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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Hello dear Open Spacers,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>What follows is my learning report for my most recent
Open Space. The reports will eventually be available on my website for
searching when I get the time to get the @#$#!@# thing (that’s ‘blessed
thing’ for those of you who don’t speak wingding…;-) ) fixed
up….until then here it is in full…<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
lang=EN-CA style='font-size:12.0pt'>School District</span></font></st1:place><span
lang=EN-CA> 57- Prince George – Centre for Learning Alternatives<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Open Space – September 2, 2005<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Theme: Student Success: The Power of Working
Together<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Design Parameters: Short notice (2 days); one day OS
(9:00-4:00); action planning; 60 participants, no helpers, mandatory attendance.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'>How the day ran:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Sponsor contacted me via email one week before the
event was scheduled. Previous speaker had cancelled as second day of two day
professional development conference—sponsor saw this as an opportunity to
introduce OS to the school community. Was able to confirm with sponsor two
days before event and had initial planning conversation of about 30 minutes. Sponsor
really wanted to get some action planning in and the day had to be short (4:00
pm finish). Not a lot of time to work with the sponsor to create an
alternative, so trusted in OS form and created a design for three breakout
session times, a reconvene and reopen to non-convergent action planning,
lightening reports and one-liner closing circle. Flew in and had a 1 hour
working session with the sponsor the night before. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Started at 9:10, by 10:10, the participants had posted
20 topics. Session times were 10:15-11:30. 11:30 -12:45, lunch break from
12:45-1:15, 1:15-2:30. By 2:30 we had both a newswall with 30 pages of report
posted and a gallery of beautiful posters of conversation highlights. (I
decided to go with both, as we had little time for people to read and the two
stations provided space for everyone to get a chance to see what was going
on.) Rang bells at 2:30 to reconvene and shift to action planning. Asked
people to take 10 minutes quiet reflection time to look for themes, connections
or actions that had heart and meaning for them and that they were willing to
champion. Back in circle, they posted eight action topics. Had conversations
for ½ hour. Back in circle, had lightening report-in with topic, immediate
action, and how to connect if you wanted to help out—ONLY! For closing
circle, asked them to think of one word, one phrase, or one sentence to express
what they had learned about Student Success, working together, or an AHA
moment. We were done by 3:55. Whew!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Learnings:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Yes, you can do it.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'>It is harder without helpers. I spent a lot of time
helping get reports to print and saved onto my flash drive. It would have been
nice to be able to focus just on holding the space. (Not whining—just
wishing ;)—and driving the point into my memory to stress the importance
of technical helpers more.) <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'>The whole action planning thing has me thinking. By
the end of the third session, the energy is deep and slow—ready for a
shift to reflection/introspection. The shift to action planning felt
jarring—and was a bit confusing for some people. But the grounding
effect it had felt really important. It has me wondering about using the
closing round of a one-day as a grounding tool. I am wondering if a closing
round question can generate the same grounding effect? There is something
really special about people walking away from a day in open space knowing they
are personally responsible for carrying out into the world something precious
that was born in the open space. I could see it in their faces and hear it in
their voices--tremendous excitement about what they had achieved. So while I
know it is a stretch to get action planning into a one day, and work hard to
help sponsors stretch to that extra half day…for the times when that just
isn’t possible, I am beginning to believe that I need to continue to work
at a form that will support the grounding effect of action planning for one day
events. Something that is both graceful and respectful of where participants
are at after a day of meaningful conversation. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'>I was prepared for some negative reactions, as
attendance was mandatory. Two participants came up to speak with me about
their discomfort in the opening circle. One was shaken up by the
process…she felt something was being done to her…that she was a
guinea pig…she needed pull back from what was happening and write to
herself about her reaction. The other was just plain uncomfortable, from the
moment she walked in. She had to push her chair back and get space and
distance—she found the mike overpowering…the space uncomfortable. I
appreciated their honesty and we had an interesting conversation. Upon initial
reflection, I feel that the fact that they were both able to take care of
themselves in the moment and that they chose to stay, even though both
considered leaving…meant that the space was open enough to include
them…as they were and as they needed to be. I think that the reactions
were strong as (although they were both adamant that they had chosen to come)
they had not really chosen freely to participate in open space—there is a
difference between feeling experimented with and choosing to participate in an
experiment—that I believe stems from the mandatory attendance
requirement. They both said that they enjoyed the rest of the day and found it
productive and meaningful. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Never take this amazing thing called Open Space for
granted. Just as those of us who are blessed to live in incredibly beautiful
and safe places sometimes have to remind ourselves of how blessed we are and
work a bit harder to feel again the wonder of where and how we live, I was
reminded again of how rare and precious Open Space is. For this person here,
Open Space just makes sense…it’s of course…it’s
obvious. But to the majority of folks it’s magic, wondrous, the best
thing they’ve ever encountered, wow!…There still aren’t many
places out there in the big world where we can step forward into what has heart
and meaning for us and be met with the freedom to act on it. It is truly a
privilege, a blessing and a joy to open space. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'>How do you walk a circle with a wired mike? Is there
some kind of trick? I hope that someone will consider offering a workshop at
OSonOS for those of us less talented/experienced and not used to dragging a
tail….<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Cheers all,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Wendy<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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