QUESTIONS BANK
Are you a
practitioner of this
work and you have
a question for
Juanita and David
that you would like
to see them
address at the
session?

Click here and
leave your question
with Lock Wui by
12th May (Fri).
PRINCIPLES
OF WORLD
CAFE:
LOPN FORUM 22/2006:

AN AFTERNOON WITH JUANITA BROWN AND DAVID ISAACS
Creators and authors of The World Café Conversations
[click on the pictures here for more information]

"A World Café on The World Café"

Date:       May 15, 2006 (Mon)
Time:         3 pm - 6 pm
Venue:       NACLI, (National Community Leadership Institute)
             70 South Buona Vista Road, Learning Lounge
              (look for flight of stairs leading up from the Parade Sq.)
Fees:          None
Register:    By May 10, 2006 (Wed) with Shen_Delun@spf.gov.sg.







Dear all,

AN INVITATION TO YOU!
We are happy to bring you an important event for practitioners of Learning Organization
and World Cafe.  If you have practiced the World Cafe or have seen or heard of others use
this work, then this session is for you!  If you have not yet heard of this work, then the
session is one where you can observe the world cafe process in action!

We are indeed grateful to the NACLI team in offering their venue!  They have an absolutely
lovely space for the World Cafe.  We hope that you enjoy it.

Please feel free to pass it on to persons who you think or know have practiced this tool or
wishes to learn more about it and learn to make it work.


WHAT IS THE WORLD CAFÉ?
The World Café process has been used by tens of thousands of people around the world to
tackle real-life issues.  Based on seven key principles, it begins with small, intimate
conversations at café-style tables; these gatherings then link and build on each other as
people move between groups and cross-pollinate ideas.  In this way, Café learning enables
even very large groups to think together creatively in a single, connected conversation.  Click
here for more information on the World Cafe.


SESSION PURPOSE:
We hope the session allows you:
1)  To jointly participate in a productive "World Cafe on World Cafe" experience
2)  To explore questions related to your own practice of the world cafe in your own settings
3)  To provide the opportunity for collaborative learning across communities and
multi-generations.


BRING SOMETHING FROM YOUR PAST CAFE CONVERSATIONS:
We request participants bring along any related items from their past world cafe events for
sharing. eg. NACLI has its Kopi Talk and souvenirs.  Others may have a scribbled flip chart,
photos or any other items that help them relate their experience with the table.  Juanita
and David looks forward to seeing these stories included in future Systems Thinker
newsletter.


SESSION FLOW:

2.45 PM -- ARRIVAL AND REGISTRATION

3.15 -- WELCOME, INTRODUCTIONS AND CONTEXT SETTING
  • Objectives for our time together
  • Broader context for what's unfolding with the Cafe work globally (of which the work in
    Singapore is an inspiration to others!)
  • Review of Cafe Assumptions and Etiquette


3:30-5.30 -- CAFE EXPERIENCE:  How can the World Cafe best serve and bring light to the
future of Singapore?
(Note:  Intro plus three  20 minute rounds with time for changing tables.  We use a topic that
is actually related to the Cafe work in Singapore for the first two rounds -- and then one
related to Singapore in the last round.  David and Juanita introduces the Cafe, and then
participates at the tables).

    What makes great conversations?

    Round 1: -- When it's at it's best, what allows that to happen?
    When your Cafe experiences as either a member or a host have been at their very
    best, what do you think allows that to happen?--and make sure to record your ideas on
    your tableclothes!

    Round 2: -- When it's been disappointing?  What questions/challenges does that raise
    for you about how to make it better?
    Share a time when you were disappointed in a Cafe experience or when it didn't reach
    it's full potential for "the magic"---  -- and also record your ideas!

    Round 3: -- What are our own best hopes for the future of Singapore and how can the
    World Cafe best contribute to the soul of our nation shining?
    Share a bit about your own best hopes for the future of Singapore (the light at the end
    of the tunnel!).

5:30-6:10 -- WHOLE GROUP CONVERSATION
(Note:  Dialogue regarding learnings about the World Cafe process and how it can best serve
our future, including exciting information on how students are using the World Cafe to
explore key societal issues.  Starting with the last question re: Singapore, then going to
Question 1).

Sharings by teachers and students of Temasek Polytechnic and staff of NACLI

6:10-6:20 -- WRAP UP (law of two feet applies)

6:20-7:00 -- RECEPTION AND INFORMAL DIALOGUE WITH JUANITA AND DAVID
Opportunity to visit with Juanita and David and learn more in an informal setting.


NOTES ON THE WORLD CAFE:







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