Saturday night, November 3, 2012
Dear Constance and Chanika,
Up late here in Kollam, Kerala, southwest India, after our full group phone meeting for the Collaborative Learning Experiment. That dog is still barking outside.
I’m reflecting, after our phone conversation, on the helpful idea that these are all intercultural encounters--my martial arts training here; my collaboration with you; my work in Alaska schools in general and in Copper River School District this coming winter specifically.
I’m frustrated at the moment with Tammy, the administrator from Copper River Schools who is my liaison for the artists-in-schools program. I wrote to her a little over a week ago with a barrage of ideas and questions that come from the strategies I articulated in my study question--things like planning to arrange student meetings with the regional school board; engaging teachers and students in deeper documentation strategies; etcetera.
As I said on the phone, I’m recognizing my tendency to want action on my terms. I wrote to Tammy and now, unfairly, I’m expecting her to respond immediately.
I’m also critiquing more and more the limitations of this school arts project, through the lens of Alice McIntyre’s Participatory Action Research, a resource I’ve been examining of late. I am excited by McIntyre’s definitions of true participation and collaboration. I aspire to those. And I’m also thinking about the Partnership Commandments Bill gave us at residency (such as “We will go slow,” and “We will only enter into partnership with those with whom we have a mutually defined interest”). ...I relish the idea of a project that’s not “parachuting in,” but in many ways, this project with Copper River District is in danger of being just that. I have only two weeks there at the school; I’ll arrive in the afternoon the day before Day 1, without enough time, perhaps, to even meet all of the teachers whose classrooms I’ll be working in--much less to sit and mutually define our interests together.
...So basically, as the project draws nearer, I’m beginning to see some of its (potential) shortcomings or pitfalls. I think I have to remember that the positive outcomes might be harder to anticipate, in a way. I shouldn’t despair, just yet.
And with this framing of the intercultural quality of our exchange--mine with Copper River Schools; mine with my teacher here in India; mine with you two--I feel positive about keeping my attention on the last Partnership Commandment: “We will endeavor always to learn from, and to be guided by, those we work with.”
Thanks for working with me, teaching me, guiding me...and for listening to this late-night ramble.
Ryan
Dear Constance and Chanika,
Up late here in Kollam, Kerala, southwest India, after our full group phone meeting for the Collaborative Learning Experiment. That dog is still barking outside.
I’m reflecting, after our phone conversation, on the helpful idea that these are all intercultural encounters--my martial arts training here; my collaboration with you; my work in Alaska schools in general and in Copper River School District this coming winter specifically.
I’m frustrated at the moment with Tammy, the administrator from Copper River Schools who is my liaison for the artists-in-schools program. I wrote to her a little over a week ago with a barrage of ideas and questions that come from the strategies I articulated in my study question--things like planning to arrange student meetings with the regional school board; engaging teachers and students in deeper documentation strategies; etcetera.
As I said on the phone, I’m recognizing my tendency to want action on my terms. I wrote to Tammy and now, unfairly, I’m expecting her to respond immediately.
I’m also critiquing more and more the limitations of this school arts project, through the lens of Alice McIntyre’s Participatory Action Research, a resource I’ve been examining of late. I am excited by McIntyre’s definitions of true participation and collaboration. I aspire to those. And I’m also thinking about the Partnership Commandments Bill gave us at residency (such as “We will go slow,” and “We will only enter into partnership with those with whom we have a mutually defined interest”). ...I relish the idea of a project that’s not “parachuting in,” but in many ways, this project with Copper River District is in danger of being just that. I have only two weeks there at the school; I’ll arrive in the afternoon the day before Day 1, without enough time, perhaps, to even meet all of the teachers whose classrooms I’ll be working in--much less to sit and mutually define our interests together.
...So basically, as the project draws nearer, I’m beginning to see some of its (potential) shortcomings or pitfalls. I think I have to remember that the positive outcomes might be harder to anticipate, in a way. I shouldn’t despair, just yet.
And with this framing of the intercultural quality of our exchange--mine with Copper River Schools; mine with my teacher here in India; mine with you two--I feel positive about keeping my attention on the last Partnership Commandment: “We will endeavor always to learn from, and to be guided by, those we work with.”
Thanks for working with me, teaching me, guiding me...and for listening to this late-night ramble.
Ryan
Dear Ryan,
ReplyDeleteThank you for giving us a glimpse of what is going on on your end and sharing your resources. I'm unfamiliar with Alice McIntyre's research and will look it up. Hopefully, Tammy is just dedicating more time to answer your questions fully.
For my own project, I'm realizing just because I want full participation, it doesn't necessarily mean it will happen. My practicum might have to be totally reconfigured because of the timeline and the late commitment from Abilities, the student organization to sponsor me. Sometimes the ideal is set in our mind but we have to shift with the flow. I've also been in situations where the artist is seen as just an extra benefit rather than integral to a process. I like that you mention "mutually define our interests together" as I think that is key and hopefully you'll get there.
Your obvious commitment and faith in your work will carry you through.
Safe travels.
Chanika
Ryan,
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing to us. It's god to hear what's going on with you and what you're thinking about. I like Chanika's positive outlook that perhaps Tammy is carefully considering all that you wrote.
I really appreciated how during the phone conversation you were able to clearly articulate how we planed for the final but didn't consider the ongoing collaboration - what would it look like? How will it work?
As I'm thinking about it now this blog, these blog conversations are in fact our group collaboration. Dialogue comes in many forms. It's a lot to think about.
take care,
Constance
Hi you 2,
ReplyDeletethanks for your comments and for reading my letter. i agree with you, chanika -- it's all about going with the flow. and this is a good reminder to me that one basic basic thing any project needs is a solid investment from the parties involved. and we have to keep defining and re-defining what that investment looks like, how it manifests itself.
constance: i think you're right about this blog! i'm sorry that i've been away from it for most of the time these past 3 and a half weeks. next week i'm heading home to alaska and i expect to be online more regularly then. so-- on with the dialogue.
thanks!
ryan