The
DEI Conference: A Rewarding Experience
by
Alanna Miller
North
Island College
Port Alberni, BC
When
I received the information on the Dialogue Education Conference through our PD
Department I knew immediately I wanted to attend. I had read Learning
to Listen, Learning to Teach
eight years ago and here was a chance to meet the author, Jane
Vella, and learn more about Dialogue Education!
Although
I was new to this community of Dialogue Education practitioners, I found the organizers
and participants extremely welcoming and very willing to share their knowledge
and expertise. Every session was professionally and expertly facilitated and opened
up new learning around both content and facilitation. I quickly felt immersed
in the world of Dialogue Eeducation, hungry to learn everything I could, and honoured
to be the company of people doing such amazing work all over the world.
Specifically
it was a chance to gain a great understanding of The Seven Steps of Design, see
the The Seven Steps of Design modeled, and take information from each of the sessions
back to my work here at the College. I am going to attempt to use The Seven Steps
in one of the courses I teach next fall. I am looking more closely at deliberative
and consultative voice, recognizing that it is essential to be clear about the
difference.
Despite all that
I learnt about Dialogue Education, what I will remember most is having rich discussions
of both the head and the heart with 42 people who were passionate about what they
do. The conference was very rewarding and I know it is beginning of a wonderful
journey. Thanks to Joanna it looks like there will be a course in Vancouver in
December which I plan to attend.
