Participation Works
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By Gail West
In 1993, the ICA published a book, Participation
Works: Business Cases From Around The World, edited by James P. Troxel. This way of operating, new at the time, was having a substantial impact on operational effectiveness and working relationships not only in companies and various kinds or organizations but also in many communities, by inviting, honoring and integrating the input of all members. In the last 20 years, while “participation” has become an established practice in the culture of some organizations and sectors, it remains unknown or un-felt by many. The ICA continues to focus its service on authentic participation, sustainability and self-reliance through collaboration, skills training, facilitator development and leadership mentoring. Following are stories from two recent projects involving educational institutions.
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Sichuan School Project, Renjia Central (Elementary) School, Sichuan Province, China
* 1 new elementary school was built through the means of a “corporate responsibility contribution” to replace one completely destroyed by the 2008 earthquake.
* 2 organizations (ICA and TUV) collaborated
to provide a positive social influence through their services toward improving the quality of education.
* 3 weekends of intensive Imaginal Learning Methods Training and Experiential
Dialogue were provided for 50 teachers and principal, following extensive interviews to determine their most urgent needs.
* 6 participatory methods facilitator/volunteers
provided learning methods.
* 17 volunteers from the company came from various cities in China to provide support services.
* 50 passionate educators are now dedicated
to making a positive difference in their school and community.
This collaboration of teachers and service providers was a wonderful learning experience.
We continually modified the process in response to the needs of each group, and feel it will have a strong impact on work, family and community relations.
For the full story and pictures, go to:
http://space4break.blogspot.com/
Gail West is a member of ICA Taiwan
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Students in discussion groups. |
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2. Shijiazhuang Foreign Language Institute, Hebei Province, China
An Open Space for Innovative Learning Environment was held at the Institute. The program included:
- Participatory meeting for more than 100 post high school college students (about 10% of the students).
- Participatory meeting for 80 faculty and staff.
Both meetings focused on Creating an Innovative Learning Environment.
- Open Space Learning Workshop for 17 representatives of students, faculty and administration to enable them to lead their own participatory meetings and gatherings. Participants were invited to initiate conversations related to the theme, convene small group discussions,
write up reports to be shared with all, and indicate actions they intended to carry out.
A student who took part in the workshops
reported in a newspaper:
“In order to integrate innovative processes
into our classes, we invited Gail West and Shufang to come for a 1-week visit to our school to lead workshops on Innovation in Education and introduce open space technology to our students and teachers.
Open Space opened to a new way of thinking and seeing things – looking at issues from a different perspective so they can resolve their own problems. This platform provides a chance to listen and speak so we can communicate and cooperate
with each other. We experienced a spirit of teamwork – a new learning process and environment.”
Said one participant: “When we think alone, it’s quite limited, but thinking with a group is really quite powerful!” Said another: “If you look at me from the outside, maybe you won’t see anything very different. But I feel that something has gone into my unconscious – I don’t know how to describe it – but I believe it will influence what I do.”
The program sponsor Chen Wen-Hsiang said : “The whole program was a special experience for our students. The interaction between students and us has increased, and we have started to share some new skills and thoughts with them in the night study time - such as how to do presentations, visual arts, creative thinking…. Students tell us they learned new things from these new arrangements.”
For the full story and pictures, go to:
http://blog.roodo.com/osttw/archives/15589887.html
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