Very small world, Birgitt! I am writing with two co-authors (Frank Duffy and Lynda Rogerson) a book tentatively titled Redesigning America's Schools: a systems approach to improvement, which is scheduled to be published in mid-1999. We are using a combination of OST, the Emery Search Conference and Participative Design Workshops as three of our primary methods for school-community planning and the actual school district redesign process. As part of my work on the book, I am including examples of using OST in the initial phases of a district redesign.
In a related project, I am working through National Training Associates and several state agencies in facilitating a series of eight, three-day youth and community centered OS events throughout the state of Idaho. Most have combined school-youth-community involvement while others are aimed primarily at determining future youth service needs in cities, counties and/or regions of the state. Of course, each event is designed around local needs, but we have had great participation from school officials, as well as a real cross-section of civic leaders and just interested citizens. Youth from 5th grade up as well as administrators, staff and board members have been involved in all aspects of the process. Because they are all three-day OST events, each site is producing printed proceedings at the end of each session, as well as action plans and responsibility charting, which are printed up and distributed later. I am doing some follow-up from a February session and have received great reports on the results. Arrangements have been made to produce several short descriptive videos in the next few months. So, we will have a pretty interesting and useful collection of data, photos and stories by Christmas. Because I am on the road so much between now and the first of the year, it is tough to reach me by phone. However, if anyone is interested in talking with me about this I will be at the November OS event in Monterrey and hope to be able to attend the summer get-together in Oregon. I'd love to trade stories and ideas on the use of OST with schools, communities and young people. By then we should have a video or two done also. If anyone is interested, I could bring it along. Thanks for your time in reading this rather long email. Buzz Buzz Blick, M.Ed. Consultation, Facilitation and Training 606 Laurel Drive Everett, WA 98201 USA Phone: (425) 252-8279 Fax: (425) 252-7650 E-mail: b...@nwlink.com Website: www.buzzblick.com NTA Website: www.nta-yes.com -----Original Message----- From: Birgitt Bolton <birg...@worldchat.com> To: osl...@listserv.idbsu.edu <osl...@listserv.idbsu.edu> Date: Monday, October 12, 1998 7:47 PM Subject: OS in education >I've received a phone call to give examples of how OS has been used in >educational settings, school board districts and so on. Do any of you have >such stories?? If we have them and can substantiate the usefullness of OS in >schools, I have a chance to put all of that together for a chapter in a book >on organizational learning tools for educators/education systems. I need to >phone the folks back within a few days with an idea of whether we have >"evidence". I have three stories of my own, which isn't enough for sure. > >Thanks for any help. I would love to have OS represented in this book as a >resource for educators. > > > >Warmest regards, >Birgitt > >Birgitt Bolton of Dalar Associates >www.openspacetechnology.com >55 Ravina Cres., Ancaster, Ontario, Canada > L9G 2E8 >phone: 905-648-5775 fax: 905-648-2262 >
