The art of the possible

The art of the next best

Think about your time in school. When did the learning actually happen?

Hypothesis 1: Learning happens when you are confronted with a provocation: an idea, concept, or statement that challenges you and makes you think. This could come from a teacher, or a book you are reading, or just something you observe or notice in the world. Sometimes the idea comes from watching someone do something and thinking “Maybe I could do that!”

Hypothesis 2: Learning happens when you engage in an experiment — an exercise that involves testing or “trying out” the idea. Putting an idea into action takes thinking to the next step.

Hypothesis 3: Learning happens when you reflect on your exercise. This reflective learning is enhanced when you are working in a group that is learning together. When you do an exercise along with others who are doing the same thing, you can compare notes and reflect together.

This is how the School of the Possible works.

A provocation.

At any given moment, you are surrounded by a universe of possible futures. The art of the possible is the art of the next best step. Whatever your situation, there is a next best step. The challenge is then to discover it.

Here ends the provocation. Do you want to take it further?

An experiment.

Draw a tic-tac-toe grid, a 3x3 matrix. In the center square place a sticky note with a simple description of a current situation you want to explore. The center box represents your current situation. The surrounding 8 boxes represent the adjacent possible. Things you could do.

The image above shows one way you could organize your thoughts in the matrix: from more practical to more ridiculous, and from easier to harder. These are only suggestions. Consider other prompts and ideas.

An opportunity.

Remember hypothesis three? Reflective learning is enhanced when you do exercises as a group. If you would like to do this exercise along with others, I have created a space (a Mural board) where we can explore our adjacent possibles together. I will keep an eye on the board, and if at least ten people do this exercise, I will schedule a call so we can reflect on this assignment, and take the next best step, together.

Join the experiment here.

Until next time,