U3A Victoria Learning Initiative
CREATE A COURSE PROGRAM
Design a course for your local U3A, a collaborative approach
Day 2 – Designing Engaging Sessions
A day of thoughtful, respectful, challenging discussion occurred on 27 April at day two of the Create a Course Program. I have been struggling to put into words, the experience of a group of people sharing their passion, expertise and themselves as each of us struggled, in a positive way, to create a course for U3A members.
Day one focussed on Clarifying and Shaping Ideas, Scoping a Course with Day two, Designing Engaging Sessions. This was the plan:
- Features of a quality U3A course
- Let’s share – one of our techniques/approaches
- Lunch 1.00pm
- Let’s continue creating
- Sharing with a partner
- Create a Course 3-year plan U3A Network Victoria & Local U3As
- Reflection
- Before the next session
As with all ‘good’ plans not everything intended was covered. The group decided listening to and communicating with each other was so worthwhile that their own planning could be done at home before the next session.
Features of a quality U3A course were created by this group on day one. It set the scene for Let’s share and was built on by each of us in our way.
In conclusion the experience reiterated the importance of collaboration, how working with others strengthens whatever we do. My research into Communities of Practice and the U3A Victoria definition came to life. A Community of Practice is a group of people who share a common interest in a topic. The focus is sharing best practice and creating new knowledge to advance practice. An essential element is ongoing communication, consultation, and collaboration to meet individual, group, and U3A goals. A sense of privilege lingers as I reflect on the opportunity to collaborate with an extraordinary group of U3A members.
If you missed the article about Day One, you can read it here: Design a course for your U3A! - U3A Network Victoria
Cathy Beesey, Lead Education – Learning Initiatives Subcommittee Lead, U3A Victoria