[Ailist] RE: Inquiry--working with First Nations youth AND Appreciative Intelligence

[Donald P Austin]

I am SO much a fan of "appreciative intelligence," both the construction and
the results!  I have a question buzzing around that may be a bit unclear,
since it is a "new" one, for me.  I think one might say that I have been
attempting to use appreciative intelligence in teaching a "Principles of
Management" course, for the first time, to two sections of 45 students each.

 

My question has something to do with dealing with the indeterminacy of what
is going on "in the students."  I think I am simultaneously:

- challenging the more typical student "mindsets" about what is supposed to
happen in the classroom, e.g., looking to the teacher to structure and lead
everything

-  using AI, or at least, using the process at the start, in an attempt to
elicit from the students what their most appreciated learning experiences
have been in their life

-  responding to students' frustration and confusion, in the midst of some
sorts of change in their classroom construction

-  trying to both respect and deal with limits (without prejudging them) on
how far I can expect the students to progress in change, AND leave the door
open to change that CAN occur, even though I don't know for sure, yet, what,
when, and how, if I don't limit them from my own mindsets

-  making the learning as experiential as possible, using small groups a lot

 

Principles of Management is potentially so dry and dull.  I have a lot of
experience in managing, so lots of stories to tell, and that helps.  I also
tell the students that I am going to be leaning toward "managing" the
classroom, instead of playing teacher, and I expect them to partake in some
of the management, e.g., of their groups.

 

I feel like I have established something different with them, after 6 weeks
(of meeting once a week, for 3 hours), particularly a level of "interactive
respect."  I am not sure what they are learning, however.  Our main
connection to the text is a weekly quiz which they get to take as teams, so
they discuss their choice of answers.

 

So, what is my question?  I was moved to write this by seeing that I have
great need of the four qualities below, to keep going.  I worry about not
knowing where we are at, though!  I am not sure what my question is.

 

Don

 

 

> -----Original Message-----

> 

> In interviews  with organizational leaders and innovators, they found

> "that the ability to reframe, appreciate the positive, and see how

> the future unfolds from the present," consistently led to these four

> qualities:

> 

> * Persistence

> * Conviction that one's actions matter

> * Tolerance for uncertainty

> * Irrepressible resilience

>