Comments for Zilino Blog http://blog.zilino.com Water cooler for the Zilino community Mon, 24 Jan 2011 20:55:10 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Information Sharing and Learning on Zilino by Creative Deliberation and Learning http://blog.zilino.com/2010/04/26/information-sharing-and-learning-on-zilino/comment-page-1/#comment-1048 Creative Deliberation and Learning Mon, 24 Jan 2011 20:55:10 +0000 http://blog.zilino.com/?p=16#comment-1048 [...] be enabled to take on the role of researcher, interviewer, fact checker, curator, editor etc. (see post) in collaborative ways that help educate the group as a whole (something your steps #2, #4 and #6 [...] [...] be enabled to take on the role of researcher, interviewer, fact checker, curator, editor etc. (see post) in collaborative ways that help educate the group as a whole (something your steps #2, #4 and #6 [...]

]]> Comment on Small-Group Dialogue on Zilino by Tim http://blog.zilino.com/2010/04/24/small-group-dialogue-on-zilino/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Tim Sat, 01 May 2010 06:42:16 +0000 http://blog.zilino.com/?p=10#comment-11 Thanks, Sandy! I've heard good things about Web Lab. They are (were?) pioneers of online dialogue. In fact, if you Google "small-group dialogue" their <a href="http://www.weblab.org/sgd/" rel="nofollow">website</a> is still the top search result. Not sure how active Web Lab is these days, but their software has been <a href="http://participatedb.com/references/64" rel="nofollow">used</a> in online consultations as recently as 2005. Online facilitation can be very resource intensive which can get in the way of scaling. While Zilino relies on experts (facilitators, public participation specialists) to design and manage the overall process we want to explore opportunities for regular participants to take on some of the basic facilitation tasks (e.g. as table moderators or scribes), at least to the extent that that is possible. Thanks, Sandy!

I’ve heard good things about Web Lab. They are (were?) pioneers of online dialogue. In fact, if you Google “small-group dialogue” their website is still the top search result. Not sure how active Web Lab is these days, but their software has been used in online consultations as recently as 2005.

Online facilitation can be very resource intensive which can get in the way of scaling. While Zilino relies on experts (facilitators, public participation specialists) to design and manage the overall process we want to explore opportunities for regular participants to take on some of the basic facilitation tasks (e.g. as table moderators or scribes), at least to the extent that that is possible.

]]> Comment on Small-Group Dialogue on Zilino by Sandy Heierbacher http://blog.zilino.com/2010/04/24/small-group-dialogue-on-zilino/comment-page-1/#comment-10 Sandy Heierbacher Sat, 01 May 2010 02:12:27 +0000 http://blog.zilino.com/?p=10#comment-10 I am excited to see that Zilino will allow for small-group dialogue. This is not common enough, by far. I was a big fan of Web Lab years ago, which did a great job organizing numerous small dialogue groups. I'm don't think that method is still in use, and it may not have been the most sustainable online method since the facilitator role was quite time consuming. It seems like you're streamlining it with Zilino. I like Lucas' idea of allowing people to connect with each other privately. I also think it would be quite exciting to make sure the design allows people to use online and face-to-face dialogue in tandem, maybe by allowing geography to be a factor in who is put into what groups (for very large groups) or by allowing schedules for face-to-face meetings to be a factor. I can imagine, for instance, using Zilino to encourage online small-group dialogue before a face-to-face event, and then having those groups meet in person at the event. Just a thought... I am excited to see that Zilino will allow for small-group dialogue. This is not common enough, by far. I was a big fan of Web Lab years ago, which did a great job organizing numerous small dialogue groups. I’m don’t think that method is still in use, and it may not have been the most sustainable online method since the facilitator role was quite time consuming. It seems like you’re streamlining it with Zilino.

I like Lucas’ idea of allowing people to connect with each other privately. I also think it would be quite exciting to make sure the design allows people to use online and face-to-face dialogue in tandem, maybe by allowing geography to be a factor in who is put into what groups (for very large groups) or by allowing schedules for face-to-face meetings to be a factor. I can imagine, for instance, using Zilino to encourage online small-group dialogue before a face-to-face event, and then having those groups meet in person at the event. Just a thought…

]]> Comment on Information Sharing and Learning on Zilino by Tim http://blog.zilino.com/2010/04/26/information-sharing-and-learning-on-zilino/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Tim Fri, 30 Apr 2010 02:33:53 +0000 http://blog.zilino.com/?p=16#comment-9 Thanks, Ron! Very well said. One of the use cases we'd like to explore within the resource library is the ability for participants to collaboratively write summaries of any resource they have actually spent the time exploring. A handful of participants might be all it takes to capture the gist of it on one page. This is an example how the efforts of a few could greatly benefit the group overall. There are many more opportunities where this principle could be applied. Thanks, Ron! Very well said.

One of the use cases we’d like to explore within the resource library is the ability for participants to collaboratively write summaries of any resource they have actually spent the time exploring. A handful of participants might be all it takes to capture the gist of it on one page.

This is an example how the efforts of a few could greatly benefit the group overall. There are many more opportunities where this principle could be applied.

]]> Comment on Information Sharing and Learning on Zilino by Ron Lubensky http://blog.zilino.com/2010/04/26/information-sharing-and-learning-on-zilino/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Ron Lubensky Fri, 30 Apr 2010 01:49:11 +0000 http://blog.zilino.com/?p=16#comment-8 Yes, participants should bring info to the forum and collaboratively learn from each other. I think the demand for "complete, unbiased information" is misguided, as information is always framed somehow. The demand has built into it a presumption, mistaken IMO, that there exists a determined, absolute and objective Truth about everything. And this implies that only authorised information should be considered valid. But in deliberative processes, the whole point of having it is that there isn't a consensus view and it is often an authority itself that is being questioned. And even if the presentation is generous to lots of perspectives (eg. NIF study books), completeness and balance are ideals that would be impossible to achieve from the standpoint of all participants. Instead, presume the participants are adults who can make of the material what they want. Allow stakeholders (whether as participants or not) to make rhetorical material available. I'm not sure that it is necessary for participants to be editors of source materials (eg wiki), but they surely need the ability to freely express judgements, clarifications and elaborations about them, be that in a linked forum. If your platform is not yet ready for participants to directly upload materials, then at least invite them to send stuff to the moderator for posting. I do like the idea of inviting participants to take on team roles. Yes, participants should bring info to the forum and collaboratively learn from each other. I think the demand for “complete, unbiased information” is misguided, as information is always framed somehow. The demand has built into it a presumption, mistaken IMO, that there exists a determined, absolute and objective Truth about everything. And this implies that only authorised information should be considered valid. But in deliberative processes, the whole point of having it is that there isn’t a consensus view and it is often an authority itself that is being questioned. And even if the presentation is generous to lots of perspectives (eg. NIF study books), completeness and balance are ideals that would be impossible to achieve from the standpoint of all participants. Instead, presume the participants are adults who can make of the material what they want. Allow stakeholders (whether as participants or not) to make rhetorical material available. I’m not sure that it is necessary for participants to be editors of source materials (eg wiki), but they surely need the ability to freely express judgements, clarifications and elaborations about them, be that in a linked forum. If your platform is not yet ready for participants to directly upload materials, then at least invite them to send stuff to the moderator for posting. I do like the idea of inviting participants to take on team roles.

]]> Comment on Small-Group Dialogue on Zilino by Tweets that mention Small-Group Dialogue on Zilino -- Topsy.com http://blog.zilino.com/2010/04/24/small-group-dialogue-on-zilino/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Tweets that mention Small-Group Dialogue on Zilino -- Topsy.com Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:08:26 +0000 http://blog.zilino.com/?p=10#comment-7 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Zilino. Zilino said: Meet our new blog: "Small-Group Dialogue on Zilino" -- http://bit.ly/b4WyF7 #edem [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Zilino. Zilino said: Meet our new blog: "Small-Group Dialogue on Zilino" — http://bit.ly/b4WyF7 #edem [...]

]]> Comment on Small-Group Dialogue on Zilino by Sean Murphy http://blog.zilino.com/2010/04/24/small-group-dialogue-on-zilino/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Sean Murphy Tue, 27 Apr 2010 04:15:01 +0000 http://blog.zilino.com/?p=10#comment-5 Tim, we should explore whether Zilino might help an organization like the Bootstrappers Breakfast foster dialog and collaboration between members of different chapters as well as entrepreneurs in locations that don't have a regular breakfast. Tim, we should explore whether Zilino might help an organization like the Bootstrappers Breakfast foster dialog and collaboration between members of different chapters as well as entrepreneurs in locations that don’t have a regular breakfast.

]]> Comment on Small-Group Dialogue on Zilino by Tim http://blog.zilino.com/2010/04/24/small-group-dialogue-on-zilino/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Tim Sun, 25 Apr 2010 22:28:30 +0000 http://blog.zilino.com/?p=10#comment-4 Thanks, Lucas! As the first commenter, you get a free t-shirt! Email me your size. ;-) Thanks, Lucas!

As the first commenter, you get a free t-shirt! Email me your size. ;-)

]]> Comment on Small-Group Dialogue on Zilino by Lucas Cioffi http://blog.zilino.com/2010/04/24/small-group-dialogue-on-zilino/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Lucas Cioffi Sun, 25 Apr 2010 22:02:16 +0000 http://blog.zilino.com/?p=10#comment-3 This sounds like a very solid process and I look forward to seeing it in action! One of the strengths will be the personal connections that are developed in the small group discussions. Perhaps participants should be able to connect with each other privately. It may also be useful to think about multiple iterations of the dialogue phases, where one builds on the other. In other words... dialogue (divergent thinking), summary (convergent thinking), dialogue, summary, dialogue, summary, dialogue, summary, etc. This sounds like a very solid process and I look forward to seeing it in action! One of the strengths will be the personal connections that are developed in the small group discussions. Perhaps participants should be able to connect with each other privately.

It may also be useful to think about multiple iterations of the dialogue phases, where one builds on the other. In other words… dialogue (divergent thinking), summary (convergent thinking), dialogue, summary, dialogue, summary, dialogue, summary, etc.

]]> Comment on 1771 by Small-Group Dialogue on Zilino http://blog.zilino.com/2010/04/17/1771/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Small-Group Dialogue on Zilino Sat, 24 Apr 2010 23:11:06 +0000 http://blog.zilino.com/?p=4#comment-2 [...] allow them to create a variety of small-group dialogue formats depending on their requirements. As mentioned in our previous post, it would be really interesting if small groups could be assembled not just [...] [...] allow them to create a variety of small-group dialogue formats depending on their requirements. As mentioned in our previous post, it would be really interesting if small groups could be assembled not just [...]

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