Agreeing

The form of a Banathy Conversation is set as each team agrees on a Triggering Question that focuses the many interests, ideas and perspectives in mutual engagement.

• Every Conversation event is different.

• Topics for each team, and selection of participants to join a team is negotiated.

• Agreeing on a triggering question for each team contrasts to compromising on a set of ideas or outcomes.

• In a systems approach, a multiple perspectives inquiring system (i.e. the fifth way of knowing, by C.  West Churchman) has a guarantor of progress, with the pursuit only worthwhile as new knowledge continues to be swept in.

Organizing into dialogue teams requires preparation

Landing on a dialogue topic for a team is a dance amongst potential leaders and participants who may choose to join one team or another.

"Once teams are formed, the preparatory phase begins. Working online from a distance, team members explore the topic, share existing resources, and propose and refine triggering questions for the conversation. Members are also responsible for sharing short self-biographies and for composing brief input papers in which they articulate thoughts, views, and ideas on the team topic. Importantly, at this stage organizers and team leaders attempt to be as clear as possible about expectations for preparation, on-site processes, and full participation." [Dyer, Jones et al. (2015), p. 44]

An online plenary space enables invitees to a Conversation event to get a sense of ideas that groups are considering and progressing.

After dialogue teams are formed, separate breakout channels may still be visible to all participants, in interests of sharing from a broader knowedge set, and sweeping in additional ideas.

Participants contribute an input brief (1-2 pages) of personal interest(s)

The formation of teams and topics is negotiated amongst Conversation candidates who may have no knowledge of each other.

"One option for the next step is to issue invitations broadly and let those who respond self-organize into teams. 

Another is for organizers to extend initial invitations to potential team leaders, putting out a limited call for topics and brief descriptions that can subsequently be used in a broader announcement. 

Team leaders may recruit participants, potential participants may select a team or topic, and/or organizers may exercise guidance. " [Dyer, Jones et al. (2015), p. 44]

An input brief of 1 to 2 pages may also be called an extended abstract, thought piece or white paper.

• A short statement of personal interests by each individual shapes the scope of topic(s) to be deepened in dialogue teams.

• An open systems view of knowledge invites participants to bring a variety of perspective into dialogue.

Through preliminary discussions online, the scope for a dialogue team may be shaped through convergence towards a Triggering Question.

Each dialogue team refines its Triggering Question online

Agreeing on a suitable wording of triggering question is conducted in advance of the residential event.

"There cannot be a pre-fixed agenda for a conversation. Triggering questions can open discussions but an agreed conversation path emerges as dialogue proceeds." [Dyer (2016), p. 5]

While it's possible that the triggering question might shift during the in-person dialogue, greater progress would be expected if the team can maintain focus.

With a triggering question defined, team members may contribute background materials helpful for the in-person conversation (and as potential references in recollecting).

References

[1] Dyer, G., Jones, J., Rowland, G., & Zweifel, S. (2015). The Banathy Conversation Methodology. Constructivist Foundations, 11(1), 42–50. http://constructivist.info/11/1/042, cached on drive.lab.csrp.institute

[2] Dyer, Gordon. 2016. “Guidebook for Designing and Sustaining Effective Conversation.” International Federation for Systems Research. http://archive-ifsr.org/publications/conversations/., cached on drive.lab.csrp.institute.

Topics in the Classroom

The process of agreeing, through online communications in the 2024-Banathy-Conversation classroom, sees ideas and relationships negotiated amongst individuals for compatibility.

• Classroom Topic: C. Agreeing

Agreeing on a focus starts off in the Space for 2024-Banathy-Conversation in Google Chat open to all participants.  As the teams coalesce , chat migrates towards separate channels (i.e. 2024-Team-Brown,  2024-Team-Green, 2024-Team-Orange).  Content is contributed into parallel shared folders.

• Classroom Topic: D-Brown. Agreeing

• Classroom Topic: D-Green. Agreeing

• Classroom Topic: D-Orange: Agreeing

The essential milestone in Agreeing is to establish a Trigger Question for the in-person residential dialogues planned ahead.

As a quick reference, the 2024-Activities-Agreeing table is also available.