I had been working with a rural community in the Dominican Republic for several months on a housing program. The project relied on strong community involvement and it was frustrating. They were not moving as fast as I thought they could. I was anticipating significant cost overruns. Still, as I finished my pencil and […]
I cannot remember her name, but I will always remember our moment. I had just started a new training job, and was visiting my new colleagues, bringing with me a small collection of resources we had developed in my previous team—two books, a few manuals, a CD with handy templates. I stopped into the office […]
Seven participants from across the United States AND one from Fiji, one from UK, another from Peru and three from Toronto!!! What a rich, diverse, provocative learning experience we had! Virtual, online classes provide us all with the exceptional opportunity to expand our cultural reach to learn from anyone, anywhere, about any topic. A true […]
by Jeanette Romkema and Jessica Luh Kim In Canada we are fortunate to live with diverse cultural groups. However, at times, the way we communicate or approach interpersonal communication in one’s culture, can influence the way we engage and participate in a learning event when diversity is present. The following are six fundamental patterns of […]
After a plenary or panel session at a conference, it is helpful to protect time at the end to engage the audience with the content just presented. One idea for doing this is to pose a question for people to reflect on or discuss with others around them (or at their table): “What key ideas […]
"We dream in narrative, day-dream in narrative, remember, anticipate, hope, despair, believe, doubt, plan, revise, criticize, construct, gossip, learn, hate, and love by narrative." -Barbara Hardy If you have ever attended a Glocal Mission Gathering you may have heard this quote: “We are made of stories.” We are constantly being told stories that shape how […]
[doodle:June 2014] "Am I boring you?" I was doodling during a university faculty meeting. My department head noticed I was working on an elaborate abstract shape while he was talking about research budgets and changes in the grading policies. He assumed I wasn't paying attention. But I was doodling in […]
This is a true story: In 2001 I was invited by Jossey-Bass publishers to do a second edition of Learning to Listen Learning to Teach. I thought, "Before I agree, I should read that book again!" I was working in California and faced a long airplane ride: a good opportunity to read the book and […]
Using certain themes in our learning tasks can have an electrifying effect in motivating learners. But how do we find themes to motivate most of the learners in our group rather than just a few? This post is about how I have grappled with that question. What motivates me? The BBC radio debate on ethics […]
As the parent of a child with a developmental disability, I continue to experience the importance of “coactive vicarious learning”. I can explain things repeatedly, make detailed lists for how to do something, and even demonstrate whatever the task(s) may be. In the end, my daughter usually teaches me that what works best is to […]