My co-instructor, Molly Gordon, and I had a slightly modified World Cafe in our two and a half hour Sociology of Education class at the U of Minnesota last night. We couldn't use tablecloths (there are big "lumps" in the middle of the round tables in the new hi-tech classroom building) but we had treats, poster paper, colored markers, etc. and grouped students in fours. Class members were introduced to WC, and given a one "big question" -- How do organizational characteristics of schools and universities get in the way of achieving valued educational goals? Our modification was to be a bit more directive by asking them to discuss how this question was reflected in course readings as well as their own experiences (It is a graduate level class after all....). They were startled when we asked them to move between tables as they focused on different readings (students usually chose a seat at the beginning of the semester and never move unless they are required to do so).
The time went so quickly that we could only apply our second "big question" -- How can we use organizations and organizing to achieve valued educational goals? -- to one of the readings. Students were very engaged and covered all of the ideas that we might have lectured on a few years ago -- but we need to working on their doodling skills (they have been pounded out of graduate students through years of linear thinking demands...). The success of the class did require that we use a video of a "lecturette" that they had to watch ahead of time. I am now proficient in uploading to Vimeo (YouTube has a 15 minute limit on videos...)
It was great, and we will do it again. AoH can help to revolutionize teaching even in a high-tech world and a high tech classroom. I am sorry that I didn't take any pictures.
World Cafe and Teaching
by Karen Seashore
Sep 14, 2012
My co-instructor, Molly Gordon, and I had a slightly modified World Cafe in our two and a half hour Sociology of Education class at the U of Minnesota last night. We couldn't use tablecloths (there are big "lumps" in the middle of the round tables in the new hi-tech classroom building) but we had treats, poster paper, colored markers, etc. and grouped students in fours. Class members were introduced to WC, and given a one "big question" -- How do organizational characteristics of schools and universities get in the way of achieving valued educational goals? Our modification was to be a bit more directive by asking them to discuss how this question was reflected in course readings as well as their own experiences (It is a graduate level class after all....). They were startled when we asked them to move between tables as they focused on different readings (students usually chose a seat at the beginning of the semester and never move unless they are required to do so).
The time went so quickly that we could only apply our second "big question" -- How can we use organizations and organizing to achieve valued educational goals? -- to one of the readings. Students were very engaged and covered all of the ideas that we might have lectured on a few years ago -- but we need to working on their doodling skills (they have been pounded out of graduate students through years of linear thinking demands...). The success of the class did require that we use a video of a "lecturette" that they had to watch ahead of time. I am now proficient in uploading to Vimeo (YouTube has a 15 minute limit on videos...)
It was great, and we will do it again. AoH can help to revolutionize teaching even in a high-tech world and a high tech classroom. I am sorry that I didn't take any pictures.