Learning Histories LO4193

Dmweston@aol.com
Mon, 11 Dec 1995 17:13:18 -0500

Replying to LO4097 --

Leo's message on the history he did to record the process of a training
project was very interesting. The learning history for the Healthcare
Community Dialogue in Grand Junction, CO provides another example.

In the last facilitated dialogue session in Grand Junction, the
participants filled out a "map" of their experiences on a wall-long sheet
of butcher paper. The technique varied a bit from Leo's:

The facilitators (Mitch Saunders and partners from DIA*logos) marked a
time line of dates and major events over the 18 months of the project
across the top of the paper. Participants were first asked to do some
silent reflection on the events and their experiences and learning and to
sort those ideas into six categories. The categories were represented by
paper cutouts in different shapes and colors, on which they could write
their comments:

- Heartfelt sentiments = Purple, heart-shaped paper cutout
- Bitter pills to swallow = Red, capsule-shaped
- Stormy times = Black, cloud-shaped
- Insights = Green, light bulb-shaped
- Results = Brown, square-shaped
- Questions = Blue, diamond-shaped

They then posted the cutouts on the paper at the approx. point in time of
the event. Some examples: A storm cloud with the comment, "Overcoming
sensitivities." A bitter pill about how "my mental models inhibit my
ability to understand others." A lightbulb about "New forms of collective
leadership."

The end result was a remarkably coherent representation of their
experience and the outcomes. With the notable shapes and colors of the
cutouts, participants could see the flow of their learning over time,
moving through the stages of evolution of groups. We could see clusters
of storms or bitter pills and then groupings of insights and heartfelt
sentiments.

Interestingly, when we took the map to a graphic artist and had it drawn
up to show the flows and certain key events and outcomes, and then showed
it to the paticipants, they expressed some aversion and questioned the
changes made to the map. They could associate and find meaning in the map
they had created themselves, but seemed to reject the synthesis. Another
lesson in the value and meaningfulness of involving people in the work
that affects them??

--
Diane Weston
DMWeston@aol.com