Reflections of a Workshop Leader

 

Source: Cariyon.com

I was nervous about flying down to California to lead a workshop that I dreaded the most. I remembered that  not-so-very-successful workshop in Vietnam a decade ago. I knew I didn't deliver as I should have. My problems had been compounded by an over-zealous Field Rep who kept popping in and taking over my sessions. Though she apologized later (a little too late in my opinion), my confidence as a fledgling leader was at an all time low. That failure (I will call it that for now) seemed to have found a place in my psyche, shaping my identity.

I had done an upskilling course on this workshop. But to be honest with you, it was a blur and though I ticked all the checkboxes for the course, deep down I felt I was far from prepared. 

But one thing I realize about myself is that I like to face my fears. When the email invitation popped up in my inbox, my heart sank because I knew I would take up the challenge. I had done this workshop several times but they were all virtual. Will the Vietnam fiasco bleed into my California one? "Manifest" was what Alekh, my older son advised me. I'm not sure where he got his leadership qualities from! He is confident and I wanted to 'feel' that. But as Mel Robbin's says, confidence is an approach, not a feeling.

My first instinct was to connect with other leaders; however, no one was forthcoming apart from Rachel French. Her input gave me confidence. I need to keep curating my PLN! 

The next thing I made myself do, was read most of the available literature and books on Concept-based learning... several times over. Hey, knowledge is power! One book that resonated with me the most was Lynn Erickson's book "Concept-Based Curriculum Instruction for the Thinking Classroom". Basically, everything else stems from this one for me!

Next, my younger son was my Guinea pig. I was aware that there were several participants with very little knowledge of the PYP;  but they were nevertheless enlisted for this Category 2 workshop. I had to find someone who had no clue about concepts and PYP, namely Abir, my son. I got more from him than I anticipated. He kept asking me questions and with each question, I tweaked my slides until we were both satisfied. We went over the first two sessions together, and by this time, something clicked. 

• Focus on simplifying everything. 
• Reduce the words. 
• Add dynamic images that drive your points home. 
• Give plenty of examples. 

Unable to rely on YouTube and Ted Talks because of copy right violation of course, I curated my own classroom resources, showcasing how conceptual learning takes place. By now, I had collected many examples of various strategies where students develop conceptual understanding. From the responses of the participants at the workshop, they seemed to drive home the point, some more than others. The one showing a 'synergistic' relationship between facts and concepts, I feel, was a game changer. All that effort paid off. Being a teacher AND a workshop leader has its perks. Later, one of the participants came up to me and happily informed me that it all clicked. As she was saying this, I felt a huge load lift off my shoulders. I realized that the failure many years ago that crippled me, actually helped me create a stronger workshop today. Though I need others to help me in my learning journey, ultimately, I have to make meaning myself and manifest my intentions out into the universe.

I wanted my workshop to be meaningful and fun. I thought it went in that direction.

Good bye Vietnam. Hello California!