Diamond graphic by Darrell Freeman at Colour Within the constellation of design tools I find especially helpful in creating spaces for conversation, Sam Kaner’s Diamond of Participation has been very influential. About three years ago my friend Myriam Laberge pointed out to me the possibility that all learning conversations take place along this flow of thinking and since then the model has been an important part of my life and work. The diamond is a map that points to three phases that groups pass through as they move from questions to insights. Groups begin with divergent thinking, sit for a …
Courtenay, BC I’m coming to the end of a Moleskine notebook I’ve had since March, and it’s almost filled up. I’m going through it harvesting a few things, and thought I might post a series of notes here. The journal began with a few notes that I made about the preliminary design of an Art of Hosting we ran for VIATT on Quadra Island. This particular Art of Hosting was called to train with 40 or so people who are helping us to build an Aboriginal child and familiy services system on Vancouver Island. It’s big …
Here is a selection of interesting papers for your summer reading: Is it time to unplug our schools? – Almost everything published in Orion is interesting. This article looks at what schools are doing to teach a deep relationship to nature. Altar calls for true believers – on the challenge of practicing what we preach with respect to sustainability. This is a good piece on why systemic change in general doesn’t necessarily correlate with necessity. Horse Power – Old technology for a new world. No coffee – A great piece on Jurgen Habermas, coffeehouses and the power of conversation. Modern …
It has been a light week of blogging – I’m taking some time off. At any rate, here are a few notes I’ve collected. The Tällberg Forum: Every year all sorts of interesting people gathering in Sweden to ask questions like “How on Earth can we live together?” You can follow along with their conversations. (via The World Cafe blog) Photography of stones from Douglas Ledbetter and Ashley Cooper. Had some pieces of anarchy come through the filter this week. First, Rukavina on anarchist babysitting, next Pollard on possibility and third, “Anarchism in America” a great full length film. And …
The Age of Conversation launches today. It is a collection of mostly marketing writers who have contributed some thoughts on what conversation means in the branding world. I found myself among them, contributing a short piece on open listening. The book is available at lulu.com and proceeds are going to charity. We’ve even had our first review. Here is the list of authors for your perusal: Gavin Heaton Drew McLellan CK Valeria Maltoni Emily Reed Katie Chatfield Greg Verdino Mack Collier Lewis Green Sacrum Ann Handley Mike Sansone Paul McEnany Roger von Oech Anna Farmery David Armano Bob Glaza Mark …