Session VII

Topic: Connection

Introduction: In a World Café event, there is a chance for people to connect to many others quite easily. After the first 4-6 people discuss the question, they switch to another table, with different people, and discuss the question again. The small groups keep everyone participating. Each one has a chance to contribute. Ideas are reworked and new ones are formed from the various conversations. As ideas are passed along and shared, discussion may cause a person with a firm view to alter their thinking. Surprise connections happen between people who normally might not speak together.

Moving people between tables several times in a workshop creates a connection of ideas and new life is formed from the original idea. As ideas are passed along and shared, discussion may cause a person with a firm view to alter their thinking. For supplemental reading, see Resources.

Objectives: By the end of this session, you will

• Understand how people can connect
• See that surprise connections can happen

Notes for Animators

Abdikarim and Anita liked the idea of moving people between tables for their workshop. They wondered how could they make the idea of connecting with diverse perspectives work for their planning team. So they randomly picked one idea from the group and called it the “gift card.” That set the tone for the next discussion. Encouraging team members to follow a question or comment that came from the group was a way to focus and connect at the same. Time. As the planning team worked together, they had a chance to practice World Café method.

Journal Question: Do you think people at a workshop are willing to move from the table they start at? Are you? Why is moving around the room important? And why bother to reconnect at the home table?

Materials needed: See Pictures

Reflection: We are seeing more how ideas connect in World Café. What other things do we need to consider?

 

Handout (PDF)

Next Session: Listen