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 4 th grade curriculum? What does experiential learning entail?

Day 1: Foundations Introduction Community protocols and norms opening activities Experiential Learning & Experiential Education Constructivism Experiential Learning Model Creating a sense of community What & Why Container Concept Intentionality Conditions

Day 2: Intentional Facilitation Facilitator Knowledge Group Development Sequencing Processing Experience Facilitation Issues Encouraging Dialogue Dealing with Resistance Embracing Diversity Supporting Learning And/or… Closing

Best Workshop Ever Facilitator Clear and understood directions Stay Prepared Interested and engaged Present

Best Workshop Ever Everybody 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)

Ownership Focus (goal setting) and the 3 R’s (Routines, rituals, responsibilities) Conditions for Creating a Sense of Community

Ritual A 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.

Positivity Positivity ratio of 3:1 Nurture 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.

Positivity INDIVIDUAL 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 Point Flourishing = 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 Environment Physical/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 EDUCATION INTENTIONALLYUNINTENTIONALLY INVITINGINTENTIONALLY INVITING UNINTENTIONALLY INVITING DISINVITINGINTENTIONALLY DISINVITING UNINTENTIONALLY DISINVITING

Reacting Acting without thinking Reacting Acting without thinking Responding Thinking before we act Responding Thinking 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 Processing experience…

Frontloading 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 CycleDavid 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

The Tightrope Walker Once there was a tightrope walker who performed unbelievable aerial feats. All Over 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 perform his 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 promoter answered. “I just saw you do it.” “No, no, no,” said the tightrope walker. “Do you really believe I Can 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