Dialogic and Collaborative Practices

February 1-3, 2024 – 11:00am-2:00pm EST each day

A 3-day online seminar with Taos Institute Vice-President Sheila McNamee and Taos Institute Board Member Harlene Anderson

Note: Certificate of participation available upon request for CEUs

Have you ever wondered how to engage with curiosity when faced with different views, beliefs, and ideas? If so, we invite you to join us in February for a practical seminar embracing relational, dialogic, and collaborative resources for dealing with difference.

In this online, hands-on, intensive seminar (three hours each day), Harlene and Sheila introduce and discuss constructionist theory, dialogue, and collaborative practices. Given the challenges we confront globally, discussions will center specifically on the practical implications and applications of a dialogic and collaborative stance. In addition to demonstrations, there is ample space for everyone to share, interact, collaborate and support one another as we explore ways to bring these practices into participants’ own projects and personal or professional contexts.

Whether you are familiar with social construction and relational practices or new to these ideas, this intimate, intensive seminar is sure to make you feel welcomed and inspired. The small-group, virtual environment offers an opportunity to be in conversation with a diverse group of individuals from around the globe, who are working or who would like to work in relational ways. Three group meetings as well as a private group discussion forum gives you a chance to forge deep connections and to practice relational approaches — resulting in a transformational experience.

Readings and other resource materials will be provided prior to the course.

Highlights:

  • An interactive and collaborative environment where everyone engages in co-creating new knowledge
  • Customized discussions on how each participant can bring social construction, dialogue and collaborative approaches into their own work and life
  • Participants from around the world who enrich the dialogue with diverse perspectives
  • A small-group, intimate learning experience that generates long-lasting relationships

INSTRUCTORS BIOS

Sheila McNamee, Ph.D. is Professor Emerita of Communication at the University of New Hampshire and co-founder and Vice President of the Taos Institute. She has held visiting professorships at the University of Parma, Italy; Utrecht University, Netherlands; University of Sao Paulo, Brazil; and City University of Hong Kong. Her work is focused on dialogic transformation within a variety of social and institutional contexts. More details at www.taosinstitute.net/sheila-mcnamee

Harlene Anderson, Ph.D., is founding member of the Houston Galveston Institute, the Taos Institute, and Access Success. She is recognized internationally as being at the leading edge of postmodern collaborative practices as a thinker, consultant, coach, and educator. She takes her tools — her insights, her curiosity, her engaging conversational style, her leadership skills and her keen interest — to help professionals turn theory into new and often surprising possibilities for their clients, students, and organizations. More details at www.taosinstitute.net/harlene-anderson

CONTENT

Day 1:
Overview of social construction and relational practices
Relevance of social construction and relational practices to contemporary challenges

Day 2:
Dialogic possibilities
Speaking, listening, responding, hearing and understanding

Day 3:
Radical presence: Putting ideas into practice

SCHEDULE

February 1-3, 2024 – 11:00am-2:00pm EST each day

REGISTRATION DETAILS

Cost: 
Early registration by January 4, 2024: Standard $495, Students $395
Registration after January 4, 2024: Standard $550, Students $450

Cancellations:
50% refund for cancellations received up to four weeks before the starting date (by January 4).
25% refund for cancellations received between four and two weeks before the starting date (by January 18).
No refund for cancellations received within two weeks of the starting date.

Registrations:
To register, click on one of the following links based on your payment choice. You will be prompted to sign in to the Taos Institute Commons online community (free) before accessing the registration page.

Select your payment:
Standard rate – $550
Student rate – $450

WHAT PAST PARTICIPANTS ARE SAYING

The seminar was a wonderful blend of ideas and mentorship. It was exciting to have such a knowledgeable and diverse group of people in one shared space. The fact that we had a small group really made it feel personal and provided a unique opportunity for us to connect.

Inspiring, bringing creativity into my own work.

I noticed how much space there was in the conversation, a slower pace.

It is about genuinely trying to understand the other person’s position, to find a way to connect with the human being first – regardless of their position, and creating new forms of understanding – not solutions.

It was an invigorating, thought provoking, and moving three days for me. I look forward to continuing conversations.

Sheila and Harlene’s class was unique and rich for me because it did not follow a tight schedule and it allowed me to learn and discuss and be interactive. I am not a therapist and not a professional. I enjoy learning and having collaborative conversations.

I found the seminar exciting and enlightening as I witnessed the use of social construction theory and collaborative practices in education, organizations, and psychotherapy. It was thrilling to again realize that I am a part of this world-wide community.

It was like summer camp! We took a deep-dive and there was real cohesion in the group.

Life changing, amazing…

I can see how these practices are deeply transformative and healing.