Hello folks
I'd love share this lovely little story with you - so I will!
I received this email from one of my previous co-learning program
participants...as well as bringing me a sense of joy and excitement for Mark
(the author), it reminded me that we all have had a 'first time' at opening the
space....may we all remember that moment and savour the rich journeys that have
emerged from those first steps into the circle space...
With deep gratitude for all space-openers, old, new and yet-to-be!
Brendan
Open Space in Broome
Hi Brendan
I have conducted my first Open Space meeting!
After much thinking, sweating, planning, panicking,… I ran a mini-version over
half a day for teachers of Aboriginal community schools at our Broome
conference. My thinking was that I was in no position to tell them how to best
do their job and they would benefit more from sharing with each other. My
colleagues were extremely sceptical but let me get on with it – I think ready
to let me take all the flak when it became a disaster.
The result was spectacularly successful – beyond anything I could anticipate!
The theme was: How do we deliver the Australian Curriculum in a remote
Aboriginal Independent Community School?
There were about 50 teachers, all working at independent Aboriginal schools in
the Kimberley and Pilbara; most of them quite young.
I set up 3 sessions of 45 minutes with 6 spaces available. After the intro, I
had hardly left the circle when teachers were jumping up to write their session
topics. By my observation, 95% of teachers were fully engaged all morning in
intense discussions.
In the closing session, the teachers shared one idea which had energised them –
and everyone had something to contribute. My colleagues were blown away and
exuberant in their praise.
So I’m going to try the format again over a whole day in another context…
Thanks for the training you provided and the encouragement to try something
different.
I’m a convert.
Mark Newhouse
Manager of Curriculum
Association of Independent Schools of WA
e: mnewho...@ais.wa.edu.au
_______________________________________________
OSList mailing list
To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org
To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org
To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
