<html>
At 11:47 AM 10/29/2002 -0400, Chris Weaver wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Part of the palatability of Open
Learning Process is that it feels <i>safe</i> to educators because it
keeps intact the structure of "teacher in charge." To me,
this is not just all right, but necessary. I have personally
wrestled and experimented in emergent curriculum, child-centered
learning, democratic schools, and the like for years. My current
belief about the essence of a natural learning methodology for humans is
that: young people need mentors; mentors need small groups; great
mentors have always been space holders; and the better their technical
expertise with the technical aspects of their craft, the better
space-holders they are. Being a space-holder with young people is a
position of authority in the deepest, richest sense of the word, and
there are as many ways to do this beautifully as there are
people.</blockquote><br>
Chris -- I can see and appreciate the need for "comfort" on the
part of the teachers, and therefore the apparent necessity to do
something palatable -- as you say. But I can't help but wonder what would
happen with the same group of kid/teachers/mentors in (for lack of a
better term) pure Open Space? OK, I understand, they might not come. But
how about on the second go 'round? Suppose next year, you said something
like -- "Well, you just had the introduction. Now how about the
whole enchilada?" <br><br>
I certainly agree that in a learning environment, authority is important
-- but it is the authority of knowledge and experience -- and that
authority is not automatically granted along with the title
teacher/mentor. The presumption, I guess, is that they are certified to
have the answers. But more important than "answers" (in my
experience) is/are questions. When the questions are clear and acute,
people seem naturally to search for answers, and will gravitate to those
who answer with the authority of knowledge and experience. And if there
are no (immediate) answers, the search goes on, but it becomes a
collaborative one. To me -- such searching and collaborative finding lies
at the heart of every Open Space I have been a part of. Granted I don't
do that much with kids/teachers/mentors -- but I guess I would be very
surprised if there was any radical difference.<br><br>
Harrison<br><br>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<div align="center">Harrison Owen<br>
7808 River Falls Drive<br>
Potomac, MD 20854 USA<br>
phone 301-365-2093<br>
Open Space Training
<a href="http://www.openspaceworld.com/" eudora="autourl">www.openspaceworld.com</a>
<br>
Open Space Institute <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/" eudora="autourl">www.openspaceworld.org</a><br>
Personal website <a href="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm" eudora="autourl"><font color="#0000FF">http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm</a><br><br>
<u>OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
</u></font>To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,<br>
view the archives of <font color="#0000FF"><u>oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu<br>
</u></font>Visit: <a href="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html" eudora="autourl"><font color="#0000FF"><u>http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html</a><br><br>
<br><br>
</font></u></div>
</html>