[OSList] Open Space in schools

Tue Sep 24 20:09:53 PDT 2013

Hi Jamie,

This sounds like an exciting project.  I have used OST a number of times in
school settings with students, and it is always invigorating.  I am also
excited about your goal, to assist students to establish a way for the
student council to have a stronger voice in school governance, in
connection with the various existing bodies in the school.

You describe that you see value in having a conversation with school
leaders about the organizational role of the student council in the past.
 I think that this is an important conversation to have prior to an OST
event with students and other leaders.  I agree with Harrison that it is
important to have this conversation well in advance of the OST event.

If I were in your shoes, I would facilitate a meeting with school leaders
(teachers, school leadership team, governors) and I would include student
council leaders.  I would describe to them the purpose and theme of the OST
event, and I would ask the group if there are any "givens" for the event,
that would form the boundaries for the work that the participants will do.
 I would gather the possible givens, and then carefully consider each one
to make sure that it is actually a given.  The fact that you have a
year-long contract for this project suggests to me that the school
leadership is open to something new.  It may be that the organizational
role that the student council has had in the past is open to change, which
would be good.  I imagine, however, that the roles and responsibilities of
the existing school governing bodies are probably givens that it is
important for the students to understand.  This open and honest
conversation about school governance in advance of the event can be very
important in establishing good lines of communication and trust in all
directions in the school.

When you have reduced the number of givens to the smallest number that the
group can, while honoring existing structures, then you have an important
piece of information.  But I agree with Harrison and Lisa that you would
not want to open your OST event with a lengthy presentation about these
boundaries.  Instead, I would share them very briefly at the start of the
event.  I often have a simple diagram that shows a circle.  The circle
represents the freedom that the OST participants have in which to do their
work.  The givens can be listed around the outside of the circle.

To share these givens does not prevent participants in the OST from
considering the possible need to change these givens in some way, but if
this happens it helps everyone involved to be cognizant of existing
processes for considering such proposals and decisions.  And the space *
inside* the circle will provide the participants with a wonderful open
space in which to develop new ideas and innovations.

Best of luck with this project!  I hope that you let us know how it
unfolds.  I do not know of *any *school in which a stronger, more empowered
student voice and leadership process would not be beneficial to everyone
involved.  Your work could provide a useful case story for others to follow.

Cheers,
Chris

On Tue, Sep 24, 2013 at 2:18 AM, Lisa Heft <lisaheft at openingspace.net>wrote:

> Good job, Carms!
>
> And Artur, I am very sad. Because I love it so much when you disagree with
> me… ;o)
>
> Abrazos,
> Lisa
>
>
>
>
> On Sep 23, 2013, at 5:20 PM, Carmela Ariza <carmela_ariza at yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
> Yes Lisa I remember saying in the opening circle that it is time to think
> outside the box. Then I continued to say: who says there is a box anyway? I
> got some participants chuckling at this. It was a good open space which
> participants truly found very different from what they are used to. Carms
>
>
>
>  ------------------------------
> Hi Jamie: * *
>
>
> I am completelly in agreeement with Lisa (this time ;-)
>
> Artur
>
>
> *From: * Lisa Heft <lisaheft at openingspace.net>;
> * To: * World wide Open Space Technology email list <
> oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>;
> * Subject: * Re: [OSList] Open Space in schools
> * Sent: * Mon, Sep 23, 2013 5:12:41 PM
>
>   Jamie - in my experience, any speeches (longer than 'thanks for coming,
> we're so excited, here's your facilitator let's get to work')
>
> In saying this - I know there are also cultural and regional traditions.
> However, having people speak too much at the start…
>
> - starts putting the body to rest - when actually in Open Space we want
> active, breathing, energy-to-jump-into-the-center-with-topics
> - sets in some people's heads a pre-determined thought, thus reducing the
> possibility for different, emergent, outlier, diverse thinking as inspired
> by the theme question
> - speeches are oh-so-often only listened to by the person giving that
> speech ;o) - other people are in their heads going 'what's this circle?'
> 'what shall I propose as a topic?' 'how do I feel?' 'what is this going to
> be like?'
> - even if the speaker is charismatic, is not behind a podium, is physical
> and walking that circle - people listening are still shifting into
> receiving thought rather than creating / inviting / experiencing it.
> - takes time away from actually getting to the work at hand. The more time
> for dialogue and interchange, the richer, the deeper the thoughts and
> conversations, and the more time given to participants to start noticing
> common threads and linkages across the day.
>
> The other thing is that for any kind of facilitation, I would not name
> boundaries or constraints. It sets peoples' minds in the framework of
> boundaries and constraints - rather than opportunities and possibilities.
> Like 'think outside the box' - you are still thinking…of the box! when /
> because someone says that.
>
> If there is anything that is 'off the table' such as 'we are all here to
> think of things that do not cost money' simply say that in your beautifully
> constructed theme question. The theme is the task, and the thing that
> invites topics. So if the theme included '…with zero money but with other
> amazing shared resources…' If you have to. Often you do not have to say
> anything is 'off the plate' - you just open by making sure the participants
> know whether they are advisory or decisionary in this meeting. Ideas where
> someone originally assumed there was money (let's say that is one of the
> boundaries) can always be revisited for 'what other kinds of existing
> resources do  we have to help this amazing breakthrough idea happen?' in
> another part of the meeting, after the meeting, however the meeting is
> designed.
>
> So I also encourage - if anything more than a moment must be said - to do
> it the evening before, perhaps.  Separate it from the Open Space. Say less.
> Invite more. Let them jump into that space!
>
> Lisa
>
>
> On Sep 23, 2013, at 4:03 AM, Jamie Colston <jamiecolston at googlemail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Dear All,
>
> I have been working with a Secondary school in the UK to support students
> to develop their school council into something which gives them a real
> voice in their school and supports them to make things happen. As part of
> this process, in the last academic year I ran some world cafe sessions with
> Students, Teachers and the School Leadership Team and Governors to find out
> more about their views of the student council and what they would like to
> see in the future.
>
> This work has led to a year long contract to help build on this and I am
> bringing together all of the Art of Hosting work to support the students to
> build something emergent and powerful that inculdes the full school system.
> In the next few weeks the school will be having their very first open space
> meeting with members of as many of the various parts of the system there as
> possible.
>
> For the opening of the open space I was planning to do a context setting
> piece for everyone and invite the headteacher, leader of the governors and
> the school council leadership team to just say a few words about the
> boundaries that are there in terms of the academic and governance
> structures so that everyone can be clear about what is possible and what
> isn't within the constraints of the current system. I would them set up the
> open space and ensure that the talking ends on a creative and upbeat note.
>
> I would love any advice, thoughts and feedback. In my mind i think that to
> keep it as open as possible is important and what has constantly been a
> theme in all the pre work is working within the context of the
> political/technical/academic landscape (they would not phrase it like this
> but this sums it up).
>
> If this year works, it is likely that I will be able to work for further
> years bringing open space, world cafe, graphic facilitation and AOH into
> the school as a key methodology for empowering change in the system so it
> is very exciting and hence why advice and wisdom is most welcome.
>
> Thanks and look forward to hearing any inspiration
>
> Jamie
>
> --
> *Jamie Colston*
>
> Enabling young people to design inspiring events and host conversations
> that matter to them, empowering them to find their voice and take practical
> action towards creating a sustainable, peaceful and equitable world.
>
> *
> *
>
> *M: *07909 442006 *E: *jamiecolston at gmail.com* *
>
> *FB/Linked In/Skype:* Jamie Colston  *Twitter*: spearthwarrior
>
> *Nowhere ecl  www.now-here.com/ecl*
>
> *Green Vision Movement  www.greenvisionmovement.org*
>
> **** <http://www.bathamptoncsa.wordpress.com/>* *
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