Knowledge cafes/Reflections on nested OST forums

JayWV at aol.com JayWV at aol.com
Tue Jun 13 09:01:48 PDT 2000


For folks following the Knowledge Cafe conversation, read on (about half way
through the story below) for an earlier (archived) message that presents an
interesting "World Cafe" case:
Jay

Jay W. Vogt
Peoplesworth
166 Hubbard Street
Concord, MA 01742 USA

(978) 371-3134    Voice
(978) 287-5431    Fax
jaywv at aol.com      Email


In a message dated 4/20/99 9:18:49 PM, alan.stewart at flinders.edu.au writes:

<< Ever experienced a 'nested' Open Space? A full blown OST forum set

within a conference.


This is what was cocreated recently as part of a residential for

graduate students of the Department of Social Ecology at the University

of Western Sydney at Hawkesbury.


I had been invited to be a guest at this annual gathering for students

undertaking research theses for masters and PhD degrees. In the event

my role evolved into both presenter of ideas to open the 3 and 1/2 day

gathering and of facilitator of Open Space processes during its course.


'Social Ecology' is difficult to pin down; in my knowing a working

definition is that it is 'Pariticipant observation in processes

underpinning

personal, professional and community transformation.' It attracts mature

age

students from many diverse disciplines and from all around the

Antipodes.

Invariably they are passionate and committed people; about 70 were

present

at the gathering.


The theme for the residential was a composite of 'crossing traditional

disciplinary boundaries', 'incorporating a variety of

media/styles/approaches'

and the 'post modern/constructivist/how real is real' ... all in the

pursuit

of creating a significant research thesis.


Here is a brief overview of the happenings. For those interested

questions to me could flesh out more details of the event and its

origins,

as well as what interpretation to place on specific observations and

outcomes.


. I gave the opening presentation on 'Time for conversation in research

and practice: what happens when people come together knowing that

they will treat each other well.'


In this I touched on ideas relating to respectful interaction derived

from physics (David Bohm and notions of dialogue), biology (Humberto

Maturana and notions of knowledge being produced in course of

conversation,

cybernetics (Gordon Pask and notions of intelligence being a property of


conversation and family therapy (Harold Goolishan and others on notions

of therapy being conversational artistry).


This presentation was set in the context of OST principles; including

pictures of a bumblebee and a butterfly which my wife drew some

time ago and which were inadvertently soaked in the interim; they have

a surreal appearance.


The whole gathering could not be conducted in an OST format as there was


an agenda which included presentations from students on the progress of

their research and from staff members.


Nonetheless there were opportunities for two 'dinky di' ie 'box and

dice' OST forums (fora?).


. One was for the purpose of students finding others who had similar

interests relevant to the conduct of a scholarly project and the

production of a

respected thesis.


This was conducted in the late afternoon of the first day. Within 15

minutes the bulletin board had about 25 items on it. It was then that I

had a

powerful learning experience.


The issue was not “Which issues will be discussed today, and which on

the succeeding days?” The group made it clear that they wanted to find

others with similar interests NOW and use the opportunity of the rest of

the

residential to pursue these mutual interests. They were not concerned

with

recording who was there except for their own purposes of keeping

connected

nor were they concerned with documenting the proceedings of the

conversations.


The only issue seemingly then was where particular groups would hold

their first meeting or 'huddle' (a term used within the Social Ecology

culture).


I quickly came to the appreciation that I had no role in this

'arranging' and so I just 'sat on my hands' and let it happen. Which it

did,

with no apparent hassle, to my amazement but not to my surprise. I have

learned to trust the principles underlying the process!


. The other was a Passion Cafe, held on the last night. This is a

process created by Nancy Margulies, as part of World Cafe

(www.theworldcafe.com). She calls it _Cafe with Open Space a la carte_.


In essence I invited all participants to contribute whatever they wished


to a social gathering which would have some talking in small groups and

which had the potential to include other expression of passion. The

general

comment had been made that they had spent the previous three days in

talking and

listening and they felt a need to 'move'. (There was circle dancing for

those who

wished prior to the start of each day's business).


People brought all sorts of decor including flowers and candles and pink


paper table cloths. They also produced fine finger foods and soft drinks

and

wine as well as percolated coffee. One man from the nearby Blue

Mountains

'happened to have' a set of four drums and a collection of small

percussion

instruments with him.


On the night participants wove an incredible collage of songs, stories,

poems, drumming and dancing without a shred of prior preparation or

consultation. The improvising was such that any group of jazz musos

would have been

triggered to marvel in sheer astonishment.



There is much that could be said about the whole event and the place of

OST principles and practice in it. For the moment I will conclude by

saying

that the gathering was remarkably successful as adjudged by the demeanor

of the

group as a whole and how they 'got on' with what was required. .


And perhaps for purposes of offering another perspective of applications


of OST I would say that I experienced no conflict - in this particular

context

- in being both a presenter of ideas on conversational practice and the

facilitator

of a full blown OST process _within_ the overall conference.


And so the caravan moves on.

 >>



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