Experience, Facilitation & Leadership

UWGB: June 24-27, 2012

QUESTIONS/WONDERINGS• I wonder what I need to know…

• I wonder how to bring this back to a larger group.

• How do you maintain the position of directing without presenting yourself as an authority?

• Why it works or doesn’t – how to be intentional with learning community.

• Buy in?

QUESTIONS/WONDERINGS• How to get the group tasks/experiential learning to be the

picture and not the scatter, disconnected stuff.

• How to be/promote structure and purpose without creating or allowing complacency.

• How can we bring experiential learning into our Native American 4th grade curriculum?

• What does experiential learning entail?

Day 1: Foundations• Introduction

Community protocols and normsopening activities

• Experiential Learning & Experiential EducationConstructivismExperiential Learning Model

• Creating a sense of communityWhat & WhyContainer ConceptIntentionalityConditions

Day 2: Intentional Facilitation• Facilitator Knowledge

Group DevelopmentSequencingProcessing Experience

• Facilitation IssuesEncouraging DialogueDealing with ResistanceEmbracing DiversitySupporting LearningAnd/or…

• Closing

Best Workshop EverFacilitator

Clear and understood directions

Stay

Prepared

Interested and engaged

Present

Best Workshop EverEverybody

Building and inclusive community

Respect time

Attentive listening

Be supportive

Respectful open dialogue

Engaged and participate

Right to choose

Be aware of our humor

A “sense” of community: An intangible place where one feels safe -- shared experience, goals, and feelings, interests in an open minded manner. Space where honesty and authenticity are honored which provides opportunity for reflection and growth.

A sense of community is present when balance is fostered at the individual and group level with an effort toward (a) shared vision(s)

• OwnershipFocus (goal setting) and the 3 R’s (Routines, rituals, responsibilities)

Conditions for Creating a Sense of Community

RitualA routine is merely something we do, a ritual has emotional significance. “Rituals are powerful because they speak to a different part of the brain than we use for thinking,” says Joyn Borysenko, Ph.D., author of Inner Peace for Busy People. That’s because rituals bypass words, connecting us to what matters through symbols or gestures.

• PositivityPositivity ratio of 3:1Nurture the positive

Conditions for Creating a Sense of Community

Resiliency through Positivity• Joy

• Gratitude

• Serenity

• Interest

• Hope

• Pride

• Amusement

• Inspiration

• Awe

• Love

From: Fredrickson, B. (2009) Positivity: Groundbreaking Research Reveals How to Embrace the Hidden Strength of Positive Emotions, Overcome Negativity, and Thrive. New York, NY: Crown Archetype.

PositivityINDIVIDUAL

1. Broadens our minds and our hearts

2. Transforms us for the better

3. Fuels Resilience

GROUP

1. Asking questions and focusing outward (open to new ideas)

2. Connectivity and attunement of the team. More responsive to one another

3. Bouncing back from adversity rather than getting stuck in self-absorbed advocacy

Positivity Ratio

The Tipping PointFlourishing = 3 to 1

“… only when positivity ratios are higher than 3 to 1 is positivity in sufficient supply to seed human flourishing.” (Fredrickson, 2009)

A Place for Negativity• Specific negative emotions help us

focus and take action (such as in resolving or transforming conflict). Global and unfocused negative emotions overwhelm and poison us.

• The difference between anger and contempt or guilt and shame

• Safe and Trusting EnvironmentPhysical/Emotional Safety and Relational Trust

• Balancing “Me” and “We”Empowerment and Social Commitment

Conditions for Creating a Sense of Community

The central message of the consumer culture in which we live is: You’re the most important thing on earth. You’re the heaviest object in the universe and everything orbits around you. And we’ve enshrined this idea as ‘human nature.’ Not remembering that most people in most places have had other things very near the center of their identity – the tribe, the community, their relationship with the natural world, or the Divine – something that gave them more of a sense of identity not obsessively rooted in themselves.

Bill McKibbon (Interview aired on May 26, 2007)

• Intentionality Being intentionally inviting and making Time for relationship building

Conditions for Creating a Sense of Community

“People and environments are never neutral, they are either summoning or shunning the development of human potential.”

Purkey & Novak, Inviting School Success

INVITATIONAL EDUCATIONINTENTIONALLY UNINTENTIONALLY

INVITING INTENTIONALLY INVITING

UNINTENTIONALLY INVITING

DISINVITING INTENTIONALLY DISINVITING

UNINTENTIONALLY DISINVITING

www.invitationaleducation.net

ReactingActing without

thinking

RespondingThinking before

we act

Sequencing the Process

Sequencing and Flow

1. Getting Acquainted

2. Learning to Trust and Support Each Other

3. Setting Goals

4. Using Communication Skills

5. Problem Solving and Conflict Resolution

6. Extensions

Processing experience…

Frontloading an idea, theme, metaphor: How do we make meaning through

activity?

Did you notice?…Why did that happen?

Does that happen in real life?

How can you use that?

SEE: Open to Outcome by Micah Jacobson & Mari

Ruddy

Experiential Learning Cycle David Kolb

Why does that happen?

From: Cain, J., Cummings, M, & Stanchfield, J. (2005). A Teachable Moment. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company (p. 8)

Thematic/Focused

Group Development

TEAM DEVELOPMENT WHEEL

FORMING

TestingPolite

ImpersonalWatchfulGuarded

PERFORMING

MatureCloseness

ResourcefulOpen

EffectiveClose andSupportive

NORMING

Getting OrganizedDeveloping Skills

Establishing ProceduresGiving Feedback

Confronting Issues

STORMING/SORTING

InfightingControlling ConflictsConfronting People

Opting OutDifficulties

Feeling Stuck

STAGE FOUR STAGE ONE

STAGE TWOSTAGE THREE

Growth Circles

ComfortZone

Panic Zone

Growth Zone

The Tightrope WalkerOnce there was a tightrope walker whoperformed unbelievable aerial feats. AllOver Paris, he had done tightrope acts at Great heights. He followed his initial acts With succeeding ones, while pushing a Wheelbarrow. A promoter in America (sic) heard about this and Wrote to him, inviting the daredevil to performhis act over the waters and dangers of Niagara Falls. He added, “I don’t believe you can do it….

The tightrope walker accepted the challenge. After much promotion and planning, the man appeared before a huge crowd gathered to see the event. He was To start on the Canadian side and walk to The American side. Drums rolled and Everyone gasped as they watched The performer walk across the wire blindfolded with a wheelbarrow. When he stepped off on the American side, The crowd went wild. Then the tightrope walker turned to the promoter and said, “Well, now do you believe I can do it?”

“Sure I do,” the promoteranswered. “I just saw you do it.”

“No, no, no,” said the tightropewalker. “Do you really believe ICan do it?”

“I just said I did.”

“I mean do you really believe?”

“Yes, I believe!”

“Good,” said the tightrope

walker, “then get in the

wheelbarrow and we’ll go

Back to the other side.”

Tim Hansel