{"id":19282,"date":"2018-08-18T17:43:17","date_gmt":"2018-08-19T00:43:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pocketwisdominsights.com\/pwicolab\/?p=19282"},"modified":"2019-02-18T21:02:59","modified_gmt":"2019-02-19T05:02:59","slug":"sa-co-lab-uni-environ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pocketwisdominsights.com\/pwicolab\/education\/pwi-co-lab-staff\/sa-co-lab-uni-environ\/","title":{"rendered":"Transcending Adversity to Diversity within a Chaotic University Environment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Opening Insights: A<\/strong>\u00a0Viking CEO and A University in Turmoil<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We are not pursuing Artificial Intelligence to beat humans...
\nwe are pursuing AI so that we can empower\u00a0every person and institution that people build with tools of AI
\nso that they can go on to solve the most pressing problems\u00a0of our society and our economy...<\/em>
\nSATYA NADELLA
\nMicrosoft Ignite Sept. 2016<\/p>\n

Inspired by the vision and direction of Satya Nadella's 2016 Ignite address, a crack<\/em> group of Microsoft Partners actualized his dream. Driven by AwareComm\u00ae<\/sup>, a quad Gold Research and Development Partner, together with a handpicked group of crack<\/em> Microsoft Partners, the first Teams Collaboration App (Co-Lab™) was created. It was created with a technology that started on the desktop and now reaches to the Microsoft Cloud<\/em>.<\/p>\n

August 2018 marked another milestone as an international panel met, led by Satya. The panel conversation focused on how we as individuals, teams and organizations, can create an environment where everyone can do their best work<\/em>. Satya stated, \"At Microsoft, we strive to embody a growth mindset \u2013 a continuous practice of learning, renewal and having the courage to confront our own fixed mindsets. This means fostering a culture that is diverse and inclusive and values the unique perspectives and experiences of each individual.\"<\/em><\/p>\n

On August 14th, 2018 three people from opposite ends of the earth met. They connected online in the International\u00a0AwareComm Collaboration Laboratory (Co-Lab™), hosted aboard the Midnight Sun<\/em>, a 68 ft. sailing vessel and <\/em>the first AwareComm Co-Lab Institute™.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Using the AwareComm Co-Lab™ platform, a blend of technology, methodology, human understanding and data science<\/em>, they joined in a union of passion, purpose, skill and wisdom<\/em>.\u00a0The one man, a wise old Viking, Dr. Richard Jorgensen; the other two women \u2013\u00a0<\/em>younger, eager and solution seeking lecturers, Lanelle and Michele.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Lanelle and Michele, wielding the power and passion of the university faculty,<\/strong> association and industry are responsible for 2,000 students and the power to influence and reach an entire industry. Stifled by a controlling organization, they face the challenge of cultural and organizational adversity as it impacts their workplace, student culture, businesses, economy and country.<\/li>\n
  • Dr. Jorgensen, wielding the power of the Microsoft Partner Network<\/strong>, is a shepherd for humanity's leaders \u2013\u00a0<\/em>transitioning adversity to diversity, through AwareComm Co-Lab™ collaboration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    This was not the first time they had met, and it certainly would not be the last. They joined hands across time, continents, oceans and cultures. Their differences were embraced with attention, respect and appreciation. Using a unique proprietary Socratic Process, a sense of equal but different,\u00a0<\/em>laid the foundation for a partnership of true followship-leadership to evolve and flourish.<\/p>\n

    Informational Insights: Reflections from Lanelle and Michele, Growing Followship-Leaders in the AwareComm International\u00a0Co-Lab™<\/h2>\n

    Reflections from Lanelle Wilmott, Senior Lecturer, University of the Witwatersrand: <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    Thanks for the opportunity to meet and talk to Dr. Jorgensen. The main ideas that stand out for me:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Co-Labs are the bringing together of different stakeholders and skilled people, to work together in a self-sustainable way to benefit the whole community in a wide variety of areas. Everyone has something to contribute and results in a better outcome than doing it on your own.<\/li>\n
    • The importance of teaching by example and experience brings about change in learning.<\/li>\n
    • The platform provides a way to reach more students, to engage them and enable them to learn how to question and solve problems, within a framework of values.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      What is important to me:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • To provide an opportunity for all students that we work with to develop a love for learning, as well as the skills necessary to make a meaningful contribution in their chosen profession.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        I look forward to exploring how we can make a difference in my community.<\/p>\n

        (May 17th, 2018)<\/p>\n

        ~~~~~~<\/p>\n

        On reflection of our discussion yesterday, what I realized for the first time is that the Co-Lab™ exists outside of the University and that is what gives people within the structure power.<\/p>\n

        I have been thinking about our academic staff, especially in light of another staff member wanting to leave. Additionally, in our current working environment, some of the staff feel powerless and that they aren\u2019t valued for their work. This is hard for most staff as the majority have a professional qualification... and a master's degree (or are studying for it). It would really be great to help them to move from a fear-based culture to an empowered culture where they feel valued, heard and are able to make changes to this environment.<\/p>\n

        (May 30th, 2018)<\/p>\n

        ~~~~~~<\/p>\n

        The Co-Lab™ is important to me because it provides a framework that creates strategies for life-long learning.<\/p>\n

        As lecturers, the Co-Lab™ is important for us in terms of providing us a framework to support our students with tools and resources, without needing to reinvent the wheel. It will also provide us with the opportunity for more time for planning and self-reflection. As well as a student forum to support us in better meeting student needs.<\/p>\n

        Scalability is a big thing... to reach more students... as well as multiple frames of reference that provides multiple levels of expertise that provides a rounded solution.<\/p>\n

        Providing the research...<\/p>\n

        Co-Labs™ offer our students a way to feel included... that they have an identity... to feel like we are all in this together. The opportunity to\u00a0help our students develop the skills to think... so that they can actually realize that they have the ability. And, like Michele says, get away from that fixed mindset, i.e. this is the amount of ability that I have been blessed with and that is all I can do, so it is not possible for me to grow that capacity.<\/p>\n

        Michele was the one who pointed out... I didn't get to be a lecturer without a lot of time preparing trying to understand the stuff myself first. So, they can't expect to sit in a lecture for 30 min and expect to understand everything. They actually have to go and do something, to make the knowledge their own and helping them to realize that this is possible and helping them develop the strategies and skills to do it. We can help them early and help them develop the skills they need throughout their career.<\/p>\n

        (August 14th, 2018)<\/p>\n

        \n