[Ailist] Re: How much theory to give

[Nancy Stetson]

>Hi Bryan,

I would agree that, once again, it is not an either/or, but a both/and.  According to Kolb's theory, I am an abstract conceptualizer and while most people in our culture take in new information from concrete experience, not everyone does. 

After many years of experience as an educator, I believe that effective teaching and learning takes learners through all four parts of Kolb's cycle--concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualizing, and active experimentation--so that everyone has an opportunity to connect and learn through their strengths. Even if an AI session is only three hours long, it is possible to do this!  Honest! 

I also prepare people in advance of any Inquiry by asking them to read a short article about AI; I recently wrote one that I now use for that purpose. You're more than welcome to use it.

Nancy

>Dear Rob and All
>
>> Obviously we need to calibrate, but thinking is as important as
>experiencing
>> in the right way.
>
>Rob, you make an extremely important point here.  It is my belief (validated
>by a decade of experience) that thinking and experiencing each enhance the
>other.  Thinking about concepts helps people understand their experience
>(this is not a new idea - see most experiential learning models, e.g. Kolb),
>but the reverse is also useful; our experiences help us think (this is also
>embedded in most lexperiential learning models, but is often less apparent.)
>I've been involved in some programs that either over-emphasise thinking, or
>over-emphasise experience.  Striking a balance between the two is essential
>for changed behaviour.  Perhaps this explains why some overly-academic
>programs are difficult to transfer to daily activities, and why some
>overly-experiential programs fail to have a lasting impact.
>
>In sum, I guess I am agreeing with Rob ("It depends") while adding that the
>balance needs to be thoughtfully designed and adapted following feedback (a
>combination of thinking and experience.)
>
>Regards.
>
>Bryan Kidd, CEO
>Thoughtful Leadership.  Resources for new approaches to leadership!
>www.thoughtfulleadership.com
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>The Appreciative Inquiry Discussion List is hosted by the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. Jack Brittain is the list administrator. For subscription information, go to:
>http://mailman.business.utah.edu:8080/mailman/listinfo/ailist


-- 
"The real act of discovery consists not in finding new lands but seeing with new eyes." Proust
"We do not see the world as it is. We see the world as we are." The Talmud

Nancy E. Stetson, Ed.D.
Specializing in Appreciative Coaching, Consulting, Facilitating,
Keynoting, Teaching, Training, Writing and Appreciative Inquiry
Rohnert Park, CA and Kirkland, WA
707.878.9340 (cell)
Fax numbers in both locations available upon request

Nancy is co-author of "Appreciative Inquiry in the Community College: Early Stories of Success" ($19)
http://www.league.org/store/catalog.htm?VCS=01db3f4bd85824ca839b2951118953d1&Iit=13&Ict=2
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Aligning Strengths.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 192029 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://mailman.business.utah.edu:8080/pipermail/ailist/attachments/20070808/c6070bfe/AligningStrengths-0001.pdf