Visioning 2026 Blog
Leadership Norfolk Transformational Learning Process Project
Each year as part of the Leadership Norfolk class the participants are asked to complete a process project. In the Janaury class the Process Project objectives were presented. This 8 page PDF formated file introduces the expected learning objectives.
The material they need has been provided in their 3-ring binder and handouts. Numerous references have been provided in this blog and handout material.
Participants, as a member of a team, are to select a future trend that will have an impact on the Norfolk area in the future, say 5-10 or even 20 years.
Using the transformational learning skills they
need to describe how they would approach getting their possible solutions
implemented, why their solutions would be different from the mechanisms
used in the past, what transformations skills are needed by the local
leaders and the citizens to realize the implementation.
The trend should be scoped in such a way as to realize solutions at the
local and regional level through the adoption of transformation learning
skills. The use of references to support their ideas will be
helpful.
The material should be organized is a manner that can presented to a group of
community leaders that would have a stake in implementation.
Transformational Learning -- Process Project
For the upcoming Leadership Norfolk classes the class participants will be breaking up into teams and preparing a process project using transformational learning skills.
In preparation for the January 2008 class we are providing some read ahead material to help with the future dialogue in class and your activities for selecting a process project and developing your outcome. The general topic for this year's class is, “How would you prepare Norfolk for the future that is emerging using transformational methods?”
As part of the class we'll be investigating weak signals, e.g., the current political campaign and how this may impact the future political process. Please take a couple minutes and read the following New York Times article by David Brooks, Jan. 4, 2008, The Two Earthquakes.
A more recent paper written by Rick Smyre, he introduces several new weak signals that should be considered as part of the class dialogue and your process project.
http://www.Visioning2026.com/docs/TL/COTF-WeakSignalsList-Jan'08.pdf
On a related note we've included several links to PDF files, the first being more lengthly and discussing Democracy in a Learning Mode, by Rick Symre.
http://www.Visioning2026.com/docs/TL/DEMOCRACY-IN-A-LEARNING-MODE.pdf
Other related reference material will be handed out in class and is included here.
“CONSIDERATION QUESTIONS”, When Designing a Process Project Framework
PROCESS PROJECTS OF TRANSFORMATION, KEY IDEAS TO CONSIDER, STEPS TO TAKE
Transformational Learning -- What's It All About
Leadership Norfolk class starts the journey on communities of the future transformation learning.
What you'll find in this message
- References to Transformational Learning
- Testimonials
- Futures Generative Dialogue
- Weak Signals from the Past -- Future Trends Today
During the last class you were briefly introduced to future trends and why they are important to our future as a community and an individual. During the next class we'll introduce the concept of transformational learning and how it is different and more powerful from our traditional methods of learning.
1. We are including links to material to help prepare you for the journey. Please take some time to read through the material.
The first tutorial covers Transformational Learning -- Key Concepts and Questions, material (PDF formated) developed by Rich Smyre, President of Communities of the Future, over the course of many years.
The second document, Transformation Learning -- Core Competencies and Evaluative Methods for Specific Outcomes, is a start at the "how to" begin the journey.
2. You might ask why is this new learning method important to me? We've included two testimonials that will help make the connection.
Riding the Winds of Change with Transformational Thinking
My Transformation Learning Journey
3. A term that will come up during the next six months of Leadership Norfolk is Futures Generative Dialogue. We are planting the seed now as it will take some time for this concept to germinate, grow and bloom in your understanding and practice.
Futures Generative Dialogue -- Background of Understanding
One of the most important Communities of the Future (COTF) skills for community transformation is the ability to create an environment for "futures generative dialogue" and to be able to facilitate it. To this end, it is important that a process/transformative leader to understand the differences between debate, dialogue, generative dialogue and "futures generative dialogue. Debate is connected to the traditional idea that there is one truth for any issue. Dialogue creates differences as a result of diverse people listening to each other. Generative dialogue sets a goal to develop innovation and new ideas. Futures generative dialogue adds the element of "dialogue within a futures context" that ensures that new ideas and innovations are transformative and not just rearranging or updating old approaches.
"Futures generative dialogue" will become increasingly important for our communities and our economy as the need for continuous innovation evolves. Until individuals and organizations in our communities become familiar with future trends and their potential impact, many ideas thought appropriate actually will be increasingly obsolete.
The following elements are important to the needs of "futures generative dialogue:"
Direct Elements:
a) Is the dialogue with an individual or group?
b) If a group, what is the size of the group?
c) Is an outcome required? If so within what timeframe?
d) Are you familiar and competent with the methods and techniques of "futures generative dialogue?"
Indirect Elements:
a) The need for a large knowledge base and passion for learning.
b) The need to adjust to a changing situation?
c) Has the context of the "fgd" changed?
d) How to take advantage of outcomes of "fgd."
4. During the last class you were briefly introduced to future trends. We continue to ask ourselves is this a trend or a fad. Typically there are several factors involved in establishing a trend, they may commonally be called weak signals The following list of weak signals and the related connections may be considered as mechanism for detecting those future trends. What weak signals can you identify that may become a trend in the future?
Weak Signals From the Past
1) CB radios and Bag Phones evolved to Cell Phones: supported by cellular standards, batteries, microprocessor.
2) Interactive games such as Pong evolved to multi-player virtual reality games: supported by new gaming industry, microprocessor, video card technology, Internet.
3) Hybrid crops evolved to genetically modified crops: supported DNA research, minimal tillage practices, reduced equipment reqts, improved moisture control.
4) Medical information accessability and billing: supported by HIPA standards, cryptography, Internet, electronic claims submission, use of PDA for patient information.
5) Use of plastics in everyday activities: supported by chemical structural engineering using CAD and plastic injected molding tools, tougher mileage standards for vehicles.
6) Growth in alternative fuels: supported by rising fuel prices, unstable supplies and world demands, MTBE contamination
7) Advertising and marketing using non-traditional methods: Internet, web sites, blogs, satellite radio,
8) E-commerce and small business growth: supported by Internet, web site standards, people with less time, youth endorses on-line purchasing, eBay, Paypal.
9) Credit card usage: communications and security standards
10) Open heart surgery, replacement of organs, tissue regrowth: supported by anti rejection drugs, improve surgery tools and techiques
11) Digital media replacing printed books (world book reference material changes): digital technology standards, Internet distribution, wikipedia publishing