We would like to welcome all of our facilitators to the Facilitators Newsletter. The objective is to utilise this platform in providing effective feedback to you

in order to assist in co-creating reality.

THE DA VINCI INSTITUTE

FEBRUARY 2015

MODE 2

From feedback received from students, it seems there is

more work to be done towards understanding Mode 2

learning and how Mode 2 impacts the classroom interac-

tion.

While we use the term ‘Mode 2’ very often in our discourse

at the Institute, it is crucial that all facilitators and students

have a good understanding of what it means to work in a

Mode 2 learning environment and how this can be embed-

ded in our daily practice.

Kraak calls this mode of learning ‘problem-solving

knowledge’. He also refers to this mode of learning as

‘transdisciplinary, transinstitutional and heterogeneous’.

Do you have a clear understanding of Mode 2 and what it

means in terms of your daily practice in the classroom/

workshop environment?

We would like to encourage you to read about Mode 2

and its implementation. The following three articles may be

a good start

Etzkowitz, H., & Leydesdorff, L. 2000. The dynamics of inno-

vation: from National Systems and “Mode 2” to a Triple Helix

of university–industry–government relations. Research poli-

cy, 29(2), 109-123.

Gibbons, M. 2000. Universities and the new production of

knowledge: some policy implications for govern-

ment. Changing Modes: new knowledge production and

its implications for higher education in South Africa. Pretoria:

HSRC.

Kraak, A. (Ed.). 2000. Changing modes: New knowledge

production and its implications for higher education in

South Africa. HSRC Press.

DA VINCI ACADEMIC OPENING

The Da Vinci Academic Opening signifies the beginning of a

new year both in terms of academia and business opera-

tions. On Monday 19 January 2015, the Da Vinci team gath-

ered in the Da Vinci room situated at the Da Vinci House to

take part in the official opening.

Professor Bennie Anderson, CEO of The Da Vinci Institute wel-

comed colleagues to the year of 2015 and instilled within us

the notion of being remarkable. Remarkability can relate to

a person doing something so astounding that other people

feel the need to make a remark about it. Further embedded

within this context is whether we are constantly aware of

both our own remarkability but also that of our peers. In stay-

ing true to Da Vinci’s purpose and as Managerial Leaders,

are we also constantly aware of cultivating the remarkability

in our students, colleagues and peers.

Professor Dina Burger who consults with Da Vinci within the

Academic Development role addressed the Da Vinci team

with a very clear key message. The year of 2015 will be

themed as “the year of business unusual”. Linking to Prof

Anderson’s comments is that the notion of remarkability also

lies within the edges of unusual. Prof Burger put forward that

we need to stay unique and stay authentic. The team was

encouraged to re-commit to the Da Vinci seven principles

whilst improving professionalism, tightening up our product

offering, focussing on qualification and client whilst maintain-

ing continuous communication with each other. The focus

should also be on forging eternal and enduring relationships.

As an academic institution in the context of Mode 2, the

following pillars need to be kept in mind at all times to ensure

effectiveness and efficiency in the way we approach overall

client service including the exceptional manner in which we

approach our students.

People, performance, product, action, quality and growth

Within the year of business unusual, lies great opportunity.

FACILITATORS NEWSLETTER

LETS CO-CREATE REALITY

STIMULATING CRITICAL THINKING

As a Mode 2 institute of learning, the Da Vinci Institute’s ap-

proach is that of facilitation instead of lecturing. Small classes

provide the opportunity for facilitators to involve all students in

the discussions and ‘co-creating reality’.

This seems to still require some work. Based on the feedback

received from students in 2014 and up to February 2015, one

of the elements that seem to require most attention is that of

stimulating critical thinking. This is a key requirement in a Mode

2 context and also an essential element of the Institute’s brand

promise.

So how can we improve this element of our workshop experi-

ence?

Walker suggests a number of approaches to stimulate critical

thinking. The first technique that she proposes, is questioning.

She suggests that higher-level thinking questions should start or

end with words or phrases such as ‘explain’, ‘compare’, ‘why’,

‘which is a solution to the problem’, ‘what is the best and

why’, and ‘do you agree or disagree with this statement?’

Another technique suggested by Walker, is post-evaluation

questions – for example using newspaper clippings, which are

discussed in the classroom and students are required to look

at the content of the clipping from various perspectives.

Whiteley on the other hand proposes using the Socrates meth-

od and Blooms Taxonomy of the Cognitive Domain, to stimu-

late critical thinking.

While these two articles may give you a taste of possible tech-

niques, we would like to encourage you to read about these

techniques and to choose the ones that feel most comforta-

ble to you personally, to enhance critical thinking in Da Vinci

workshops.

Walker SE. Active Learning Strategies to Promote Critical Think-

ing. Journal of Athletic Training 2003;38(3):263-267. Full article

available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc /articles/

PMC233182/

Whiteley, T. R. (2014). Using The Socratic Method and

Bloom’ s Taxonomy of the Cognitive Domain to Enhance

Online Discussion, Critical Thinking, and Student Learn-

ing. Developments in Business Simulation and Experiential

Learning, 33. Full article available from https://absel-ojs-

ttu.tdl.org/absel/index.php/absel/article/view/499/468

FACILITATOR SPOTLIGHT

Meet Juliette Fourie

My name is Juliette Fourie and I love celebrating life and all

the special moments that go with it. I am currently studying

towards the MSc Degree at Da Vinci and really am enjoying

the journey of transformation in my academic interests and

the thinking process around it. I am the owner of a Private

Training Provider and deliver education to eager students on

a daily basis – the passion for the development of people is

high on my priority list.

I facilitate the following the modules:

Supply Chain Value

The art of selling

The art of presentations

Sales Finance

Da Vinci reminded me again that thinking should be free

and should be challenged at the same time. Hard work nev-

er gets punished, become more interested than interesting

and enjoy the reward and satisfaction that comes with trans-

formation.

The community I am focusing on is one where people need

to be developed in every aspect of life. Wherever people

are empowered to be better at whatever they do.

My advice to students:

Strive for the power of “AND” and not either/or:

• High expectations and still be fun and adventurous

• Be in control and have empathy

• Inspire and pleasing others

• Passion and energy

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