Home. OpenSpaceWorld.ORG. 3 More Basic Tools For Group Conversations. For those who have experience in group process, this post may seem pretty basic. Nevertheless I am including it in this series on dealing with conflict because some readers may not have that much experience leading group process. Even those who do may find something useful in this summary of 3 more basic tools for group conversation.
In this post, I draw again on some resources described in Cool Tools for Hot Topics by Ron Kraybill and Evelyn Wright. Circle Process A very common tool often used in group process is the circle. Once the circle is established, the leader states what the topic of conversation will be. Speak only when you are holding the talking piece.Be respectful while speaking and listening.Be fair with your use of time.Be gentle with yourself. When first introducing the circle process, its helpful for the leader to model it by speaking first. Interweaving Small-group and Large-group Discussion Sometimes there are many people in a large group who need to talk. Mixed Groups. Welcome to the World Café! Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future. Conversation is innate to humans.
You can rely on this as you invite people to join a conversation. Talking and listening to one another is something we remember; it’s what humans have done for thousands of years, so it’s deep in our species' memory. These days, because of the bad habits we’ve developed and the frantic pace of our lives, we may need to be reminded about slowing down, not interrupting, listening to each other and not instantly responding. Here are some simple techniques to host a good conversation that help people remember and redevelop their skills. Start with a few friends or colleagues.
Some things to watch for Make sure latecomers come fully into the circle. You will know it's been a good conversation if: People move toward the center of the circle. Continuing the Conversation If your group continues, and you will be in conversation over time, you will benefit by exploring techniques to deepen and grow the conversation. Resource Center » Talking Circle. Talking Circle is a different kind of meeting than most modern people are used to. The focus is on deepening, exploring and learning together, not on getting things done or completing an agenda.
It is possible, with expert facilitation and savvy participation, to do both linear and circular modes in one meeting. Talking Circles are also referred to as Talking Stick Circles, Listening Circles, Wisdom Circles, and the Council Process. If you have an agenda, you can often fit some circle into it. But remember that ‘deepening and exploration’ and ‘getting somewhere’ are very different energies.
Give them each their own time to do their work. Sitting in a circle helps us to fully see each other as peers sharing meaning, creativity, and a common center. Listening and sharing from the heart ‘Speaking from the heart’ starts with being grounded in our experience of what is – especially being grounded in our feelings and in things that are truly important to us. How to do a Talking Circle Silence. Conversationcircle. Resource Center » Socratic Seminars.
“Socratic Seminar” is perhaps the most widely varied and commonly known name for a class discussion model in which the teacher poses questions concerning a text or idea, and students respond. No individual or organization claims ownership of the model, and most practitioners trace its history to the Platonic Dialogues, in which Socrates engaged his interlocutors in a methodical line of questioning. The work of Mortimer Adler, Robert Hutchins, and Dennis Gray are often cited as the sources of modern Socratic Seminar models. As it is used in the classroom, we have seen widely diverse models of discussion called Socratic Seminar. These seminars can be very teacher centered or not; the discussion can be very text-focused or not; and students may be expected to prepare before class or not. Generally, Socratic Seminars are held in a circle. Open-ended questions allow students to think critically, analyze multiple meanings in text, and express ideas with clarity and confidence.