Public Sector Innovation Labs Blog Three: Implementing a scaling deep and transformative learning approach

This blog is the third in a series about scaling deep in public sector and social innovation lab practice from our experiences as practitioners working with Auckland’s Co-Design Lab and Vancouver’s Solutions Lab. The first post focuses on describing and defining what scaling deep and transformative learning are or might be (building on the work of Riddell, Moore and Tulloch). It offers a description of a lab typology with this focus, and describes six moves for practitioners to make when working toward scaling deep and transformative learning. The second post shares some stories from our respective experiences and experiments with scaling deep and transformative learning.

In this third post we expand on our description of the transformative learning and scaling deep lab typology, discuss why scaling deep and transformative learning matters for public sector innovation. We describe what this work has looked like in our contexts and how it relates to other forms of scaling. We also offer ways to understand when and if it is having an impact. We are still very much figuring this out in our own thinking and practices, so please read this as learning-out-loud, and as practices-in-motion. We also have published an open access journal article on these topics for anyone interested in having a look at that.

You may be interested in this article if…

You are exploring the potentials and practices of transformative learning and/or scaling in your own public sector and/or social innovation work.

You’re a public sector innovator and/or lab practitioner who is interested in how a learning-oriented approach — at the individual, relational, and systems scales — might support your practice.

You enjoy reading about how other public sector innovators and labs are reflecting on their own practice.

There are two main sections in this post where we share specific examples of shifts toward transformative learning and scaling deep — first from Vancouver’s Solutions Lab, followed by Auckland’s Co-Design Lab.

Read more at: Public Sector Innovation Labs: Implementing a scaling deep and transformative learning approach