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Building and Strengthening Connections
Over 100 people from various early learning teams throughout Pennsylvania attended the P-3 Networking Meeting Strengthening Connections Across Pennsylvania, November 28-30, 2016 in Gettysburg. This meeting was both a continuation from the May P-3 event, as well as an opportunity to engage new teams. The statewide learning exchange helped to build sustainability through creative collaborations and stakeholder engagement while simultaneously helping participants step into their role as a meeting designer and refine their skills in convening and designing networking meetings. This was accomplished by encouraging participants to experience a well-designed, well-facilitated meeting, while at the same time, learn about the behind-the-scenes strategies, tools, and techniques that create irresistible learning experiences for participants.
Many of the activities were designed to build connections across geography, have people experience each other as potential resources, and experience learning that is visually and physically engaging.
In addition to over ten specific strategies explored, an Active Idea Share activity set the stage for building connections and gathering a lot of information quickly and efficiently. It was also an excellent example of a tool to help team build a shared context for their work together. Through paired interviews, movement, and visual representation of information, participants explored four questions:
- What drew you to P-3 and what keeps you connected?
- What are the characteristics of an irresistible learning experience with others?
- What is happening in the larger environment that calls us to keep recommitting to our efforts around P-3?
- If you had a magic wand, what would you wish for P-3 in Pennsylvania?
Participants were able to see connections with those from other regions, like recognizing the similarities between rural and urban programs. It was also easy to see that the birth-age 5 community and the Kindergarten-3rd grade have similar goals and desires.
Participants learned some of the basics of good meeting design. As people decide whether or not to invest themselves in a group, they ask themselves:
- Am I in or out?
- How much power/influence do I have? and
- Will I be able to contribute or learn something.
To get all on board, It is important to consider the design of the meeting. Details regarding the physical space, movement, and modes of processing and learning as a group are as important to consider as the content of the meeting.
This meeting also allowed participants to explore these ideas in real time and to explore the underlying structures and frameworks that make particular tools effective.
Time was spent in regional groupings to plan and coordinating efforts. Teams were able to share insights from the activities from the day and use the strategies learned during the meeting to plan a regional meeting. Specifically, teams spent time identifying a purpose and outcome for a regional meeting, as well as identifying who else needs to be at the table.
Another benefit of meeting regionally was to coordinate efforts already happening. People were surprised to learn about other efforts similar to their own and eager to join forces.
For more information about the meeting, please contact Samantha Gray at
samgray@pa.gov.
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