Left-hand Column Tool LO5818

Michael McMaster (Michael@kbddean.demon.co.uk)
Wed, 21 Feb 1996 15:35:08 +0000

Replying to LO5725 --

Magnus asks about experience using the "tool of left-hand column".
Without claiming such a title, I have used this many times in courses
and, more usefully, in regular meetings.

The technique is to have participants write, at various "interrupt
points" - and at any other times that they are moved to do so - in
the margin of whatever notes they are using or taking some awareness.

I direct the kind of awareness that I am looking for - sometimes more
than one in a single session - and then just stop and ask them to
record from time to time. At a later time, after some accumulation
has taken place, we engage in a "conversation for awareness" based on
what has been written.

This is very good course technique for increasing awareness and
introspection at the same time as focussing on content or problem or
whatever.

This technique is also useful to extract focussed learning by
debriefing meetings that were totally focussed on outcome production.

-----
Host's Note: Michael's methods sounds effective to me, but just want to
note that in my circle of associates "Left Hand Column" usually refers to
specific methods of Chris Argyris and related people.
-----

--
Michael McMaster
Michael@kbddean.demon.co.uk
 

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