Adaptive Learning and Job Creation in the Context of a Digital Revolution
A LiFT Workshop
Trondheim, Norway. September 30, October 1, 2016
Jonathan Reams’ blog:
https://blogg.svt.ntnu.no/enthusiastic-new-allies-fighting-social-issues/
Welcome video & general infos here:
http://skule.sormo.no/lift/index.php (Norwegian)
http://skule.sormo.no/lift/index.php/tilleggsinfo (English)
This workshop focused on the topic of early school leaving in Scandinavia and what can be done about it.
From the call:
“Many people sense that a more robust and resilient community is needed in these times of transition, with disruptive changes across all sectors of society. Digital technologies are disrupting existing market structures and creating new ones at an amazing speed. How can we as individuals, organizations and local communities join forces to influence these deep structural changes and foster a common culture that benefits the society as a whole?”
As part of our efforts to address these challenges, we invited a diverse range of stakeholders, and about 45 participated in the workshop. Together they engaged in co-creating prototypes of innovative learning concepts focusing on the following needs and opportunities:
- Self-organized and adaptive learning opportunities in schools. For instance through cooperation with businesses and social responsibility projects.
- Empowering people and fostering sustainable jobs for underutilized or marginalized segments of society. For instance through a combination of handcraft, technology and storytelling.
- Learning arenas for adults that feel the urge to move beyond personal success to build professional and trustworthy leadership capacity that benefits the society as a whole. For instance creating a “think & act tank” addressing specific needs and supporting social responsibility initiatives in the local community.
Post-conference follow-up events:
Please join us in creating and sustaining a compelling vision for our children’s future!
The local organization U-Turn is convening the space for enabling follow-up projects and initiatives to carry forward the ideas generated during the LiFT event.
U:turn‘s mission is to create learning arenas and enterprises at the intersection of technology, education and compassion. The LiFT / U:turn workshop in Trondheim has brought together stakeholders with diverse interests and views in relation to this topic. Engaging these perspectives further is essential in order to support the emergence of innovative solutions that can cut across sectors of society.
Download our workshop abstract here: LiFT Trondheim 2016 invitation.
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For me, the methodology is amazing. I really like it, especially as it contained a structure, but at the same time allowed spontaneously the freedom to manipulate the structure moving in a very dynamic way between the boundaries of structured and unstructured. I really liked the role of the facilitators and how they were more like monitors that direct and redirect and for many times, allowing the space to occur and express what the participants wanted and felt.
In the beginning, it was important for me to make ice breaker exercises before starting the session.
To be honest, before the workshop started I was anxious and could not find my role in a concrete way which made me at the beginning less confident with people that I am meeting for the first time, and with a methodology I am not aware of. For me, sharing this vulnerability with you is important to let you know about the transition that happened to me personally and to other people that looked unconfident and anxious at the beginning of the workshop. These kinds of feelings could be similar to what students might feel in the context of the school which contains (anxiety, fear, lack of confidence and safety, lack of clear vision…etc.).
Then after the core circle started at the workshop, I felt more secure, and I had a better sense of connectedness with the others. Many of us shared a lot of personal stories related to education which reflected how much the mutual trust played a role to energize the group. For me, the process during the workshop encouraged the inner voice which is not easy to call.
Later, the process was very dynamic moving from one group discussion to smaller group discussions. I really liked that you were also giving the people the space to stick to the same group and elaborate in deep discussions or moving from one group to another which allowed the different talents to appear with consideration to the individual differences.
Silence and meditation, I think that this was an interesting step. However, it made me realize in a certain point that I am not comfortable with the idea of silence which I did not know before. Silence is a very powerful tool that could help us to listen to the inner voice and reflect upon it, allowing the other voices to settle and sink. For me, this process was not easy, may be because I was distracted during the meditation cycle to bring my daughters from the school, so I was not able to meditate. Moreover, I have not practiced meditation before, so for me it was not an easy task.
Finally, having the responsibility of a group discussion for two hours [this seems to refer to the Open Space; LiFT admin] was really amazing and interactive where I felt completely secured and confident. I have learned that I have a good management to elaborate and reflect upon the group discussion.
I really appreciated every aspect of the workshop, and especially the role of the youth presenting their perspective on their education. It was so inspiring to see the energy and the strength in their voices which makes me believe that students’ role is much more than sitting on the school desk who only listen to the teacher. It makes me realize that student’s voices are significant and can’t be neglected. I have a strong faith that they are able to lead their educational process, and they can create a different paradigm in education.
I think that the collaborative methodology was really effective and successful. I appreciate the efforts that all of us were part of it to make it work, it was amazing to see how the different capacities and fields ensured variety and richness in the debates and discussions.
Two days ago, I had a conference in Jordan, and they have used (a similar) methodology in a panel I was part of. It was good, but it was not as effective and energetic, productive, and well organized in the way we had it in the Lift workshop in Trondheim. I think that the facilitators played a hidden and implicit role in the dynamics of the group. That’s why I kept motivated the whole two days, and having discussions even during the break.
Samar Albarghouthi
I think it was an amazing experience, great overall energy and so many interesting and smart people to learn from, and also good variation in backgrounds and interest areas within the main topic.
I liked the way the group settings/conversations kept changing through the day, from dialogue, plenum, smaller groups, and so on. My experience was that it gave an opportunity to explore many nuances, with new ideas added in each meeting between people. It also made sense that in each transition, it was the topic(s) itself that drew the right people together, it flowed naturally. The listening quality that was present, the ideas coming forward and the eagerness to contribute was what formed the groups, and not ego/person or forced randomization. Focus remained on the topic and future possibilities.
At the same time, I felt that the connection to the whole group was maintained throughout the two days, which was good. And as Tove mentioned, it felt so good to see so many people being more or less on the same page, thinking about new solutions pulling in the same direction.
Personally I would have liked to have a little more time on the gallery part, and also on the reflective solitude walks, those two sections were a bit too short for me.
I hope you all are doing great and I look forward to the continuations ahead! 🙂
Astrid
I am very grateful for the sake of the process and the continuation for the Norwegian project, that at least some young people were present. Their contribution was a big aha! I will follow the Facebook group to keeping the stakeholders posted and engaged. (A participant)