element bt plan central office support staff

							                                  The Element
                      Ken Robinson, Ph.D. with Lou Aronica

        Book Group Plan for Central Office and Support Staff

Introductory Session:
 Provide context by sharing video clips of Sir Ken Robinson.
   Many clips are available on YouTube; here are two of the shorter clips.
                        Clip from Bonnie Hunt Show 5:02 minutes
              http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=368481867423

                  Ken Robinson on Multiple Intelligences 8:42 minutes
           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLi-vJSNP6U&feature=related

 Provide copies of the book, bookmark, and schedule.
 Share why the book was chosen as a focus.
Session 1:
      Chapter One: The Element
      Chapter Two: Think Differently
      Chapter Three: Beyond Imagining
      Chapter Four: In the Zone
Session 2:
      Chapter Five: Finding Your Tribe
      Chapter Six: What Will They Think?
      Chapter Seven: Do You Feel Lucky?
      Chapter Eight: Somebody Help Me
Session 3:
      Chapter Nine: Is It Too Late?
      Chapter Ten: For Love or Money
      Chapter Eleven: Making the Grade
                                     Session 1
                                Chapters 1-4
                     Possible Book Discussion Questions

1. In chapter 2, intelligence is reexamined.

   How do Sir Robinson’s ideas about intelligence sync with your views and with
   conventional views of intelligence?

2. “While you can see the dynamic nature of creative thinking in the work
   of single individuals, it becomes much more obvious when you look at
   the work of creative groups…” (p.80).

   In describing the Traveling Wilburys, an example of such a group, Sir
   Robinson wrote, “They had different talents, different interests, and
   different sounds. But they found a process of working together where
   their differences stimulate each other to create something they wouldn’t
   have come up with individually.” (p.80)

   Discuss the parallels of this example with your work team or workplace.

3. On page 74, Sir Robinson writes, “Finding the medium that excites your
   imagination, that you love to play with and work in, is an important step to
   freeing your creative energies.”

   How do you blend the things you love with the work you do?

4. Sir Robinson posed an important question in Chapter 4, “If left to my own
   devices – if I didn’t have to worry about making a living or what others
   thought of me – what am I most drawn to doing?”(p.102)

   If all jobs paid $2.00 per hour (yes, all jobs), where would you go to work tomorrow?
   Why?
                                  Session 2
                               Chapters 5-8
                    Possible Book Discussion Questions

1. In chapter 5, Sir Robinson shares accounts of individuals who found
   validation and inspiration among others who share their passions.

   Recall a time when the “stars lined up” and you found yourself among a tribe of
   like-minded colleagues or team members. Describe the experience.

2. Sir Robinson describes the personal, social, and cultural constraints that
   individuals may encounter as they pursue their Element (chapter 6).

   How might we navigate around these barriers? How might we help others
   navigate around these barriers?

3. On page 144, Sir Robinson recounts Solomon Asch’s study on the effects
   of groupthink. Then on page 147, he describes the efficient coordination
   exhibited by ant colonies.

   How might Asch’s findings apply to the work or progress of a staff?

   How might the “sophisticated teamwork” of ant colonies connect to the culture of
   our office?
4. Finding the Element often requires the aid and guidance of others.

   Share a story about someone who saw something in you that you did not see in
   yourself, someone who brought out the best in you, or someone who helped you
   along the path to discovering your Element.
                                         OR
   Share a story about how you were able to guide and support someone in his or her
   Element journey.
                                   Session 3
                                 Chapters 9-11
                       Possible Book Discussion Questions

1. On pages 203-205, Sir Robinson describes the benefits of the cross-
   generational collaboration between the Jenks school district in Tulsa,
   Oklahoma and the Grace Living Center retirement community.

   What possibility does this story present for our schools?

2. In chapter 11, “Making the Grade,” Sir Robinson suggests ways to
   transform education to meet the demands of the 21st century.

   From your perspective as an educator, a parent, or a member of the FCPS
   community, …

       What do you think about his ideas around curriculum, instruction, and
        assessment?

       Which suggestions do you question? Why?

       Which suggestions are most doable in our present context? Why?

3. On page 228. Sir Robinson poses an important question, “Education
   should be one of the main processes that take us to the Element. Too
   often though, it serves the opposite function. This is a very serious issue
   for all of us….What do we do about this?”

   What can we do? How might we start?

4. As you reflect on the ideas presented in this book,

      a. What do you agree with?

      b. What do you want to argue with?

      c. What do you still wonder about?