Reporting back...Open Space for a track within a Conference

[Julie Smith]

Peggy and Judi and all,

I'm co-teaching a class for 13 local teachers called "Conflict
Resolution in the Classroom."   Judi, your discussions about using OST
in the classroom inspired us to use OST in three of the six classroom
days.  The first OST day was excellent.  High energy, lots of topics,
spirited conversation.

The second OST day (the very next day) was quite different.  Before
opening space, two things happened.  First was a presentation on anger
management, and then a relaxation/meditation exercise.

The opening for this OST was also different, and very brief.  A walk
around the circle, a restatement of the theme for the day, and then the
statement "you know what to do."  The part about the four principles,
the law, and the directions for how to proceed were not covered.

The response was slow and only three topics were posted.  It ended up
that only one topic was posted for the first session, so we remained in
our existing circle, and talked.  The group never broke into separate
sessions for the other two topics.  The other topics partially became
absorbed in the first conversation, but not entirely.  The discussion
was excellent, and the feedback for our time together that day was very
good.

Still, I wonder whether the abbreviated opening had something to do with
the lack of topics posted and general lack of energy.  Judi, you told me
that you always go through the entire opening, even in a class where all
the students have already experienced the process.  As I reflect back on
that OST, I wonder whether this OST opening provided enough of that
"transfer-in" to give participants what they needed to fully engage in
the process.

I'm off to class now, and will be opening space for our last day of OST
in this particular classroom.  I think I'll do a full opening.  :)

Julie

> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Judi
> Richardson
> Sent: Monday, June 03, 2002 5:23 AM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Re: Reporting back...Open Space for a track within a
Conference
>
> Peggy wrote:
> With very rare exceptions, I always start OSs these days with some
sort
> of invitation to either silently reflect or talk to the person in the
> next seat about what makes the topic meaningful to them (e.g.,
"reflect
> silently on a story that really made a difference" during the
jouralism
> that matters OS; or inviting each person to tell a story about when
they
> fell in love with flying during an aviation OS).
> ********************
> Peggy — I read your feedback with great interest, thank you.  The
> above I use in other forms of facilitation as a transfer-in process.
> Interesting that you are using them in OST — so far, I find the
> opening has been enough of a transfer in!  Once again, thanks.
>
> *
> *
> ==========================================================
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> ------------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu,
> Visit:
>
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html

*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu,
Visit:

http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html