[Ailist] AI in Schools

[Marge Schiller]

Dear Ron,

One of the most inspiring AI projects I've worked on was with Avon  
Mexico.  The topic was "Men and Women Working together in Teams"  The  
case has been written up by Harvard Business School so that is where  
you can find the story.

But one of the most inspiring elements of the case was the clients  
request to  have a panel of young people address the topic of men and  
women working together.

At that time gender equity in a Mexican company was more of an  
interesting than an actual idea.  The young people were the voice of  
the future and had a remarkable impact on the workforce.

Our team  (David Cooperrider, Rusty Renick, Jane Watkins and me )  
learned the benefits  of   including the Voices of Youth in all  
conversations. Those young people brought their  vision and values to  
the workplace and the people at  Avon really listened.

Marge

Marjorie Schiller , PhD

49 Rockwood Road
Hingham, MA 02043
781 749 4373

1057 Hillsboro Mile
Hillsboro Beach
Florida, 33062
954 788 3009


On Mar 10, 2009, at 3:51 PM, Ron Smith wrote:

> Hi Marge and Gina and others:
>
> I am interested and excited about strength focused efforts in  
> schools. Most effective? Combining experiencial learning with  
> AI....it my "thing". Most Challenging? Getting the "entire system in  
> the room." And here in Mexico the rate of leadership change is  
> nothing short of staggering..........There must be a headhunter  
> company run amok somewhere down here.jajajaja (that's haha in  
> spanish). Leadership change makes continuous sustained effort very  
> challenging.
>
> I have been working in Mexico City with a University (here  
> universities also run elementary schools, high school as well as  
> places of higher learning) .....helping them with their leadership  
> program. Historically, as a predominately corporate consultant  
> working with an ever changing clientel I am excited to report what  
> many working  in schools already know. That is, that Im very  
> thankful that they are moving to expand the program to their entire  
> system if possible. Hence my suggestion for an AI Summit.
>
> They want to look at the gap between the values they feel their  
> students leave with and how they loose them when they enter the  
> business world (yes, deficit thinking is pervasive).  We discussed  
> how this gap may very well be what caused the current economic  
> challenges we now have. I have rephrased it in positive terms about  
> looking for when the gap was absent and integrity, choosing between  
> two "rights", and life long consistency with values was present etc.  
> I will be organizing what could be a very large summit (109 campuses).
>
> I suggested the University involve their psychology departments in  
> the implentation of pre/post testing in order to build a body of  
> knowledge that is cultural sensitive. A manual should have something  
> for those interested in the "academic" aspects of publishing,  
> research and theory. The leadership program is "on-board" for using  
> appreciative strength based approaches and now we are ready to give  
> the rest of the university system a nice experience in an AI Summit.  
> I want the evaluative aspects to be soft, behind the scenes, low  
> impact....almost like an after thought. Much has been discussed on  
> this list about the pittfalls of evaluations. The university wants  
> to keep track, become "experts", research and publish. They want to  
> be THE leadership university and are willing to put considerable  
> resources behind the effort. Can't blame them......as the frog said  
> to the fox...."its in my nature".
>
> So there is much excitement, turmoil, challenge, and passion for  
> change here in the land of sun, cactus, eagle and snake.
>
> Saludos,
>
> Ron Smith
> Formerly in Mexico City, now San Miguel de Allende
> Mex cell: 011 521 554 143  8766
>
> Marge Schiller wrote:
>>
>> Dear Colleagues,
>>
>> Gina Hinrichs and others  been working on a strength focused  
>> approaches manual  to be used in schools.
>>
>>  Publishers want to know if there is strong interest in  the topic  
>> of AI applications for schools and with youth groups.
>>
>> Are you interested?  Do you know of such work? What have you been  
>> doing?
>> What has been most effective/ challenging?
>>
>>  Gina, potential publishers of a Strength Focused Approaches in  
>> Schools Manual and  members of the Positive Change Core  would   
>> very much like to know who else is  excited about  strength focused  
>> work with schools.
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Marge
>>  Positive Change Core
>>
>> Marjorie Schiller , PhD
>>
>> 49 Rockwood Road
>> Hingham, MA 02043
>> 781 749 4373
>>
>> 1057 Hillsboro Mile
>> Hillsboro Beach
>> Florida, 33062
>> 954 788 3009
>>
>>
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