There’s something that makes you feel more alive when you’re on campus at the beginning of the school year. There’s an energy that’s almost tangible – excited, a little nervous, curious, brave.
Last week I got to sit in on orientation at Regis University in Denver where the organizers were incredibly intentional about the space and thinking they wanted to challenge the students to do together, right from the very beginning. Under a huge open sided tent set up on the quad, over 400 students gathered at round tables to meet each other and begin exchanging ideas.
Using the World Café method, the professors guided the small table groups as they explored and shared with each other in conversations about one of the Core Principles of the University.
As students moved through rounds of conversation, each time with a new group, they were encouraged to leverage previous discussions, eventually using sticky notes to write down their table’s vision for the community they wanted to create together.
I graphic recorded the quick harvests in real-time digitally on site, then we collected the sticky notes from each table while students went off to the next piece of the day. My task was then to synthesize the sticky notes into one graphic that showed the major themes, as well as highlighting creative and unique aspects of each.
The graphic was used the following day as a jumping-off point for deeper reflection with other facilitators, and will be shared with students throughout and at the end of the year to remind them of what they began creating together that very first morning.
What blows me away is that this relatively simple process effectively created space for over 400 student voices to be heard and woven together in just a few hours, into something that hopefully will resonate with them for the year to come!
Once again, thank you from my heart and soul for your support, great senses of humor, brilliant minds, collaboration and what you're each doing to make the world a better place.
Cheers,
Where in the World is ConverSketch?
Aspen, CO: For the annual Tech Policy Institute Aspen Forum. We discussed broadband, antitrust, equity, privacy, and regulations with heavy hitters from around the globe.
Regis University: As you just read. Here’s a snapshot of a meditative prayer parents were invited to attend as they experienced the roller coaster of letting their kids go to college.
And Once Again, for the People in the Back: I’m pregnant with twins! We are due in December, and I will be taking some time off to be a new parent. Here are the details of what it means for ConverSketch.
