Ok I am doing it again! I thought maybe I had lost my enthusiasm for learning new things in different ways. I don’t think I lost that I think I just couldn’t carve out the time to keep track of all the opportunities. I am turning into a junky with the latest education initiative and
that is a MOOC. So far I know of at least four interesting MOOCs going on ..two of which I am trying to participate in and two others I am considering participating in at some point. Right now I am in Change11 and Creativity, Multicultural Communication. You will find my posts for
Creativity and Multicultural Communication on this blog and my posts for #Change11 on
www.cathyandersonblog.com and posts of the other classes, if I decide to participate on other blog sites.
This course covers how to communicate in a social networked world, the emphasis for this course is on creativity..and also how we can solve problems creatively in a social networked world. According to
the blog about this course we will be learning about how to utilize the concepts of connectivism and connecting with others globally.
From Wikipedia:
In contemporary society, different understandings of multiculturalism have resulted in two different and seemingly inconsistent strategies:
- The first focuses on interaction and communication between different cultures. Interactions of cultures provide opportunities for the cultural differences to communicate and interact to create multiculturalism.
- The second centers on diversity and cultural uniqueness. Cultural isolation can protect the uniqueness of the local culture of a nation or area and also contribute to global cultural diversity. The concept of “Cultural exception” proposed by France in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) negotiations in 1993 was an example of a measure aimed at protecting local cultures.
Our communication, observations and reactions to other cultures should generate creativity and inspire us as individuals in our thought, actions and artistic activities. Other cultures have an indelible influence on us as individuals, it creates synergy when we work together.
Kate Davies, in her article, Sustainable Minds in the Alternative Journal identified the following tenets that I believe are pertinent to this initiative:
Creating Learning Communities
First developed in higher education, there are now many examples of collaborations for learning, including spiritual, professional, online and neighbourhood communities. World Cafés, for example, can bring a diverse range of participants together to share perspectives on sustainability issues. Involvement in practical shared tasks, such as creating community gardens or building a transition town, can further stimulate active learning.
Fostering a New Cultural Worldview
A learning society for sustainability could foster the development of a new cultural worldview - one that is based on respect for the Earth and the great diversity of life on which humans depend. With its presumption of human superiority, the dominant Western worldview assumes humankind has the inherent right to over-exploit other species and exhaust the planet's resources. Developing values and beliefs consistent with sustainability will require a shared understanding of the destructive consequences of this worldview, as well as a widely-held desire to create a respectful, long-term relationship with the Earth.
.Embracing Diversity
A learning society would embrace diversity - not only different cultures and ethnicities, but also different ideas, beliefs and ways of knowing. We can learn from people who do not think like us because they challenge our assumptions, beliefs and expectations. We can learn from the wisdom of peoples and communities around the world that have proved their sustainability over hundreds or thousands of years. In the same way that the health of an ecosystem depends on its biodiversity, the sustainability of human systems depends on cultural diversity and a diversity of ideas and practices.
(Davies, K.. (2010). Sustainable Minds. Alternatives Journal, 36(5), 8,10-11. Retrieved September 17, 2011, from Research Library. (Document ID: 2125349971).
I decided to do some research on the term “World Café” and this is what I found, I hope to explore World Cafes further throughout this term:
World Cafe :
http://www.theworldcafe.com/
The Co-Intelligence Institute:
http://www.co-intelligence.org/P-worldcafe.html
World Café Community of Practice:
http://www.theworldcafecommunity.org/
The World Café on Second Life: The World Café is a conversational process based on a set of integrated design principles. Simple yet powerful, World Cafés can evoke and make visible the collective intelligence of any group, thus increasing people's capacity for effective action in pursuit of common aims. It is particularly effective when people come together across organizational, social or cultural boundaries to foster collaboration.
World Café Community Blog:
http://conversationsthatmatter.typepad.com/world_cafe_community/
I can’t wait to find and share more with you. The World Café is a model of connecting either physically or virtually and exploring our world together.
