[OSList] Opening Space for the first time

Brendan McKeague mckeaguebrendan at gmail.com
Tue Apr 30 07:27:00 PDT 2013


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:  mnewhouse at ais.wa.edu.au
               
 
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