AppreciativeInquiryStrengths-based approach to information literacy instruction

Alan CarberyLindsey Godwin

QuestionsforReflection

ExceptionalmomentsThinkaboutatimewhenyoufeltthatyourlibraryfeltlikeanexceptionallearningenvironmentforyourpatrons.Remembertheemotionsyouhadwhenyouwereabletoworkonsomethingyouwereexcitedaboutorproudof.Whatwasgoingonatthattime,andwhy itwassuchahighpointforyou?

Paired Conversations

• Person A à Person B (3 min)• Person B à Person A (3 min)

ADJECTIVES?

Howmanytimesdotheplayerswearingwhitepasstheball?

OurSocietyFocuseson“Problems”

Lookacrosssocietyandyouwillfindthatmostofourtheories,media,andresearchreliesonadeficit-based

mindset.

Mostschools,companies,familiesandorganizationsfunctiononanunwrittenrule…Let’sfixwhat’swrongandletthestrengthstakecareofthemselves.

What is Appreciative Inquiry?

• A philosophy and way of looking at the world

• A strength-based framework for “positive organizational change”

• A methodology for engaging all stakeholders in

co-creation of change

#1: Inquiry and Change are NOT Separate Moments

• Inquiry IS Intervention• Our Questions Set the Stage for What We Find

Questions:•Aretheheartofanychange

•Shiftthefocusofattention,conversations,actions

•Alterthewayweseeourselvesandourwork

ConsidertheImpactofYOURQuestions

Whyarewestillhavingtheseproblems?VS.

Whatisthesmallestchangethatwouldhavethebiggestimpact?

TheArtoftheQuestion

• What’sthebiggestprobleminourorganization?

• Whydoourcustomersleave?

• Whyareemployeesdisengagedduringmeetings?

• Whydowestillhavetheseproblems?

• Whatarethemostuniqueassetswehave?

• Whatisthesmallestchangethatcouldmakethebiggestimpactforourcustomers?

• Howcanwere-envisionourmeetingstobemoreengaging?

• Whenhavewebeenproudofourorganization?

4“Classic”AreasforInquiry

• ReflectingonyourHistoryand“HighPoint”Moment

• LearningfromOthers:Exploringbestpracticesfromothers

• BuildingonWhatWeValueMost(continuityquestions)

• OurImagesoftheFuture

Considerasking…

• Moreof(notlessof)?• Tostart(notstop)?• Tocreate(notremove)?• Tosupport(notprevent)?• Toreinforce(notweaken)?

From Jackie Kelm: Appreciative Engagement

WhatdoIwant...

#2: What We Focus on Appreciates

ORMagnify and learn from

moments of highest engagement

and enthusiasm?

Do an organization survey oflow morale?

AnExampleofRe-framing

How can we recover lost baggage at lightening speed?

How can we reduce baggage loss?

How can we create outstand arrival experiences?

A Topic Can Be TRANSFORMATIONAL!

It’s not a blind focus on the positive….

Decreasing Obesity in our Schools….

Creating Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools:

Leveraging the Power of Our Community

• AIPractitionerCertificationProgram• GraduateCertificateinPositiveOrganizationalDevelopment

Formoreinformation:Appreciativeinquiry@Champlain.edu

Appreciatively Growing reflective teachers

“There are moments in the classroom

when I can hardly hold the joy.

When my students and I discover uncharted territory to explore, when the pathway out of a thicket opens up before us … then teaching is the finest work I know.

But at other moments, the classroom is so lifeless or painful or confused—and I am so powerless to do anything about it that my claim to be a teacher seems a transparent sham

Parker J. Palmer – The Courage to Teach

”

Teach courageously, with your whole heart

inquiring together A team of librarians,

Joy in teaching comes from

student engagement

Growing as reflective teachers

Teaching Philosophies are a blueprint towards

our aspirational teaching selves

What’s your teaching philosophy   ?