Changing My Approach

by Bulus Ali
CRWRC Diaconal Consultant, Nigeria

I was staying in a Christian Guest House in Jos, Nigeria. Next to my room was the dinning area which a group was using for workshop, so I could hear sounds coming from the group. I could hear the facilitator talking all the time to a group of adults I felt had a lot of field experience. A typical lecture approach! At the end of the day I saw how exhausted everyone was and I said to myself: “Global Learning Partners would do this facilitator a lot of good.”

Skills acquired from Global Learning Partners
Part of my work is facilitating workshops with adults. Before my exposure to Dialogue Education my approach was largely that the lecturer knows everything. Although I had attended workshops, such as ones organized by DELES in Nigeria, to equip adult educators better, I really never understood the principles behind what we did during those trainings. That is, not until my exposure to Global Learning Partners. I have more respect now for the knowledge and experience that adults have, even when I have new knowledge to add. I now understand why small group work is important. I use the four A model effectively… and the list could go on. I have become a strong Dialogue Educator.

Benefits from the skills
Since attending the Global Learning Partners workshops Learning to Listen Learning to Teach and Advanced Learning Design, with the help of Jan Disselkoen I have redesigned the Diaconal Training Manual for the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC). Since May 2006, I have conducted several workshops based in the principles and practices of Dialogue Education. Apart from the regular diaconal training, I have conducted workshops on Reforestation and Bee Keeping with three communities using Dialogue Education. The energy, interest and enthusiasm these workshop created was heart warming and exciting! At this point, it is difficult for me to imagine a training event without applying some aspects of Dialogue Education. I see the difference it makes in teaching and learning.

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