Appreciative Inquiry

1. Sunrise School DivisionSunrise School Division
The Power of Appreciative ApproachesThe Power of Appreciative Approaches
Sunrise Administrative TeamSunrise Administrative Team
April 29, 2009April 29, 2009

2. Welcome & IntroductionsWelcome & Introductions
Denise Johnson, District Principal,Denise Johnson, District Principal,
Learning & Development, VancouverLearning & Development, Vancouver
School BoardSchool Board
Mary Filleul, Learning & DevelopmentMary Filleul, Learning & Development
Consultant, Vancouver School BoardConsultant, Vancouver School Board

3. Agenda OverviewAgenda Overview
Purpose of the DayPurpose of the Day
Warm Up ActivityWarm Up Activity
What is Appreciative InquiryWhat is Appreciative Inquiry
Discovery Phase – Uncovering the bestDiscovery Phase – Uncovering the best
Dream Phase – The future we wantDream Phase – The future we want
LunchLunch
Design – How to get there?Design – How to get there?
Next StepsNext Steps
ClosingClosing

4. Warm UpWarm Up
Look around, make eye contact withLook around, make eye contact with
someone you do not know well.someone you do not know well.
Join that personJoin that person
Share your story of “What inspired youShare your story of “What inspired you
to become an educational leader?”to become an educational leader?”

5. What is AppreciativeWhat is Appreciative
Inquiry?Inquiry?
A methodology for positive changeA methodology for positive change
A generative, narrative based processA generative, narrative based process
to build relationshipsto build relationships
A process for school systemA process for school system
transformationtransformation

6. Ap-pre’ci-ate, v.Ap-pre’ci-ate, v.
1. The act of recognizing the best in people or the1. The act of recognizing the best in people or the
world around us; affirming past and presentworld around us; affirming past and present
strengths, successes, and potentials; to perceivestrengths, successes, and potentials; to perceive
those things that give life (health, vitality,those things that give life (health, vitality,
excellence) to living systems.excellence) to living systems.
2. To increase in value, e.g. the economy has2. To increase in value, e.g. the economy has
appreciated in value.appreciated in value.
3. Synonyms: VALUING, PRIZING,3. Synonyms: VALUING, PRIZING,
ESTEEMING, HONORINGESTEEMING, HONORING..

7. In-quire’, v.In-quire’, v.
1.1. The act of exploration and discovery.The act of exploration and discovery.
2. To ask questions; to be open to seeing2. To ask questions; to be open to seeing
new potentials and possibilities.new potentials and possibilities.
3. Synonyms:3. Synonyms: DISCOVERY, SEARCH,DISCOVERY, SEARCH,
STUDY, SYSTEMATIC EXPLORATION.STUDY, SYSTEMATIC EXPLORATION.

8. ““AI” - an OrganizationalAI” - an Organizational
Change method which:Change method which:
shifts the culture from deficit thinking toshifts the culture from deficit thinking to
appreciative thinkingappreciative thinking
uses narrative as a vehicle to uncover bestuses narrative as a vehicle to uncover best
practicepractice
honours the expertise resident in thehonours the expertise resident in the
community & its peoplecommunity & its people
uses positive experiences to spark positiveuses positive experiences to spark positive
changechange
creates a leveling atmosphere for participantscreates a leveling atmosphere for participants

9. DiscoveryDiscovery
““What have been ourWhat have been our
best experiences?”best experiences?”
AppreciatingAppreciating
DiscoveryDiscovery
““What have been ourWhat have been our
best experiences?”best experiences?”
AppreciatingAppreciating
DreamDream
““What do we collectivelyWhat do we collectively
aspire to?”aspire to?”
InnovatingInnovating
DreamDream
““What do we collectivelyWhat do we collectively
aspire to?”aspire to?”
InnovatingInnovating
DesignDesign
““How can we makeHow can we make
our dreams real?”our dreams real?”
Co-constructingCo-constructing
DesignDesign
““How can we makeHow can we make
our dreams real?”our dreams real?”
Co-constructingCo-constructing
DestinyDestiny
““How do we unleashHow do we unleash
inherent motivation?”inherent motivation?”
SustainingSustaining
DestinyDestiny
““How do we unleashHow do we unleash
inherent motivation?”inherent motivation?”
SustainingSustaining
Appreciative Inquiry “4-D Model”Appreciative Inquiry “4-D Model”
AffirmativeAffirmative
TopicTopic

10. Problem SolvingProblem Solving
Approach toApproach to
Organizational Change:Organizational Change:
Identifies the problemsIdentifies the problems
Analysis of causesAnalysis of causes
Analysis of possible solutionsAnalysis of possible solutions
Action planning ensuesAction planning ensues
Basic Assumption:Basic Assumption:
Organizations are made up of problemsOrganizations are made up of problems
to be solved.to be solved.

11. Appreciative Approach toAppreciative Approach to
Organizational ChangeOrganizational Change
Values the best of what isValues the best of what is
Envisions what might beEnvisions what might be
Dialogues about what should beDialogues about what should be
Innovates what could beInnovates what could be
Basic Assumption:Basic Assumption:
Collaborative, positive & meaningfulCollaborative, positive & meaningful
conversations move an organizationconversations move an organization
towards its collective ideal.towards its collective ideal.

12. Three keys to AIThree keys to AI
Wholeness: All Stakeholders EqualWholeness: All Stakeholders Equal
VoiceVoice
– Everyone is engaged equally in co-constructingEveryone is engaged equally in co-constructing
the future.the future.
Narrative Rich: Personal ExperienceNarrative Rich: Personal Experience
StoriesStories
– Stories engage, foster learning and deepenStories engage, foster learning and deepen
respect.respect.
Relational: People Making MeaningRelational: People Making Meaning
TogetherTogether
– Collaboration and cooperation foster optimumCollaboration and cooperation foster optimum
learning conditionslearning conditions

13. Appreciative ApproachesAppreciative Approaches
throughout the VSBthroughout the VSB
District Wide Inquiries – Adolescent,District Wide Inquiries – Adolescent,
Aboriginal, English Language learnersAboriginal, English Language learners
Appreciative Approaches to School GoalAppreciative Approaches to School Goal
PlanningPlanning
LEARNS – the Six Optimal Conditions forLEARNS – the Six Optimal Conditions for
LearningLearning
Appreciative LeadershipAppreciative Leadership
Teacher Inquiry TeamsTeacher Inquiry Teams
Community & District Wide Initiative PlanningCommunity & District Wide Initiative Planning
(e.g. Sustainability Summit)(e.g. Sustainability Summit)
Visioning, goal setting, team buildingVisioning, goal setting, team building

14. Six Optimal Conditions for Learning
“LEARNS”

15. Aboriginal LearnersAboriginal Learners
Inquiry (the ALI) DVDInquiry (the ALI) DVD
How was the narrative powerful forHow was the narrative powerful for
participants of the ALI?participants of the ALI?

16. BREAKBREAK

17. Geographic GroupingGeographic Grouping
Line up according to the distance fromLine up according to the distance from
Beausejour to where you did yourBeausejour to where you did your
teacher training.teacher training.
Those trained closest to Beausejour,Those trained closest to Beausejour,
line up closest to the smart board, thoseline up closest to the smart board, those
further away, closer to the screen.further away, closer to the screen.

18. DISCOVERY PhaseDISCOVERY Phase
In your triads share:In your triads share:
““Tell the story of the most dynamic &Tell the story of the most dynamic &
inspiring team experience you haveinspiring team experience you have
ever had”.ever had”.
Talk about what happened, what feelingsTalk about what happened, what feelings
you had, what your role was, etc….you had, what your role was, etc….

19. Sixes & ThemesSixes & Themes
Join your triad with another & form aJoin your triad with another & form a
group of 6.group of 6.
Share theShare the highlightshighlights of a story youof a story you
heard.heard.
As a group, identify the commonAs a group, identify the common
elements or themes.elements or themes.
Be ready to report out on yourBe ready to report out on your
discussion.discussion.

20. Imagine the FutureImagine the Future
Education in the 21Education in the 21stst
century video clipcentury video clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=2yCB4i7GJuMv=2yCB4i7GJuM
Turn and talk – What are theTurn and talk – What are the
implications for the Sunrise Schoolimplications for the Sunrise School
Division?Division?

21. Fancy Footwear Line UpFancy Footwear Line Up

22. DREAM PhaseDREAM Phase
Sit back and relax for a guided imagery inSit back and relax for a guided imagery in
which we imagine and create the futurewhich we imagine and create the future
we want for our schools and division.we want for our schools and division.

23. DREAM PhaseDREAM Phase
Individually record your own version ofIndividually record your own version of
the dream on the template providedthe dream on the template provided

24. DREAM PhaseDREAM Phase
“Creative Expression”“Creative Expression”
Share the highlights of your dream withShare the highlights of your dream with
your group members.your group members.
Identify the commonalitiesIdentify the commonalities
Create a poster (visual and/or textual)Create a poster (visual and/or textual)
representation of the collective dreamrepresentation of the collective dream
Be ready to present at 1:15PM.Be ready to present at 1:15PM.

25. LunchLunch

26. DESIGN PhaseDESIGN Phase
Divide your paper vertically and make 2Divide your paper vertically and make 2
headings - School and Divisionheadings - School and Division
Brainstorm as many possibilities &Brainstorm as many possibilities &
ideas as you can for eachideas as you can for each
Make 3 recommendations or directionsMake 3 recommendations or directions
that you see as priorities over the nextthat you see as priorities over the next
year (3 for your school and 3 for theyear (3 for your school and 3 for the
division)division)
Have the green card ready to report outHave the green card ready to report out
on your recommendations.on your recommendations.

27. Dream ThemesDream Themes
1 & 7. Collaborative Learning1 & 7. Collaborative Learning
Environment (Community of Learners)Environment (Community of Learners)
2 & 8. Relationships –positive, proactive2 & 8. Relationships –positive, proactive
& inclusive& inclusive
3 & 9. Engaged, active, experiential3 & 9. Engaged, active, experiential
4. & 10 Technology – multi sources,4. & 10 Technology – multi sources,
connected within & globallyconnected within & globally
5.5. Physical Environment – welcoming,Physical Environment – welcoming,
appealing & creativeappealing & creative

28. Next Steps & Plan forNext Steps & Plan for
April 30thApril 30th
Questions to reflect on overnight…..Questions to reflect on overnight…..
In what ways could you apply anIn what ways could you apply an
appreciative approach in your school orappreciative approach in your school or
schools?schools?
What structures & supports would youWhat structures & supports would you
need to do so?need to do so?

29. ClosingClosing
How are you feeling right now?How are you feeling right now?
Thank you for your rapt attention, keenThank you for your rapt attention, keen
participation, creativity and great senseparticipation, creativity and great sense
of humour!!of humour!!
Please complete an evaluation form.Please complete an evaluation form.