A Fresh Perspective – Appreciative Inquiry
Becoming an Appreciative Inquiry (AI) Facilitator has been the most impactful professional development training I have ever done, well; I thought it was about professional development but really it has impacted me in all aspects of my life. As a doctoral student it caused me to reconsider the problem based approach to research and to consider a more generative focus of inquiry. As an educator and educational developer I believe that learning supports us to become our best selves and to grow continually throughout our lives. Despite this philosophically being aligned for many educators, we often act from a place of deficit thinking, problem solving and gap analysis. As a result, we model this to our students and infuse our culture with resistance, negativity and problems. Appreciative Inquiry has increased my awareness of what is working and areas of success to build on as opposed to the gaps that are so often our cue to take action. As an educator it reminds me to focus on the strengths and development opportunities of students and my role to support their growth.
So what is Appreciative Inquiry… initially a framework for organizational development it is a model that focuses on what works well in groups and organizations to facilitate change. It has been adapted from being only a change management approach to also being used for strategic planning, academic advising, personal development, research and more. AI is a mindset; a paradigm shift that helps to reverse our natural tendency to focus on the negative. It is about more than being positive and appreciative, it is about being intentional with words and questions so that we manifest what we wish to see. Where we place our attention is where our energy, actions and thinking tend to go.
I have come to realize that even though I believed myself to be a positive person, there was more I could do to be intentional and appreciative and to help others do the same. This is the anticipatory principle, the more positive the image we create for what we wish to see in the world the more likely it is that we will create that.
I believe we start within and work out to influencing those around us and those we serve; AI has helped me to do this. I hope to inspire others to explore this fabulous tool to create their best life as we move forward to a new decade. Happy 2020!
Upcoming training opportunity!
Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (AIFT)
May 4 – May 7, 2020
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU)
For more information and to register, please visit: https://www.centerforappreciativeinquiry.net/event/appreciative-inquiry-facilitator-training-aift-surrey-british-columbia/
Leeann leads the Learning Technology and Educational Consultant teams in their efforts to support innovation in teaching and learning at KPU. Leeann oversees and advances existing KPU supported educational technologies and tools to align with institutional values and current best practices. Previously an experienced faculty member, Leeann holds a Post Masters Certificate in Curriculum Design and is a doctoral candidate in the Distance Education EdD at Athabasca University. Leeann is an advocate for the culture of folio thinking pedagogy and its potential to revolutionize KPU's learning landscape.
