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These questions are intended to help you
decide if you have a "Dangerous Discussion"
topic worth pursuing - and, if so,
how.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
1. Why
bother? ...more
2. Who
cares? Who is needed? ...more
3. What
are the real options? ...more
4. What
helps or hinders? ...more
5.
How can technology help or hinder? ...more
6. How can we help?
How can we work together? ...more
7. How, if at all, are the answers to the
preceding questions unique
for your topic, situation, institution, or current conditions?
Please send your suggestions for improving this Webpage to
Steve Gilbert at
GILBERT@TLTGROUP.ORG
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1. Why
bother?
Select issues that are significant and appropriate for this approach!
-
Is there a possibility of making or influencing decisions about
this issue that will have a significant impact on many people?
-
Is it likely
that holding some respectful, inclusive, constructive discussions might make a
difference?
If the answer to either of the above two questions is "No," you
need proceed no further!
Don't waste your time. [But what might change both answers to "Yes"?]
If the answers are "Yes," then:
-
What are some of the significant benefits that might result from respectful,
inclusive, constructive discussions?
-
What are some of the risks of holding these discussions?
Why bother with this issue at all?
For some of the same reasons that
emerge from answering the next two questions?
- Why bother to use new technology, to
support constructive change, to build community?
- Why bother to keep trying to improve teaching and learning... with
technology?
Click here for many more examples of answers
to "Why bother?"
Click here for "Fundamental
Questions" activities that will help identify and prioritize your Dangerous
Discussions Issues
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2. Who
cares? Who is needed?
- Are there several
different categories of stakeholders who believe this issue is important to
them?
- Are some people
frightened, angry, frustrated, …about this issue?
- Do some of them avoid
talking with others about this issue
- except those likely to agree with them?
- Do some stakeholders
expect to lose more than they gain
by talking with those who disagree with them?
- Who is essential to
participate in useful discussions and their follow-up?
Who controls resources (budget, staff, ...) essential to make progress on
this issue?
- Any deadlines or crises?
When? For whom is this urgent?
- Who can facilitate, participate in or otherwise support
useful discussions?
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3. What
are the real options?
-
What are the options already available that seem to
have the greatest potential
to benefit as many as possible?
-
Do we need to develop additional
strategies, resources, options?
How
could we do so?
-
How much time do we have
to develop, adapt, use, assess, ...?
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4. What
helps or hinders?
-
What is getting in the way of making progress
on this issue?
-
Which obstacles are critically important?
(MUST be overcome in order to succeed?)
-
What is helping? Same or different in the future?
-
Who can help
recognize, understand, and influence important obstacles and resources?
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5.
How can technology help or hinder?
-
Are there ways in which some applications of information technology
and
communications media are already getting in the way
(or likely to get in the
way) of making progress on this issue?
-
What is helping?
Same or different in
the future?
-
Who can help recognize, understand, and influence
important
technology/media obstacles and resources?
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6. How
can we help? How can we work together?
-
Interpret “we” and “help” as broadly as
possible!
-
What can a diverse group of stakeholders
accomplish? How?
-
Do we have the time and the will to reach an accommodation that is
beneficial
for everyone involved? How?
-
Might some stakeholders be willing to accept
something less than their ideal NOW
in exchange for a commitment from others for
some future benefit?
-
Is there anyone so obstinately committed to one option
that any discussion will be a complete waste of time?
-
How can we avoid allowing any group - big or small - to "hijack" the
discussion?
-
Guidelines, guidance about techniques, approaches, tools,
….?
What strategies, technology applications, and tools could help support these
collaborative efforts? How?
[Click here for some help, and we're
always looking for ways to improve these resources!]
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Please send your suggestions to Steve Gilbert at
GILBERT@TLTGROUP.ORG |
