The board meeting, conducted via telephone conference, focused on the activities of participants in expanding the use of strengths-based approaches in the education of children and increasing the practice of Appreciative Inquiry.
Two members (Sue James and Robin Stratton-Berkessel) described in glowing terms their experience of the Appreciative Inquiry Conference that was held in Nepal in November of 2009. High points related to location, cultural diversity of attendees and applications of AI in the community, healthcare and spiritual arenas.
For more about the conference in Nepal, please see:
- 2009 World Appreciative Inquiry Conference on the AI Commons Website
- Impressions of Nepal from Robyn Stratton Berkessel
- Three slideshows from Sue James on the BJ Seminars International website
The group then brainstormed recommendations to make the website more dynamic including brief interviews of board members, stories of interest highlighting education in emergent areas, and stories reflecting the power of children and links to interesting articles.
An overview of Voices of Learning in Canton, Ohio. in which 6 schools participated, was presented and overall was a success.
The meeting ended with plans to complete the Leap of Learning Manual and enroll interested teachers, school administrators in the training before publication as well as regional offices of education and education boards.
More detailed information about the meetng (PDF download)