David, What an exciting and challenging situtation!
What I have found is that the juicier the expression of the theme, the more meaningful the experience. I have two thoughts for you: The first is based in the belief that what is most personal is also most universal. What I generally do to uncover a resonant theme is to ask the people sponsoring it to really look inside themselves for what's at stake for them. As you reflect on the situtation, what has heart and meaning for you personally? The other thought comes from the influence of my work with Appreciative Inquiry. One principle I have learned from David Cooperrider is that "human systems grow toward what they persistently ask questions about." By focusing on the problems, issues and tensions in your community, you invite more of the same. Rather, look for what you aspire to. What gives life to the future you wish to create? Is it "Creating the curriculum that prepares students to create a better world?" Or is it some other purpose that makes the work you all do worthwhile? I wish you the best and please let us know how it all progresses. Peggy Holman 425-746-6274 -----Original Message----- From: David Cox <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Wednesday, March 10, 1999 11:52 AM Subject: Theme Suggestions? I'd like some help coming up with the appropriate wording for an OS theme. What I have coming up is a high stakes event. The precise theme wording is critical (at least I think it is). First I need to give some background. I am a member of a College of Education at a university. We are undergoing massive teacher education redesign. We are under a state mandate to get a new program in place by Fall 99. We have a month and a half left in this academic year. Failure to come up with a new curriculum is simply not an option. A key group of ten faculty (10 PhD ego's) are working on a new "Core Curriculum." Deliberations have broken down over philosophical issues, content issues, generalist vs specialist teacher issues, number of hours, etc., etc. In short conversations have become very contentious and heated. The group is going in circles and a couple of people have resigned. Emotions are high and acrimony is rampant. The group is getting frustrated, exhausted, and burned out on every-other-day meetings. To me the situation meets perfectly the criteria for an OS event: high levels of complexity, high levels of diversity, high levels of conflict, and a decision is needed yesterday. I volunteered to hold an OS event with this group. The group may be expanded in size somewhat. I'm going to guess that 15 to 20 people would voluntarily come together if they believed real progress could be made. I would GREATLY APPRECIATE any suggestions anyone on this list might have for the wording of a theme to focus this group. Something like "issues and opportunities facing the College of Education" just seems too generic for this particular situation, which I might go so far as to describe as a crisis. Thanks VERY MUCH for your help!!!
