[email protected]

In a message dated 04/13/2002 12:23:55 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:


>
> It was originally a single-use thing, designed for distribution in a
> certain
> workshop. But it was fun and well received, so I've always given them away
> when I do workshops. And sure enough, there's permission to change it.
> But
> that one single change seemed to me to show a lack of faith in real-world
> learning.
>

Sandra, I used the certificate (as written) to give to participants in a
workshop I led for Religious Educators in Unitarian Universalist churches,
about bringing joy into the classroom. The workshop went pretty well, but
when I gave them the certificates at the end, they were transformed. They
begged for permission to share it with everyone they knew (I agreed
magnanimously, pointing out the permission granted at the bootom) and it led
to conversation that made everyone late for lunch, quite happily.

Next time maybe I should just hand out the certificates and let them talk.
Kathryn


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

In a message dated 4/14/02 6:15:19 AM, KathrynJB@... writes:

<< The workshop went pretty well, but
when I gave them the certificates at the end, they were transformed. They
begged for permission to share it with everyone they knew >>

HOW COOL!

Several times I've passed it out at the beginning, while people were coming
in, and asked people by the doors to keep distributing them as others came.
Then I say school gets people used to learning just to get the grade, or the
certificate, and that they already have their certificate so they can leave
if they want to. Some people laugh, but others look very thoughtful and I
can just see them thinking "Ooooh.... that's true."

I've also had some criticism from people, mostly about the not finishing
everything you start part. Too many people were forced to do things with
"It's good for you," and they internalized that so much that if a child is
bored with so much as a card game and wants to quit before "the end," the
parents are nervous and feel that urge to make him finish.

Sandra