The study of the four elements is ancient and yet remains an ever-present fascination. This has inspired some truly great creative minds of the 20th Century. Gaston Bachelard, the French philosopher, believed our archetypal affinity with the four elements is revealed as a form of poetic truth. T.S. Eliot’s classic the Four Quartets is one example. “This adoptation of the ‘elements’ is archetypal, a product of what Jung called ‘the natural mind’ that derives from natural sources and offers a natural wisdom” [Octavio Paz, a study of his poetics, by Jason Wilson].

Bachelard wrote a set of four books on imagination and the elements. - La Psychanalyse du feu, 1938, L’Eau et les rêves, 1942, L’Air et les songes, 1943, La Terre et les rêveries de la volonté, La Terre et les rêveries du repos, 1948. Dr. Joanne H. Stroud at The Dallas Institute oversaw the English translation of Bachelard’s series in the early 1980s. In turn, Dr. Stroud wrote a set of similarly themed books for youth. The set includes: Earth is Round, Air is Clear, Fire is Hot, and Water is Wet.

These two sets of books hold invaluable insights for adults and youth respectively. They are also  an excellent resource for use in Prelude discussions with both younger and older players as well. In The Imaginal Energy of Earth, Dr. Stroud suggests the environmental crisis is the result of a societal lack of deep self-awareness … In other words it is a crisis of unconsciousness.” Yet she also affirms “The idea of dreaming, or of reverie, as being linked to the will to action may be one of Bachelard’s most original premises.” Simply put, this means that what we imagine we can make reality.  The ancient philosopher Pythagoras believed that when the four elements are in dynamic harmony, the fifth element appears called quintessence. A ‘conspiration of elements move to universal sympathy’ indeed. This is also akin to Appreciative Inquiry’s concept of the heliotropic effect generated by people imagining a positive future together.

The session was unique on two counts. First, it brought together about 20 artists and designers to play Prelude. Second, not everyone knew each other. Usually individuals know each other in the groups playing.

The principal goal for the evening was to see how trained artists and designers might express themselves during the game. This involves the creation of several largely visual artefacts – iTags, weTags, and allTag. As well, the group wanted to provide an opportunity for Patrick Thompson, the Facilitator, to get more hands-on practice. He’s planning to introduce Prelude in his youth work with northern communities as well as in upcoming travels internationally.

The actual session was greatly enjoyed by participants and some remarkable tags were created. Please check out the Slideshow below. These vital photos were taken by Tobin Grimshaw, a renowned photographer. They clearly illustrate the graphic range of expression and inventiveness of the players.

The Facilitator

Patrick Thompson is known for pushing the boundaries of street art under the pseudonym Evoke throughout North and Central America, Europe, and Asia. His work has been shown in numerous exhibitions worldwide as well. Patrick is also one of those special artists who love to teach youth. He’s especially supportive of those in disadvantaged communities  yearning to express themselves and to be affirmed . Patrick has been involved with Prelude since its inception.

Peer Mentoring pairs older more experienced students working with new students. The older youth help younger ones in the transition from primary to secondary school. This includes homework, study skills, peer pressure [especially in relation to drug use and sexual activity], and family issues. Youth mentoring is now seen as critical element in social, emotional and cognitive development. According to the National Mentoring Partnership, 3 million American youth are now involved in mentoring programs. In Canada, innovative programs include the Alberta Mentoring Partnership.

Prelude’s use in Peer Mentoring is on the rise. For example, earlier this month Windsor Park Collegiate in Winnipeg conducted a Prelude session with 120 Grade 9 students in one day and one space! Part of the event included Grade 12 students who’d previously played helping the younger students go through the game process. Similarly planning is underway to introduce Prelude into college level student peer mentoring programs in Toronto. Please stay tuned for more on these developments.

J.D. has also been working with Prelude for a year. The students are in a 3-month program is designed to foster problem-solving skills and self esteem through structured experiential learning. Throughout, students identify personal values, strengths and growth potential. More Prelude sessions with different satellite campuses are now in the offing. As well, special Prelude sessions are planned for NLC staff development in April.

]]> http://www.heliotrope.ca/blog/northern-lakes-college-fort-vermilion-campus/feed/ 0 http://www.heliotrope.ca/blog/life-skills-development/ http://www.heliotrope.ca/blog/life-skills-development/#comments Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:00:52 +0000 admin http://www.heliotrope.ca/?p=928 The World Health Organization reports there’s “growing recognition of and evidence for the role of psychosocial and interpersonal skills in the development of young people, from their earliest years through childhood, adolescence, and into young adulthood … [They are also] essential for working adults. UNICEF, UNESCO and WHO list 10 core life skill strategies and techniques involving: Self-awareness, Self-management, Critical thinking, Decision-making, Problem solving, Empathy, Creativity, Communication, Interpersonal relationship skills, Coping with stress.

The Saskatchewan NewStart Model of Life Skills

This model, developed in the 1960s and 70s, uses an experiential, scaffolded approach to life skills development. It was originally designed to deliver basic adult education to disadvantaged communities. A major aspect is the development of group cohesiveness and consequent peer group support. The group becomes the primary learning and support vehicle. When participants finish the program, they take away a vital support network that continued to reinforce prosocial behaviours. The NewStart Model is now used more generally. However, the original inspiration continues to inform the model. That is “that the development of the individual’s potential contributes to the ultimate improvement of society”.

Life Skills Coaching

Life Skills Coaching is a growing and needed para-professional field. The Canadian Alliance of Life Skills Coaches and Associations defines it as the ability:  to facilitate groups, model and evaluate skills and support individualized learning … across Canada, almost all coach trainings find their theoretical base in the original Saskatchewan NewStart material.

Chris Lowry, co-founder of Green Enterprise Toronto, was the session host. Ross McKegney, a working partner in Heliotrope, provided support and was also documentarian. Patrick Thompson facilitated the game. Below is a slideshow featuring the game in process.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, these photos say a lot. Simply put, this pioneering group of managers really got into the spirit of the game. The brainstorm session post game was equally dynamic and revealing. Further discussion and piloting is planned as to how Prelude might be effectively adapted for use use in a variety of workplace training settings. We’ll keep you posted on what ensues.

A quartet of intrepid Place Cartier teachers – Gail Gagnon, Peggy Grant, Elizabeth Iten, and Janice Newton - has developed a new approach for cross-curricular team teaching. Each shares a common subject, but each teaches it from a different perspective. The program began last fall with Planet Earth as the theme. Sub-themes included ethics, art, conservation and sustainability. Each quartet teacher worked with four groups of students, with each teacher taking one group at a time, and teaching them for one month.  Then the groups rotated to a new teacher.  Over a semester, they rotated four times.

The overall teaching experience and student outcomes were positive and encouraging. As a result the teachers are repeating the program again this semester. The new 2010 program theme is Leadership. This time, all four teachers will be teaching the same topic for the first module. And, they will begin with Prelude. They see the game’s focus on fostering individual and group social and emotional skills as a natural start-point  for the program’s multiple learning goals.  Gail Klinck provided online training for all four teachers, thanks to ongoing support from Massey-Vanier High School and the Eastern Townships School Board. The teachers will then rotate and each teach their respective specialities.

This is very much a pioneering grassroots effort. The ‘Quartet’ are refining the program as it evolves. They are also planning two events for the entire school with respective themes of diversity and environment week. We will keep you posted on further exciting developments…

Robert Calame the Batshaw Coordinator of A.R.T. programming  is also Secretary of the International Centre for Aggression Replacement Training Advisory Board (ICART). Robert also presented Prelude to his colleagues and graduate students in Norway this month. Norway is home to the A.R.T-Center at Diakonhjemmet University College in Rogaland. It’s postgraduate training program trains students in the identification, treatment, and prevention of aggressive and anti-social behaviour, and teaches them skills for the implementation of ART in organizations. Diakonhjemmet College has trained over 2,000 ART practitioners.

ART has been implemented in numerous Norwegian homes for youth with behavioural problems. Additionally, the program has been approved for the prevention and treatment of behavioural problems in Norwegian schools. [Preschool centers (Dolmen, 2005), primary schools (Dolmen & Solid, 2005), junior high schools (Onsager, 2005), child welfare institutions (Hellerdal, 2005; Olsen & Boutera, 2005) and - with minor adjustments - also on persons with Asperger Syndrome (Husby & Sagstad, 2005) and autism (Moynahan, 2003).] Robert and his partner, Kim Parker, facilitated a Prelude workshop with about 25 graduate students and professors. Their response was enthusiastic. Discussion is now underway about piloting Prelude with an entire community in the north of Norway.