VCoL+7

Lectica's learning model

Virtuous cycles of learning (VCoL) and the +7 skills

VCoL+7 illustration

All of Lectica's learning tools are designed to leverage and support VCoL+7—the virtuous cycle of learning and its +7 skills. A VCoL is a repeated cycle of goal setting, information seeking, application, and reflection. Its +7 skills include reflectivity, awareness, seeking and evaluating information, making connections, applying knowledge, seeking and working with feedback, and recognizing and managing biases.

VCoLing engages the whole learner. By this, we mean that it engages learners emotionally, physically, and intellectually, leveraging both conscious and unconscious mental processes. VCoLing ensures that new knowledge is integrated into existing knowledge in a way that makes it useful and "sticky."

When people learn by VCoLing, they not only build knowledge but also nurture the dispositions and skills required for a lifetime of learning and development.

VCoLing is a practice that builds skills. Because it is a micro-practice that happens in real-time, we call the practice of VCoLing micro-VCoLing.

We teach micro-VCoLing to people in organizations of all kinds. Contact us to learn more about how we can help your organization get addicted to learning.

Short introduction

Full lecture

The +7 skills

All VCoLs, in addition to integrating new information and ideas into our mental networks, also support the development of several fundamental life skills. We call these +7 skills. Here are some of the forms of VCoLing that foster their development.

Overview

Awareness of self, others, and the environment
Skills for making connections between ideas, information, emotions, perspectives, and evidence
Skills for seeking and evaluating information, evidence, and perspectives
Skills for applying what we know in real-world contexts
Reflectivity—a cultivated habit of reflecting on outcomes, information, emotions, or events
Skills for seeking and making use of feedback
Awareness of cognitive and behavioral biases and skills for avoiding them

1—Self and other awareness

Awareness micro-VCoLing structured around practices that involve...

observing and documenting thoughts, feelings, or behavior
self-evaluation
practicing non-judgmental openness to experience
meditation
mindfulness in everyday life
somatic practices, like yoga
coherence practices, like HeartMath

2—Making connections

Connection micro-VCoLing structured around practices that involve...

brainstorming
Minto Pyramid problem solving
polarity thinking (or both / and thinking)
mind mapping
causal loop diagramming (or other systems mapping approaches)
building relational databases

3—Seeking and evaluating information

Seeking & evaluating micro-VCoLing structured around practices that involve...

active listening
deep listening (Kramer)
seeking clarification
“library” research
critical thinking
action inquiry (particularly second-person action inquiry)
the scientific method

4—Applying knowledge

Application micro-VCoLing structured around practices that involve…

action learning
project-based learning
developing action plans or development plans
rehearsing—reducing risk by trying out new knowledge in hypothetical situations
writing or critical discourse—using new knowledge to improve an argument or message

5—Reflectivity

Reflectivity micro-VCoLing structured around practices that involve…

making sure that learning goals are “just right”
embedding learning in real life, as a part of everyday activities
not punishing learners for making mistakes—helping them see mistakes as a source of useful information
ensuring that every learning cycle, no matter how small, ends with goal setting

6—Seeking feedback

Feedback micro-VCoLing structured around practices that involve…

openness to feedback
awareness of your own defensiveness
feedback-seeking skills (like helping others feel comfortable providing you with feedback)
skills for evaluating and incorporating feedback
second-person action inquiry
participation in focus groups
customer or employee surveys

7—Coping with cognitive and behavioral biases

De-biasing micro-VCoLing structured around practices that involve…

cultivating humility—recognizing the ubiquity of human fallibility
building critical thinking skills
regularly seeking feedback
tackling common cognitive biases, one at a time (e.g., conservation bias, bandwagon effect, stereotyping, or attribution bias)

Micro-VCoLing optimizes mental development

Unlike conventional study skills—which are designed primarily to help students learn factual information well enough to pass academic tests—VCoLs build the knowledge, deep understanding, and skills we need to navigate the complexity and ambiguity of our lives.