Collaboration in the Learning Community

This is always one of my favorite posts, a chance to acknowledge my colleagues in our learning community. I have learned from different perspectives in culture and personal experiences I plan on taking with me in my personal life and professional communication as well.

I just found out I was invited to present at a workshop after two of my hero's in the environmental education world, Dr. Nilda Cosco and Dr. Robin Moore who founded the Natural Learning Initiative. I will use every tool in the book and insights from colleagues so I don't just scream when I meet them. I typically look forward to presentations although with this one my knees are knocking, so any suggestion are welcome. I respect everyone from all of my classes any input you have means so much to me. Thank you everyone and best of luck on the final stretch.

Adjournment

Throughout my life there have been many teams I have been a part of some easier to part with and others not. In my younger years, I would audition for our community theater musicals (I was a dancer not a singer!). The process of auditioning, being chosen and working together for the performance was the team’s goal. The director had a lot to do with how the team gelled; we worked closely together having our own parts that depended on the whole for the show. It was very difficult to adjourn after closing night, we weren’t sure if we would see the same people in the next performance and we typically ended with a cast party. These teams were so successful and we felt such a rush of adrenalin after each performance and a great feeling of success. I have really connected with people in these online courses, not all personally but I value everything people bring to my learning. I would love to have casual conversations with my colleagues that don’t require citing resources and learning about their work and direction after our classes. I think all of us will be somewhat relieved to adjourn, but for over a year I’ve checked my computer and will miss sharing the intellectual insights about our field. I think all experiences needs closure whether it is in sadness or celebration, but reflecting on the relationships and lessons learned.

Conflict Resolution

This is perfect timing, I am in the midst of a conflict between one of my teachers and a parent. I am taking the “third side”. The parent does not want to leave her 4 year old with us if she is crying; she has brought her child to the bus with great success of a quick kiss goodbye. One day this parent flagged the bus down as it was pulling away to get her daughter on. One of the teachers went to help the child on who started to cry. The mother was talking to the teacher wavering back and forth as 30 kids were waiting on the bus. The teacher was frustrated, the parent was frustrated and the child hasn’t been at summer camp since (one week).

The first strategy is empathetic listening to each individual involved. I will check back with each one to make sure I accurately understand their perspective. With empathetic seeing, listening and speaking I hope to make the parent comfortable in what ever her decision and support the teacher in respecting the parents parenting style.

The second strategy is to have a meeting with the parent and teacher so we are clear on how the family culture works. And explain our school culture and how it works in a group situation. All the while having the utmost respect for the family culture with open and honest communication.

This is an interesting explanation of empathy by Alan Seid. http://www.cnvc.org/how-do-empathy