Chronicle workshops

Chronicle workshopsDoing it differently

Sisse Grønsig@teamarbejdsliv.dk

IEA Melbourne, 2015

Nuremberg Chronicle Woodcuts

2

THE POTENTIAL

”Wow, we have come a long way, we are quite good…it takes professionalism to do what we have done. It shows how easy it is to let things get out of hand and how important we are in a child’s life…the child’s ambassador”

(Reflexion from a cronicle workshop for child-care workers)

01-05-2023

3

INTRODUCTION

• A method to facilitate a structured group-based process centered around the group’s history• Inspired by action research, narrative sociology, organizational theoryParticipativeDemocratic ideal• It can be data collection •Or serve the aim of the organization• It is strongly engaging and rewarding for the participants

01-05-2023

4

HOW TO DO IT - PREPARATION

• SelectionVarietyGroup size• Clarify objective and expected outcome•Write a detailed program• Set the sceneBare wall and round circle without tablesEstablish a pre-defined time-lineWrite headingsBring post-its in different colors and pens

01-05-2023

5

• Round oneAsk participants to reflect on a topic and write a word on a

note (fx What were the significant events?)The participants in turns place their note on the time line and

explain it brieflyThe facilitators reflect on the story they see unfold, suggest

interpretations and invite discussion• Round twoRepeat the process with a different but still specific topic (fx

Who where the significant agents?)• Round threeRepeat with a reflection inviting topic (fx pros & cons)• Round fourInstruct the participants to divide the story in chapters and

give their chapters headings (in groups) and to explain why

Again the facilitators reflect on the story they see unfold, suggest interpretations and invite discussion

Topics should provide anchorage and specificality.Start out with the what, when and who facts.

A transparent analytical process. The visual timeline makes the story shared and accessible to all.A discourse.

01-05-2023

HOW TO DO IT – THE PROCESS

6

HOW TO DO IT – FOLLOW UP• Document the process (two or more facilitators works best)• Report it to the organisation – write it up• Use it as data

For the participants the proces is usually a positive experience, but the knowledge is internalised, thus it can be an invisible result.

For researchers it serves well as data, if the process is documented.

01-05-2023

7

THE FIREFLY

• A project to collect best practice cases of inclusion processes in kindergardens• The data for the 10 cases was collected via cronicle workshops (two per case)• In the Firefly we had two workshops with the same six participantsFirst workshop: Centered on an early

inclusion process (one child)1. actual events 2. significant

agents 3. successes and failuresSecond workshop: Same process, but centered on

a later inclusion process

01-05-2023

8

THE FIREFLY

01-05-2023

9

• The workshop made the participants realise that their practice had changed

The story that was created was: Initially their focus had been on the specific child -> Shift to focus on the child’s relations ->Shift to focus on their organisation and its ability to include

Double loop learning

The reflective practitioner

Working with people

A formulated development process and practice

And knowledge about preconditions for succesful inclusion for us

01-05-2023

THE FIREFLY

10

LOOP

”Wow, we have come a long way, we are quite good…it takes professionalism to do what we have done. It shows how easy it is to let things get out of hand and how important we are in a child’s life…the child’s ambassador”

(Reflexion from a cronicle workshop for child-care workers)

01-05-2023

11

LIMITATIONS

•Works best with reflective practitioners•Who likes to talk• And a group that actually has a shared story• It tends to disguise discrepancies• Bullying and harassments are not suitable topics

01-05-2023