Wow. The ideas have been flowing like mad, and it is time to properly write (some of) them down!
One idea that emerged out of the CBI practice session last Friday is the need to write a book about "Collaborative Problem Solving in the 21st Century." As Innes and Booher (2010) write in their "Planning with Complexity Book" and as many of us well recognize, the trends of the 21st century present some interesting, complex problems for collaborative/collective problem solving. With mass communications and the internet, we have more information at our finger tips than ever before, and while this can be good and can help support informed decisions, it often leads to misinformation and polarization instead. Similarly, while technology can be used to educate, engage, and connect people, it is often instead a source of isolation, misinformation, or disconnect. There are more people in the world and we are more connected than ever, but the forces of globalization have often led to ongoing disparity and divides. Trust in government is at a considerable low, at least in the U.S., and people are over involved and under committed. Social capital is arguably declining with increased connectivity. Etc. What does all of this mean for collaborative problem solving in the 21st century? I want to write this book with my colleagues in the field, since I think we seriously need to think about this. We need to be "foxes," ready to adapt to the changes that are happening in the world, rather than being hedgehogs that stick to our same old approaches. That is one idea.
Another related idea that came to mind during the practice session is the need to do some serious research and writing about the role of technology in collaborative problem solving and participatory planning. For example, we have key pad polling and poll everywhere, GIS-based systems that allow people to input data into planning processes, tracking systems, geodesign programs, mediated modeling approaches, etc that can all--at least in theory--lead to better planning and greater participation in planning. However, I argue that these technologies cannot replace dialogue. Nor do they inherently enhance it. I think these technologies, at least some of them, can be powerful tools, but we have to be very careful to use them as part of well thought out processes, we can't overly rely on them, and we have to be wary of them taking away from the overall intent of our approaches. Lots of research to be done, along the lines of mini-NECAPs (PAR like experimental research looking at uses of different tools for different purposes). This could be a huge line of inquiry for the future. I am trying to get my CBI colleagues to work with me on an article about this general idea of technology as a tool for collaborative problem solving, what we know, and what we need to know.
Finally, and related in some ways as well, I have been thinking about how we need to teach the skills of collaborative problem solving and adaptability (along the lines of what Caroline and Allegra are trying to teach through improv) to all young people. What if we all grew up knowing how to actively listen? What if thinking about different interests and how to reconcile them--and to create value!--was part of our every moment consciousness? With this in mind, I want to spend some time in the future integrating role-plays and other experiential exercises into primary and secondary schools as a way to teach kids about the core concepts that underpin collaborative problem solving, adaptability, and mutual gains. When I/we start our Institute in Montana, this might be one of the threads. We can work with adults to solve the world's problems and work with kids to prevent future problems and to build a society of natural collaborative problem solvers!
Nothing here is immediately actionable, but that is what I am thinking about right now.
Braindump done...for now.
One idea that emerged out of the CBI practice session last Friday is the need to write a book about "Collaborative Problem Solving in the 21st Century." As Innes and Booher (2010) write in their "Planning with Complexity Book" and as many of us well recognize, the trends of the 21st century present some interesting, complex problems for collaborative/collective problem solving. With mass communications and the internet, we have more information at our finger tips than ever before, and while this can be good and can help support informed decisions, it often leads to misinformation and polarization instead. Similarly, while technology can be used to educate, engage, and connect people, it is often instead a source of isolation, misinformation, or disconnect. There are more people in the world and we are more connected than ever, but the forces of globalization have often led to ongoing disparity and divides. Trust in government is at a considerable low, at least in the U.S., and people are over involved and under committed. Social capital is arguably declining with increased connectivity. Etc. What does all of this mean for collaborative problem solving in the 21st century? I want to write this book with my colleagues in the field, since I think we seriously need to think about this. We need to be "foxes," ready to adapt to the changes that are happening in the world, rather than being hedgehogs that stick to our same old approaches. That is one idea.
Another related idea that came to mind during the practice session is the need to do some serious research and writing about the role of technology in collaborative problem solving and participatory planning. For example, we have key pad polling and poll everywhere, GIS-based systems that allow people to input data into planning processes, tracking systems, geodesign programs, mediated modeling approaches, etc that can all--at least in theory--lead to better planning and greater participation in planning. However, I argue that these technologies cannot replace dialogue. Nor do they inherently enhance it. I think these technologies, at least some of them, can be powerful tools, but we have to be very careful to use them as part of well thought out processes, we can't overly rely on them, and we have to be wary of them taking away from the overall intent of our approaches. Lots of research to be done, along the lines of mini-NECAPs (PAR like experimental research looking at uses of different tools for different purposes). This could be a huge line of inquiry for the future. I am trying to get my CBI colleagues to work with me on an article about this general idea of technology as a tool for collaborative problem solving, what we know, and what we need to know.
Finally, and related in some ways as well, I have been thinking about how we need to teach the skills of collaborative problem solving and adaptability (along the lines of what Caroline and Allegra are trying to teach through improv) to all young people. What if we all grew up knowing how to actively listen? What if thinking about different interests and how to reconcile them--and to create value!--was part of our every moment consciousness? With this in mind, I want to spend some time in the future integrating role-plays and other experiential exercises into primary and secondary schools as a way to teach kids about the core concepts that underpin collaborative problem solving, adaptability, and mutual gains. When I/we start our Institute in Montana, this might be one of the threads. We can work with adults to solve the world's problems and work with kids to prevent future problems and to build a society of natural collaborative problem solvers!
Nothing here is immediately actionable, but that is what I am thinking about right now.
Braindump done...for now.
