Comments on: Wiki Government (1): Which public education problems could be better resolved through collaboration? Which would not? http://catherineripley.ca/2010/07/27/wiki-government-1-which-public-education-problems-could-be-better-resolved-through-collaboration-which-would-not/ Edmonton Public Schools Trustee in Ward H Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:40:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: catherine http://catherineripley.ca/2010/07/27/wiki-government-1-which-public-education-problems-could-be-better-resolved-through-collaboration-which-would-not/#comment-8 catherine Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:35:15 +0000 http://catherineripley.ca/?p=176#comment-8 Esme, thanks for your comments. I totally agree that there is not one model or template that will work for every school district. This is why I am hoping the new Education Act will empower school boards with more autonomy to really work with their local communities and sitautions in terms of a best governance model, best policies, etc. to suit their needs. I missed Dr. Seel's presentation at the PSBAA Spring Assemblyl due to being out of town, but trustees who were there spoke highly of "generative governance." If you have time to read the next post that I just about to put up, I would appreciate your thoughts (or anybody else's) on where generative governance fits -- does it fall within collaborative democracy or deliberative democracy or is it entirely its own thing? And perhaps, you could comment on where your experiences with Futures Visioning (did I get that right?) lies here.... Is it how your district developed the "vision" for public education within your community that now would help decide your board decide what challenges will be resolved through group work/deliberation? By the way, I encourage everyone to fill out the Inspiring Action's Transformation guide on "Shared Governance, Collaboration, School Boards, and Natural Person Powers" and if you can, to register to participate in the online session on this topic on August 19 in the afternoon. http://engage.education.alberta.ca/inspiring-action/become-involved Esme, thanks for your comments. I totally agree that there is not one model or template that will work for every school district. This is why I am hoping the new Education Act will empower school boards with more autonomy to really work with their local communities and sitautions in terms of a best governance model, best policies, etc. to suit their needs. I missed Dr. Seel’s presentation at the PSBAA Spring Assemblyl due to being out of town, but trustees who were there spoke highly of “generative governance.”

If you have time to read the next post that I just about to put up, I would appreciate your thoughts (or anybody else’s) on where generative governance fits — does it fall within collaborative democracy or deliberative democracy or is it entirely its own thing? And perhaps, you could comment on where your experiences with Futures Visioning (did I get that right?) lies here…. Is it how your district developed the “vision” for public education within your community that now would help decide your board decide what challenges will be resolved through group work/deliberation?

By the way, I encourage everyone to fill out the Inspiring Action’s Transformation guide on “Shared Governance, Collaboration, School Boards, and Natural Person Powers” and if you can, to register to participate in the online session on this topic on August 19 in the afternoon. http://engage.education.alberta.ca/inspiring-action/become-involved

]]> By: Esmé Comfort http://catherineripley.ca/2010/07/27/wiki-government-1-which-public-education-problems-could-be-better-resolved-through-collaboration-which-would-not/#comment-7 Esmé Comfort Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:18:58 +0000 http://catherineripley.ca/?p=176#comment-7 I am in the process of completing the Inspiring Action "Transformation Guide on Shared Governance, Collaboration, School Boards and Natural Person Powers". Your blog, twitter, Facebook have all helped me as my thoughts churn about on this one. I think that there is not one model or template that works for each and every school district, but rather a set of best practices to be shared from which each local individuated governance emerges. Some boards are already well down this road; others have a journey ahead of them. I believe all boards can benefit from a study of Dr. Keith Seel's work on generative governance. My own board experience shows me that collaboration can create a sum which is greater than the individual parts but this quote: "...not all problems lend themselves to problem solving by a group. An institution must be able to articulate the challenge to which the wisdom of the crowd will be applied." is exactly right. What must also be applied is the filter or screen of the 'vision': is what we propose going to advance our progress? The 'crowd' also helps provide this analysis. I am in the process of completing the Inspiring Action “Transformation Guide on Shared Governance, Collaboration, School Boards and Natural Person Powers”. Your blog, twitter, Facebook have all helped me as my thoughts churn about on this one.

I think that there is not one model or template that works for each and every school district, but rather a set of best practices to be shared from which each local individuated governance emerges. Some boards are already well down this road; others have a journey ahead of them. I believe all boards can benefit from a study of Dr. Keith Seel’s work on generative governance.

My own board experience shows me that collaboration can create a sum which is greater than the individual parts but this quote: “…not all problems lend themselves to problem solving by a group. An institution must be able to articulate the challenge to which the wisdom of the crowd will be applied.” is exactly right.

What must also be applied is the filter or screen of the ‘vision’: is what we propose going to advance our progress? The ‘crowd’ also helps provide this analysis.

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