Tag Archives: Appreciative Inquiry

How Appreciative Inquiry Makes a Difference in Education

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Marge and JoyceRecently the Inquiry Institute conducted an interview with Marge Schiller and Joyce Lemke, two of our well-known PCC members.

Between them, Marge and Joyce have conducted 15 Education focused Appreciative Inquiry Summits, ranging from 50-700 participants.

In this conversation they discuss some of what they have learned and the importance of strength-based schools.

You can listen to the podcast here. (24 minutes)  If you are interested in strength-focused approaches in schools, it will be very well worth your time! 🙂

[audio:https://www.positivechangecore.org/audio/Marge_Joyce_Interview_6Jul2011.mp3]

Coming Together – Targeting Success

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This is the introduction to an article by Jeff Fifield,  Curriculum Facilitator at Colegio Maya in Guatemala, which was published in NewsLinks:

Coming Together – Targeting Success was the title of Colegio Maya’s (American International School of Guatemala) Strategic Planning Summit.

It captured well the objectives for the innovative and dynamic event to generate dialogue in bringing the learning community closer together to set future targets for school improvement.

Utilising an Appreciative Inquiry (AI) approach, which aligned to the school’s culture, allowed the school’s stakeholders to engage in a meaningful and energized experience to begin creating the shared vision for school improvement.

The truly magical mix included students, teachers, administrators, parents, Board Members, as well as former members of the school community.

To read more about this wonderful event, download the full article

Evocative Coaching:
Transforming Schools One Conversation at a Time

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A new resource is available for those working with classroom teachers and school leaders. Written by Bob & Megan Tschannen-Moran, Evocative Coaching: Transforming Schools One Conversation at a Time (Jossey-Bass, 2010), incorporates the principles of Appreciative Inquiry into the process of one-on-one coaching for personal and professional development.

The Evocative Coaching model works with Story Listening, Expressing Empathy, Appreciative Inquiry, and Design Thinking to move educators beyond old ways of thinking, doing, and being. It inspires and invigorates educators with the passion for making schools better, one conversation at a time.

David Cooperrider had this to say about the book: “If you could choose only one inspiring and resource-filled book on coaching, what do you suppose it would be? For me the answer is right here. Evocative Coaching is a gem; it’s something that should be read by anyone involved in a helping profession—and that’s everyone!”

For more information about the book and the coach training program based upon the book, visit www.SchoolTransformation.com.

Bob Tschannen-Moran

PCC Board Meeting 1/12/10

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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:

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)

Asking Great Questions – April 2009

Asking Great Questions … get GREAT results!

The Art of Creative Dialog

Date: April 20-22 2009
Time: 8.30 am to 4.30 pm
Location: Duncan Conference Center, Delray Beach, Florida

We have been taught to look for the right answers but perhaps it’s actually the questions that determine our quality of life! You may have spent time and energy finding answers, but we’d like to suggest that the real answer lies in the questions we ask of ourselves and each other. When you ask a question, you open worlds.

Why settle for less?

Learn to build strengths on strengths.  Energize the BEST in people AND your church, organization, or business.

This two day workshop is part of a series on Appreciative Inquiry and Leadership. It is appropriate for those who are new to Appreciative Inquiry and those who have had experience.

Workshop facilitators, Marge Schiller PhD. and Joyce Lemke, have worked with a variety of groups from schools to social service, and advocacy groups to business leaders. Marge is the author and editor of “Appreciative Leaders: in the Eye of the Beholder”. Joyce is a noted educator and thought leader for Appreciative Inquiry.

Cost $185 per person with lunch; 3+ from one organization @ $165 ea.

Download flyer and registration form

Or contact Deb McLaughlin
The Duncan Conference Center
15820 S. Military Trail Delray Beach, Fl. 33484
Phone: 561-496-4130
Email: dmclaughlin@duncancenter.org

Note: The Duncan Center has overnight accommodations for 80 people. Semi-private rooms with private bath. Rooms are spacious and quiet with small lounge areas in each building. Each room fitted with twin beds and some queen beds, and has its own library, clock radio, and individual climate controls.

2009 World AI Conference Call for Workshops

Dear Positive Change Core Colleagues

On behalf of Dr. David Cooperrider, Honorary Conference Chairman, we are pleased to announce the 2009 World Appreciative Inquiry Conference, which will be held November 16-19, 2009 in Kathmandu, Nepal at the Soaltee Crowne Plaza Hotel.

In addition to the in-person conference in Kathmandu, Nepal, an Online Conference will also encircle the globe with hundreds of individuals participating virtually.  As such, you have an opportunity to participate in multiple ways either in person in Nepal, online, or both! Learn more about the conference at: http://www.2009worldaiconference.org

As David comments: Why Nepal? This small but extraordinary country represents a region where Appreciative Inquiry has taken root in dozens of nationwide programs, empowering its citizens–including tens of thousands of women from over 100 ethnicities. I cannot imagine a more appropriate or inspiring setting for us to come together as a community of practitioners and scholars to learn from each other and advance the field of strength-based work together. With this setting serving as our inspiration, we will explore the cutting edge work being done around the world in Appreciative Inquiry and other strength- based methodologies that we can take the positive revolution for change to the next level together! I hope to see you there!”

CALL FOR WORKSHOPS:
We are currently inviting workshop proposals for the conference, both for in-person and virtual workshops. We are looking for workshops that are rich in example, interactive and engaging, and which illustrate the most innovative use of Appreciative Inquiry and other strength based change approaches to meet the pressing needs of our communities, governments, civil society organizations, and businesses. The conference workshops are an excellent way to bridge theory and practice and are a powerful way to share your work with organizational leaders, managers, change agents, designers, and innovators from all over the world!

Full details about the call for workshop proposals are available at:
http://www.2009worldaiconference.org/proposal/

Please share the vision of your workshop by using the on-line easy submit form at: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/survey.zgi?p=WEB228S9JLRNUP

The deadline for submissions is April 30, 2009.

For more information on the overall conference agenda and exciting opportunities for co-sponsorship, please visit the conference website at: http://www.2009worldaiconference.org/ or contact: info@2009worldAIconference.org

Finally, please feel free to send the Call for Workshops to people you know. We thank you in advance for your help in identifying the kind of work the whole world should hear about!

Sincerely,
Lindsey N. Godwin, Ph.D.
2009 World AI Conference Co-Chair
Assistant Professor of Management
College of Business
Morehead State University

(Sue James, one of our PCC members, is also on the International Advisory Board for the 2009 World AI Conference.)

Appreciative Inquiry Foundations Course, January 2009

Date: January 20-22 2009
Time: 8.30 am to 4.30 pm
Location: Duncan Conference Center, Delray Beach, Florida

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is research into the root causes of success. It is asking,  ‘What goes well around here, and how can we get more of it?’Âť

This theory-based and highly practical course will focus on:

  • Identifying the basic principles, assumptions and practices of Appreciative Inquiry
  • Identifying how and when to use Appreciative Inquiry
  • Defining a topic
  • Designing questions
  • Telling stories
  • Using the data from stories

Our 3-day course for individuals, groups, and group leaders provides opportunity for participants to gain a solid basic understanding of AI, with many opportunities to learn by doing.

This workshop is ideal for individuals, leadership groups from organizations, educators, clergy, and anyone who is interested in ‘change at the speed of imagination’Âť!

Course facilitators, Marge Schiller PhD. and Joyce Lemke, have worked with a variety of groups from schools to social services, and advocacy groups to business leaders. For three days, they will be at the Duncan Conference Center teaching a dynamic and life-changing course.

Cost: $250 per person (Reasonably priced onsite accommodation also available)

Download Course Flyer

For more information or to register, call Veneta at 561-496-4130 or email her on vlorraine@duncancenter.org

Mail registration and payment to:
Duncan Center
15820 S. Military Trail,
Delray Beach, FL. 33484
http://www.duncancenter.org

Note: The Duncan Center has overnight accommodations for 80 people. Semi-private rooms with private bath. Rooms are spacious and quiet with small lounge areas in each building. Each room fitted with twin beds and some queen beds, and has its own library, clock radio, and individual climate controls.