A couple of people asked for more on Recentering skills and we'll talk about it on Monday. For now, a favorite quote that reflects this particular skill set. June Jordan was an American writer, poet, teacher, and social activist, who wrote from the perspective of a bisexual, Black, female, New Yorker.
She writes, "Freedom is indivisible or it is nothing at all besides sloganeering and temporary, short-sighted, and short-lived advancement for a few. Freedom is indivisible, and either we are working for freedom or you are working for the sake of your self-interests and I am working for mine" (133).
(From her essay "A New Politics of Sexuality," in the book Some of Us Did Not Die, Basic Books, 2002.)
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Systems Thinking? Adaptive Leadership?
Hi everyone,
I'd like to hear from each of you about where you are in your thinking about living systems (versus mechanistic systems) and adaptive leadership.
We had an amazing synthesis seminar last night (1/27/11). There were some wonderful connections made between and among our texts.
Now I'd like to have you think even more deeply about this concept of living systems and its relationship to Heifetz's concept of adaptive leadership.
What makes a living system different than a mechanistic one? When is it appropriate to use a mechanistic design in problem solving? What concepts or terms did you read about that fascinated you re living systems or helped you better understand mechanistic designs? How do these different concepts apply to adaptive leadership?
Lastly, I'd like you to explore the relevance of systems thinking in your own lives. Are any of you currently a part of an organization or group that views itself as a living system? If so, how are you organized? How is power shared, communication flow understood, problems addressed?
Let's talk! Let's listen!
Looking forward to your postings. Jane
I'd like to hear from each of you about where you are in your thinking about living systems (versus mechanistic systems) and adaptive leadership.
We had an amazing synthesis seminar last night (1/27/11). There were some wonderful connections made between and among our texts.
Now I'd like to have you think even more deeply about this concept of living systems and its relationship to Heifetz's concept of adaptive leadership.
What makes a living system different than a mechanistic one? When is it appropriate to use a mechanistic design in problem solving? What concepts or terms did you read about that fascinated you re living systems or helped you better understand mechanistic designs? How do these different concepts apply to adaptive leadership?
Lastly, I'd like you to explore the relevance of systems thinking in your own lives. Are any of you currently a part of an organization or group that views itself as a living system? If so, how are you organized? How is power shared, communication flow understood, problems addressed?
Let's talk! Let's listen!
Looking forward to your postings. Jane
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Yay, Now I am An Author to this Blog Too!
Jane and I figured out the technical glitches and now I can post too. Is good. Technical features abound. Is possible to teach a class just with blogs?
Friends, Romans, Countrymen: lend me yr ears!
Friends, Romans, Countrymen: lend me yr ears!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
For You! College Transfer Fair on campus this week
Hi Everyone,
The information below is from our advising center re this week'sTransfer Fair. Please take advantage of this service if you are planning to transfer to a 4-year college or university! There will be more colleges coming throughout the quarter. Jane
Wednesday, Jan19
The Evergreen State College Information Table Wednesday, Jan19
9:00 am-1:00 pm, Hallway, 1st floor, College Center
Write a Winning Personal Statement Workshop
1-2:30 pm, Club Room, CC 1360, south end of cafeteriaYour admissions essay is a very important part of the 4-year transfer application process. Join Loft Director, Daniel Tarker, for this interactive workshop, and learn how to create and write an effective admissions essay.
Thursday, Jan. 20
UW Bothell Individual Advising AppointmentsCall 527-3658 or drop by advising to make an appointment
For more information or to make an appointment with an advisor: https://northseattle.edu/advising North Seattle CC Advising 206-527-3658 CC2346A
½ hour appointments are still available to meet with a UW Bothell admissions advisor! Students who plan to take apply to UW-B should be sure to take advantage of this opportunity.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Cultural Interview Synthesis and Pictures
Hi Everyone,
Please post your synthesis of your cultural interview below by clicking on the comment box below.
Don't forget to email me your pictures. I've decided to post them on our website rather than the blog. See the schedule and follow the link to the pictures page to view the photos of the cultural interviews.
Jane
Please post your synthesis of your cultural interview below by clicking on the comment box below.
Don't forget to email me your pictures. I've decided to post them on our website rather than the blog. See the schedule and follow the link to the pictures page to view the photos of the cultural interviews.
Jane
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Cultural Interview and Posting to the Blog
Greetings from a very cold and snowy New York,
Margot has already emailed me about what you all did at last night's class. It sounds like a great learning experience!
Margot also said that there were some questions about the cultural interview. Some of you were correct when you said that there are slightly different iterations of the assignment. I did update the assignment and repost onto the website (and redistribute the assignment in class), but I thought I just strengthened the assignment for you and didn't change any real variables. I should have told you to throw out the earlier assignment. My apologies.
So to be clear:
1) you are to set up an interview with one person in our class.
2) since Monday is a federal holiday (Martin Luther King day), I have asked you to post a synthesis of your interview experience on this blog. This synthesis can be one paragraph in length covering the "gems" of your experience -- what you learned, what surprised you, etc. I also asked you, if you can, to send me (jreis@sccd.ctc.edu) a pix of you and your interview partner so I can post the pictures on our blog.
3) I'd love it if you all would spend a little time reading each other's postings because even though this assignment seems simplistic, I assure you that its focus on the practice of listening can have profound effects on each one of us. We begin to learn that if we can only slow down and listen, we can learn a great deal about ourselves and each other.
4) Bring your whole paper on Wednesday of next week with two extra copies to share in class.
Any questions? Again, my apologies if I confused you in any way.
See you all next week. And please, if you have ANY questions about this assignment, please email me at jreis@sccd.ctc.edu
Jane
Margot has already emailed me about what you all did at last night's class. It sounds like a great learning experience!
Margot also said that there were some questions about the cultural interview. Some of you were correct when you said that there are slightly different iterations of the assignment. I did update the assignment and repost onto the website (and redistribute the assignment in class), but I thought I just strengthened the assignment for you and didn't change any real variables. I should have told you to throw out the earlier assignment. My apologies.
So to be clear:
1) you are to set up an interview with one person in our class.
2) since Monday is a federal holiday (Martin Luther King day), I have asked you to post a synthesis of your interview experience on this blog. This synthesis can be one paragraph in length covering the "gems" of your experience -- what you learned, what surprised you, etc. I also asked you, if you can, to send me (jreis@sccd.ctc.edu) a pix of you and your interview partner so I can post the pictures on our blog.
3) I'd love it if you all would spend a little time reading each other's postings because even though this assignment seems simplistic, I assure you that its focus on the practice of listening can have profound effects on each one of us. We begin to learn that if we can only slow down and listen, we can learn a great deal about ourselves and each other.
4) Bring your whole paper on Wednesday of next week with two extra copies to share in class.
Any questions? Again, my apologies if I confused you in any way.
See you all next week. And please, if you have ANY questions about this assignment, please email me at jreis@sccd.ctc.edu
Jane
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Dialogue, Seminars and New Thoughts
Hi Everyone,
I thought before I left for New York (if I am still going -- massive snow storm in New York), I'd create a new blog posting site for everyone to share their thoughts about what's been interesting so far in our class. For example, what has stood out for you as really important as you read the first four chapters of Isaacs book? What about what we've talked about in class -- the concept of power (Margot), listening skills (Jane), and dimensions of culture (Jane)? What about Machiavelli's book, The Prince? What are you thinking about as you complete your reading in preparation for tomorrow's seminar?
Also, an FYI: don't forget to send me (jreis@sccd.ctc.edu) your photos of you and your interviewee. I will post them on our blog site. Should be fun!
I also wanted you to know that I posted a sample cultural interview paper on the web site. Look for it in tomorrow's section.
Hopefully I will see you tomorrow night, but if not feel free to email me with any questions. My emails come to my phone so I'm easy to reach!
Jane
I thought before I left for New York (if I am still going -- massive snow storm in New York), I'd create a new blog posting site for everyone to share their thoughts about what's been interesting so far in our class. For example, what has stood out for you as really important as you read the first four chapters of Isaacs book? What about what we've talked about in class -- the concept of power (Margot), listening skills (Jane), and dimensions of culture (Jane)? What about Machiavelli's book, The Prince? What are you thinking about as you complete your reading in preparation for tomorrow's seminar?
Also, an FYI: don't forget to send me (jreis@sccd.ctc.edu) your photos of you and your interviewee. I will post them on our blog site. Should be fun!
I also wanted you to know that I posted a sample cultural interview paper on the web site. Look for it in tomorrow's section.
Hopefully I will see you tomorrow night, but if not feel free to email me with any questions. My emails come to my phone so I'm easy to reach!
Jane
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