Design Clinics
Beginning with Meeting 4 in the winter quarter, each Fellow gets a turn to engage the collective experience of their cohort around a question related to an ongoing or emerging campus-community collaboration.
We do this using a “design clinic” format we learned from Etienne and Beverly Wegner-Trayner, who recommend this method to communities of practice around the world.
Each design clinic should take about 30 minutes. Here is the format:
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Presenter gives enough context to be able to frame his or her question(s) - hints: visuals are helpful, and one central question is better than several.
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Group asks questions to get a better understanding of the context; presenter shares more context - reminder: group members should refrain from offering advice at this stage.
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Group members share related experiences and stories, saying what they did when in a similar position - note: presenter listens quietly during this time.
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Group members give advice.
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Presenter summarizes/reflects some of the valuable insights from the conversation.
We appreciate this structure because it:
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Creates space to ensure we understand the real challenge(s).
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Prevents group members from giving advice too quickly.
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Prevents one voice steering the conversation too dominantly.
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Lets the presenter focus on listening instead of always being on the spot to respond.
Our principles and practices for facilitating design clinics include:
Practice.
The facilitators should model presenting for a design clinic before the Fellows are asked to present on their own question. This gives everyone a feel for the structure, and a sense of how to present in a way that will inspire a useful conversation and how to participate as group member.
Visuals help provide context.
Fellows are encouraged to post materials that will help provide context to their question on their personal page on our online workspace (Wikispaces). They can post pictures, links, diagrams, or whatever they think would be helpful.
Stave off advice.
Some Fellows find it challenging to not give advice right away, but this element is essential. Find a light-hearted but firm way to divert preemptive advice-givers.
Each design clinic is a learning opportunity for all.
Encourage Fellows to think about each design clinic as a chance to learn about a new context, listen for useful experience and advice, and to reflect on their own work. Discourage them from thinking that they will only learn when it’s their turn to present.
Capture the conversation.
Assign a notetaker (not the presenter) to write down the ideas and advice shared during each design clinic. These notes should be made available to all Fellows. We post notes on each Fellow’s personal Wikispaces page. This way the wisdom of the group is preserved for all to benefit from in the future.
"CE Fellows is a great way to build community! Not only is it a great way to meet a diverse group of people, but they become a support group that offer advice, trouble-shooting, problem-solving, and lots of laughs!"
- Irena Lambrou
Irena Lambrou proposed a West African Dance study abroad course for Whatcom Community College students during her Fellows experience.
