[Ailist] AI summit with the illiterate people

[Robyn Stratton-Berkessel]

Hi Everyone,

Adding to the toolkit of ways to work with illiterate people and  
prompted by Mary-Alice's terrific idea of her toy box, here's  
something to do if you are in a bush setting (out in nature).  Invite  
the participants to take a walk and select something from nature that  
represents them in some way.  When they reconvene, they each tell  
their story, using the object of nature as the metaphor.  It is  
powerful.  I use this often when I facilitate retreats with literate  
people, as I haven't yet had the privilege of working with illiterate  
people.

Another way, if I am in an urban setting, I ask them to bring  
something from home to that represents them.  This works especially  
well with cross-cultural groups.  I've done years of work with people  
whose first language is not English (ESL teacher way back) and when  
they speak to their object about themselves, it is so honoring of who  
they are.  It adds color and texture and smells and music and laughter  
and tears, adding to our collective stories of our past, present and  
imagined future.

Thanks for this topic.

Kind regards,

Robyn

Robyn Stratton-Berkessel
Creator, Positive Matrix www.positivematrix.com
Founder, L.I.T. Global www.litglobal.com
+1 732 291 0462
+1 917 816 5597 (mobile)
Skype: robynsb





Hello all!

I agree with many AI colleagues about the value of drawing pictures as  
a way
of capturing what is told in stories.  I'd also like to contribute the  
idea
of provoking stories.  As anyone in Knowledge management will tell  
you, we
need context to find our content.  Here's what I mean:

Today I was with a small team who were highly literate, but therefore  
also
cynical.  I often get around these groups by taking my toy bag to work  
with
me.

I say that it contains a 'collection of common household objects' but  
truer
to say they are really only common in my house.  I pick up small,
meaning-packed objects everywhere I go.  Some of them are:  a squeezy  
ball
of the world, a small treasure chest, a giant coin, a box of aspirin,  
a tiny
teddybear, a miniature courier van, a cloth rose, a compass, etc. etc.

Depending on what I want to get from the group, I ask them a question  
and
then ask them to select an object that represents something they want to
talk about.  As you can imagine, what they bring to the group is then  
highly
metaphoric and deeply loaded with emotional intelligence.  It is also  
highly
memorable.

Objects are a great way to provoke -- and also capture -- stories.  I  
think
this might be a great way of getting the ball rolling with people who  
are
not used to working with story.

I've heard of people travelling with only a collection of shoes, or a  
set of
Lego people.  They all work.  They also get people out of their normal
headset.  I've also noticed that it is much easier for people to talk  
when
they are talking TO and WITH something.

An idea for more story gathering...

Mary Alice



Mary-Alice Arthur
SOAR
PO Box 10-868
Wellington
New Zealand
mobile:  +64-21-687-627
email:  mary-alice at getsoaring.com
web:  http://www.getsoaring.com



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Robyn Stratton-Berkessel
Creator, Positive Matrix www.positivematrix.com
Founder, L.I.T. Global www.litglobal.com
+1 732 291 0462
+1 917 816 5597 (mobile)
Skype: robynsb