The Change Laboratory as an approach to harnessing conversation for academic development

Abstract

Informal academic conversations constitute a valuable addition to the repertoire of academic development initiatives. This article proposes that a Change Laboratory methodology may enhance the productivity of such conversations. Support for this proposal comes from a detailed analysis of participants’ transformation of conversations on individual problems, into collective and systemic understandings as well as potential solutions in the Change Laboratory. This is achieved through their use of theoretically derived tools from activity theory. Such transformative ability, as well as some participants’ application of the approach in their own research, it is suggested, may indicate the development of transformative agency.