Open Space in Schools

Comment

Comment by Heidi Bachman on January 18, 2010 at 5:27pm

Hi, I participated in an Open Space event at the Progressive Educators Network conference this fall and have been intrigued with open space possibilities since then. I'm interested in using this technique for both classrooms and in teacher staff meetings. I live and work in Washington, DC.

Comment by Janine@Holistica on January 3, 2010 at 1:20pm

Hi Artur, welcome to the group.

Thanks for your valuable comments and your concern....no I have not disappeared off the end of the earth as it may appear! I have merely been very busy with Xmas and New Year, you know how it is. It's great to be back and see a few more people in the group. Re your suggestions about threads. If you are referring to posting threads in this group, that sounds great to me. I invite you to post as many topics as you have passion for, and I look forward to seeing what emerges.

Right now I am particularly interested in hearing peoples' stories of open space being used in schools. I haven't heard about any schools in NZ using it (that doesn't mean it hasn't happened of course!) and I intend to introduce OS and offer my facilitation skills to some schools when I return to NZ later this year. At some point soon I intend to do a little research online to find stories that I can use to illustrate how OS is being used in schools around the world. When I do this I will be sure to post the links on this thread for inspiration!

Warm wishes and a very happy New Year to you,
Janine
ps I have not had the chance to read Noels blog entry yet, will try to get to it today!

Comment by Artur Silva on January 2, 2010 at 10:15pm

Hi Janine:

Thanks for creating this group, which interests me very much, even if only today I had the opportunity to subscribe (Other NING responsibilities had to come first...).

Indeed, it was after my first experiences with teaching management skills to Engineering students, using a heterodox method, and when trying to explain to myself what I have done, that I have research many training/facilitation/leading methods and I have discovered that OST was the most close to what I had already done .

I have also noticed the post Noel created, that I will answer soon.

Summing up the posts in this wall and the ones in Noel's blog entry (that I think btw that is a more interesting tool for the continuity of concrete dialogues) I think that, in this group, we can discuss many different things - all related with Open Space in Schools but viewed from different perspectives.

I have a suggestion for creating some 4 or 5 different "threads" (blog post entries) to separate the discussion of each one of those, but I would prefer to have your opinion, Janine, before going in that direction.

As there is no word from you since the 27th November I am worried: did something happen to you, Janine? How shall we continue this discussion?

Comment by Eleder Aurtenetxe Pildain on December 23, 2009 at 3:50pm

hi, I just discovered this group. I work now and then in schools. Last time finished yesterday (a 2 month period teaching maths to teenagers in a local school, near Bilbao). It was quite frustrating and I tended to figure out how OST principles and meetings could change schools' activity. There's so much to do in this field!
I hope this group will help improving education and school life!

Comment by Ashley Cooper on December 6, 2009 at 2:22pm

Hello Janine,

"as we try to figure out the key issues teachers, principals and aspiring leaders within the education sector face. Our intent is to discover how our skills and experience can contribute in some way to making NZ schools a better place to work and learn using tools like OST."

Wow... how exciting to hear what you and Jo are up to... it resonates deeply with my own passion and mission. What are you learning? I'd love to hear. And I'm curious what the education system is like and in need of in NZ. I am in the US, just transplanted from the west coast to the east coast. I have been an educator for many years, the last 4 in the form of a school counselor and social-emotional class teacher (we called it Friendship Group). I have opened the space for youth many times in the schools and camp programs in which I have worked and as much as possible with the staff, teachers and administration. I'm currently shifting my career and emphasis to more formally concentrate on the social and emotional wellness of entire systems, with particular emphasis on learning communities. I too am also in a stage of exploration to discover what are those out there perceiving as the need and want and how do my own skills, offerings and perspectives alchemize with their current realities? Who are they?! And who are my partners in this exploration?

I am also in the beginning stages of organizing a TEDx youth event similar to this one in Africa: http://tedxyouthinspire.org/about/ in which I plan to have part of the day be in Open Space.

That's a taste... it's lovely to be here in this space with you!

Comment by Janine@Holistica on November 27, 2009 at 6:43pm

Hi Thomas and Ashley,

Welcome to the group! I thought I'd introduce myself.....I am a NZer who has been working with NZ youth-orientated organisations in leadership development, management and adventure-based learning roles for several years now. I've recently come to the realisation that I have a strong passion for using my skills to make a difference in the education sector. My partner in crime Jo and I are spending time now now pestering our teacher friends and taking a look online as we try tofigure out the key issues teachers, principals and aspiring leaders within the education sector face. Our intent is to discover how our skills and experience can contribute in some way to making NZ schools a better place to work and learn using tools like OST.

I'd love to hear more about you and your interest in education/OS.
J