Monday, June 7

Tonight's class started out with me "modeling" a studio session. I talked about ways to handle the deciding who will present issues (going to the left, discussing topics + deciding on a logical order; going with the person who is the most talkative or most eager; etc) and then did a session with Ricardo (thank you). We noticed language patterns (the use of questions, invitations,"saying back," validations and other facilitator moves) , that there were silences, and that the computer could make communication more difficult.

You then facilitated some sessions. I was impressed both with the quality of the sessions - and with the intentional "experimentation" you engaged in to explore conversation dynamics within studio work.

In general - your pattern (and what I see as best practice for studio sessions) was to establish audience, purpose, form for the presenter's writing (if the presenter doesn't state this information, you will need to get it out there through questions/talk with the other group members), make sure to establish what the presenter wants feedback on; observe what is working; facilitate; make sure the presenter gets the feedback s/he needs; and then wrap up the session with some reflection.

These sessions were kind of in a vacuum - in that we didn't do the whole group opening, closing & transition talk that lets you move from presenter to presenter.

You then worked with your team to develop Project 2.

For Wednesday: Turn in your complete program as an electronic document (folders in files either at a web site, as google.docs, or on a usb.

This program will include: the timeline with the day by day schedule with all documents necessary for presenting the day-by-day schedule. Please use some kind of file/organization system to make program implementation as easy as possible.

In class on Wednesday, each group will present its version of the training program, day by day. We will all read along and at the conclusion of both presentations - we will consoldiate the best from both - and create the actual program you will implement on beginning June 14.

On Thursday, at 4:00, we will meet with the counselors at the LAC for on overview of the Summer Program by the Director of EEO, and for introductions. We will then return to the writing center to finalize plans for Facilitator Training.

I will ask about the Grand Study Hall on the third floor of the Library.

Thank you for your awesome participation in this project. The success of our new studio program is truly going to be a reflection of this good work. See you Thursday.