Well, in invention workshops conflict is the most destructive thing. Creative juices dry out completely when people begin arguing about whose solution is better or start criticizing each other. For me, the most dangerous conflict is the one between a strong thinker, who insists on following his or her intuition, and the moderator, who wants to involve other people and/or pursue a more systematic approache. Unless it is diffused early with a joke or a credible commitment to pursue the idea at a later time, the conflict can escalate into something that resembles a fight between alpha dogs, rather than a creative session. Because of that, as a moderator and coach, I take to heart insights like this one:
One of Vygotsky's most interesting ideas in his study of the ontogenesis of higher mental functions is what he called the "zone of proximal development (ZPD)". He defined it as: ". . . the distance between the actual developmental level as determined by independent problem solving and the level of potential development as determined through problem solving under adult guidance or in collaboration with more capable peers".
From this perspective, the methods I teach and practice enable people to solve problems that are often beyond their individual abilities. It's not just about collaboration. Rather, it is about setting up the right environment and pace of exploration so that each of the participants, including myself, can perform for others the role of a "more capable peer".
References:
Wertsch, J.V. From Social Interaction to Higher Psychological Processes: A Clarification and Application of Vygotsky’s Theory. Human Development 2008;51:66–79. DOI: 10.1159/000112532.
No comments:
Post a Comment