Judy Williamson: We learn something every
time we run an Institute, and I think of the old
swinging pendulum metaphor. We do group work, and
people say they wish they didn't have as much
group work. We don't do as much group work, and
people say they wish they had more group work. As
the project administrator, I am very concerned
about meeting needs for support, but I also feel
like it's a challenge that will keep motivating
us to listen more, to adjust, to strive to be
flexible, but never to reach perfection. As I
reflect on people's feedback, I am struck by two
things. First, I am amazed by the courage faculty
show in their willingness to learn new things, to
make risks, to keep an open mind to evolving
pedagogies. Next, I am also blown away by the way
participants make connections. They make
connections with each other and with ideas that
they take away from the Institute. This, for me,
is what Epihany's all about: the collaboration
and connections. What I hope is that people leave
Epiphany Institutes aware of their right and
their need for a supportive community who will
not judge but who will encourage, motivate, care
and communicate. The technology, far from making
us into automatons, stretches us to identify ways
we can be more human, more generous, more aware
as thinking beings. |
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