After 2nd 10-min presentation in JAM, I got a number of feedback from colleagues in JAM. Here is one infographic of them. Jan, an experienced visual thinker in JAM, shared his reflection on what makes visual thinking so special from other kinds of facilitation. The picture above is a visual recording of our discussion after presentation. I will do a detailed explanation for this now.
1. Multiple supporting roles in terms of "process" and "result" in a workshop:
The picture above is about what participants and visual thinkers in a workshop will focus on in terms of "process" and "result". This picture differentiate different expectations and purposes of participants and visual thinkers. In top-right fan, participants always focus more on a promising result while, in bottom-left fan, visual thinker's first task is to build a sense-making process for participants. The top-left fan indicates that participants are beneficial to sense-making in the process. Then, visual thinkers help to reach the result by building mutual sense-making in bottom-right fan.
2. Ongoing creation keeps participants always focus:
It is fun to see other people drawing. That becomes simply a positive cycle in the process. People will become more and more curious about what will happen next. They will then be more eager to contribute when they feel more involved in the co-creation.
3. Visual thinking is especially good at dealing with novel and complex problem:
Based on the picture above, we also understand that visual thinking actually is only part of the problem solving when there are many different focuses in different phases. Visual thinking is especially good for people to solve novel and complex problem. Visual thinkers catch elusive information and make them accessible as drawings. People then can always build on each other's work or opinions without losing any positive details.
4. Visual thinker's work will be a living document in the end:
Visual thinker's work will be a big picture depicting not only the result of the team, but the process of the discussion. People can always get their "AHA!" moments back on the picture. The picture can be added on all the time when there is new idea. It can evolve with time and keep living after participants leave the workshop.
5. Drawings are flexible in the levels of translation:
There are different levels of drawings used in visual thinking. A given drawing has the ability to represent something really simple and something really complex. Visual thinkers make a good use of the flexibility of drawings. In the process, they draw images and texts with open interpretation for simulating creative thinking. For the result, they choose a metaphor which contents correct and rich information deriving from participants' shared understandings.
Thanks for Jan's inspiring feedback!
1. Multiple supporting roles in terms of "process" and "result" in a workshop:The picture above is about what participants and visual thinkers in a workshop will focus on in terms of "process" and "result". This picture differentiate different expectations and purposes of participants and visual thinkers. In top-right fan, participants always focus more on a promising result while, in bottom-left fan, visual thinker's first task is to build a sense-making process for participants. The top-left fan indicates that participants are beneficial to sense-making in the process. Then, visual thinkers help to reach the result by building mutual sense-making in bottom-right fan.
2. Ongoing creation keeps participants always focus:
It is fun to see other people drawing. That becomes simply a positive cycle in the process. People will become more and more curious about what will happen next. They will then be more eager to contribute when they feel more involved in the co-creation.
3. Visual thinking is especially good at dealing with novel and complex problem:Based on the picture above, we also understand that visual thinking actually is only part of the problem solving when there are many different focuses in different phases. Visual thinking is especially good for people to solve novel and complex problem. Visual thinkers catch elusive information and make them accessible as drawings. People then can always build on each other's work or opinions without losing any positive details.
4. Visual thinker's work will be a living document in the end:
Visual thinker's work will be a big picture depicting not only the result of the team, but the process of the discussion. People can always get their "AHA!" moments back on the picture. The picture can be added on all the time when there is new idea. It can evolve with time and keep living after participants leave the workshop.
5. Drawings are flexible in the levels of translation:There are different levels of drawings used in visual thinking. A given drawing has the ability to represent something really simple and something really complex. Visual thinkers make a good use of the flexibility of drawings. In the process, they draw images and texts with open interpretation for simulating creative thinking. For the result, they choose a metaphor which contents correct and rich information deriving from participants' shared understandings.
Thanks for Jan's inspiring feedback!
he po!
ReplyDeletewhat is good to mention in your description of Jan's feedback is that in this instance you are talking about visual thinking in a group session with the SHORT presence of a visual thinker (graphic facilitator...?). The VT is a translator and a conduit for the thoughts of the group. He (or she) is there to create a reflection and find the patterns in the elemenst which are exposed AT THAT MOMENT.
I would like to see what happends when a VT-er is present for a longer time with a more integral function in the total process.
Is he part of the thinking about the bigger picture or is he does he still only translate the exposed elements of the evolving story and structure it to communicate the story?
just a reflection
d.
Wow... Thanks for these commands!
ReplyDeleteYou reminded me very interesting points which I am very willing to keep exploring. For example, the roles (or functions) of VT-ers in the session... are they passive or active, or both? Would he be part of the thinking? etc.