. Double-loop learning thus allows the educator to create opportunities for students to change their habits of thinking, challenge and restructure deeply held assumptions, and act in new and unfamiliar ways.

• Practical Example

     Double-loop learning allows the educator to create opportunities for students to change their habits of thinking, challenge and restructure deeply held assumptions, and act in new and unfamiliar ways. I would apply this instructional model to assess students understanding of the Korean etiquettes, culture, and language. For example, I will provide a narrative scenario that wrongfully depicts the Korean etiquettes, culture, and language. Rather than having students correct the wrongfully depicted Korean etiquettes, culture, and language, I will have them recreate the narrative scenario that properly addresses the three criteria.

•  3 Relevant Links

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuMQWslvExA

This YouTube clip portrays the differences between Single loop learning and Double loop learning. The clip is not only entertaining to watch but also simplifies the differences between the two instructional models.

https://www.smore.com/rwmek-content-curation-cep-811-week-3

This website provides modified lesson plans that are based on the concept of Double loop theory. Thus, it is very helpful to obtain concrete as well as practical information in regards how to effectively implement this instructional framework.

http://executiveeducation.wharton.upenn.edu/thought-leadership/wharton-at-work/2012/04/lessons-from-army

This website describes how Double-loop learning is implemented in the United States Army. By implementing this instructional model, it creates opportunities for soldiers to grow and develop into more effective leaders.  

• Resources:

Cartwright, S. (2002). Double-Loop Learning: A Concept and Process for Leadership Educators. Journal of Leadership Education, 1(1), 68-70. Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://www.leadershipeducators.org/Resources/Documents/jole/2002_summer/JOLE_1_1_Cartright.pdf

Harasim, Linda. (2012). Learning Theory and Online Technologies. (1^st ed.) Routledge, NY: Taylor and Francis, Inc.

Smith, M. (2013). Chris Argyris: Theories of Action, Double-loop Learning and Organizational Learning. Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://infed.org/mobi/chris-argyris-theories-of-action-double-loop-learning-and-organizational-learning/