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

[Nancy Stetson]

>Don,

I am very near completion of a book in which one of the chapters 
focuses on AI and teaching and learning. While the focus is on AI in 
the community college, the stories are totally appropriate to any 
teaching and learning situation -- K-12, community colleges, 
four-year colleges and universities, etc.  One story even "documents" 
(informal research) positive change in both retention and student 
success (as measured by grades) in classes pre-AI and post-AI. 
(Someone needs to do a large scale study of this phenomenon! Anyone 
out there looking for a dissertation topic? I'd be happy to 
informally -- or formally -- advise!)

Meanwhile, here are two references that you might find useful (did I 
already send these to you? If so, apologies!)

Yballe, L. & D. O'Connor (2004). "Toward a Pedagogy of Appreciation." 
Constructive Discourse and Human Organization, edited by Cooperrider, 
D.L. & M. Avital. Elsevier Science.

Yvalle, L. & D. O'Connor (200). Appreciative Pedagogy: Constructing 
Positive Models for Learning." Journal of Management Education, v. 
24., n. 4. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

If you (or others) want to know how to obtain the book when it is 
published, go to http://CompanyofExperts.net and sign up to receive 
their newsletter by email.

Nancy



>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
>
>>
>
>_______________________________________________
>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