adult learning • online meetings • meaningful work
online gatherings. this time, for humans
What do you feel when you get notified of an upcoming Zoom (Google Meet, MS Teams, etc.) meeting? Is there a way to gather people online and make it truly enjoyable for everyone?
In this article, we look at online gatherings from the participant’s engagement and well-being point of view. We share how we at resense360 design and run such gatherings based on the 10+ years of experience in facilitation and work with groups.
Before we dive, let’s briefly agree on terminology. An online gathering is an event that includes a facilitator (leader, convener, host, lecturer, moderator, etc.) and a group (audience, learners, employees, attendees) who meet each other virtually and who are united by a purpose and/or topic. This can be a team meeting, workshop, course, you name it.
To provide a holistic view, we will refer to the TCI model offered by Ruth Cohn. What we especially like about the model is that it breaks down the variety of social interactions to four core aspects making it much more comprehensible and manageable. It also helps to design and curate healthy and effective group processes of any kind and any complexity in most settings.
The first part of the article provides a brief intro to TCI. The second half is about how the model can be applied in online settings to increase engagement and improve well-being among the participants.
In this article, we look at online gatherings from the participant’s engagement and well-being point of view. We share how we at resense360 design and run such gatherings based on the 10+ years of experience in facilitation and work with groups.
Before we dive, let’s briefly agree on terminology. An online gathering is an event that includes a facilitator (leader, convener, host, lecturer, moderator, etc.) and a group (audience, learners, employees, attendees) who meet each other virtually and who are united by a purpose and/or topic. This can be a team meeting, workshop, course, you name it.
To provide a holistic view, we will refer to the TCI model offered by Ruth Cohn. What we especially like about the model is that it breaks down the variety of social interactions to four core aspects making it much more comprehensible and manageable. It also helps to design and curate healthy and effective group processes of any kind and any complexity in most settings.
The first part of the article provides a brief intro to TCI. The second half is about how the model can be applied in online settings to increase engagement and improve well-being among the participants.
the TCI model in short
The abbreviation TCI stands for “theme-centered interaction”. The model was developed by Ruth Cohn in the 1950–60s with an idea of “living learning” at the core. With that, Cohn promoted working and learning that equally involved intellect and emotions, body and soul, thoughts and feelings, action and reflection.
The ultimate goal of using TCI is to create effective professional and learning processes that are oriented towards the common goals while taking care of interactions between the parties involved, individual interests and circumstances.
The ultimate goal of using TCI is to create effective professional and learning processes that are oriented towards the common goals while taking care of interactions between the parties involved, individual interests and circumstances.
the four aspects of TCI
According to TCI, any social interaction can be broken down into four key aspects:
The TCI model
It (theme, content)
The theme formulates the common task and the goal of the group work. “It” should be general enough — so all the participants can work with it — and specific enough — to provide orientation. To bring maximum value to the process, the content ought to address the participants holistically, i. e. recognize where they are in their development and what exactly they need at the moment.
I (individual)
This can be a leader, moderator, facilitator — the one who holds the space. “I” balances between participation and observation, they are both inside and outside the system. The tasks for the individual are to sense the group, formulate and present themes that will help the group process, suggest possible structures and make sure they are maintained and comfortable for everyone. The leader needs to pay attention to the “dynamic balance” among “I”, “We”, “It”, and “Globe”.
We (group)
“We” is the group of people united by goals and/or content and interacting with one another, or at least with “I”. The group members can be anything from total strangers to each other to close team mates. They can meet regularly or just once in a lifetime. What’s important for any group is that it’s humans — with their experiences, needs, views, and circumstances.
Globe (environment)
“Globe” is the general conditions, context, environment where interaction among “I,” “We,” and “It” takes place. “Globe” includes such factors as place, space, time, infrastructure, and any given structures (for example, regulations, traditions, rules, etc.). It directly or indirectly influences the interaction, either contributing to achieving the goals or hindering the group from doing so.
TCI for elevating group experiences online
An online meeting where you feel good
Group processes held online indeed differ from those run offline. The facilitator is much less connected with the group members — physically, emotionally, and sometimes literally (when the wifi is down). The participants can be exhausted from sitting in front of the screen and listening to yet another presentation. And a cherry on top — there is so much happening out there to distract everyone from the meeting itself, and the threshold for diversion is so low.
TCI is there to help. The model can be successfully used for designing and running online gatherings where everyone — both the facilitator and audience — feel better and benefit more.
Read below how each factor of the model — “It”, “I”, “We”, and “Globe” — can be revisited in order to enhance the participant’s engagement and well-being. We are offering guiding questions to help you create a better online experience for people.
TCI is there to help. The model can be successfully used for designing and running online gatherings where everyone — both the facilitator and audience — feel better and benefit more.
Read below how each factor of the model — “It”, “I”, “We”, and “Globe” — can be revisited in order to enhance the participant’s engagement and well-being. We are offering guiding questions to help you create a better online experience for people.
start with the goal(s):
- does everyone understand why you are gathering?
- is this a shared understanding?
- is the content you are about to bring aligned with the outlined goals?
- does everyone have enough capacity (knowledge, expertise) to receive the content?
- is there anything you can do to bring everyone on the same page?
- does the content require any amendments for this exact group?
- what tweaks does the content need to be successfully delivered online?
- do you need to introduce any changes to make it more online user friendly?
- will the content delivery be as engaging as it’d be in an offline setting
define your role in the process :
- who do you want to be for the group — a leader? a mediator? a facilitator?
- what role will help you and the group achieve the outlined goals?
- does the process require other roles (e.g. note taker, tech host, visual facilitator, etc.)?
- do you have enough capacity (knowledge, expertise) to take the chosen role?
- do you need external support?
- do you have everyone to take the supporting roles?
- do you act with integrity?
- do you trust the group’s potential?
- are you fully aware of yourself and the others in the room?
- can you stay neutral in the process?
know and care about the group:
- do you know who the people in the room are?
- are you aware of their needs and desires?
- how do people feel?
- what do you know about their learning/working style?
- can you think of anything that would help the group in the process? can you provide it?
- should it be a one-person show or an exchange?
- does the group have opportunities to contribute?
- do you have enough capacity (knowledge, expertise) to provide these opportunities?
- can you make the process inclusive?
- can minority voice(s) be heard?
- does every voice really count?
design for humans:
- do people feel good in the environment you’ve created?
- does the setting help the group unlock their potential?
- is there anything you can introduce to reduce tension and stress?
- does everyone have equal opportunities?
- is the environment accessible?
- is there a way to reduce exclusion?
- does the environment help the group achieve the outlined goals?
- do you have enough resources to create the desired experience?
- what will disturb the group?
- can you improve anything right on the spot?
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Thank you for reading to the end. We hope our experience will be useful to you.
We appreciate your time. Here is something we can share in return.
We appreciate your time. Here is something we can share in return.
sarqyt, or farewell gift
Kazakhs have a wonderful tradition. If you are a guest to a Kazakhstani household, you can’t leave empty-handed. Be ready to receive a sarqyt from the hosts — a “gift to go” made of something that’s been served.
Here is a small sarqyt for you.
Click here to download a list of the guiding questions provided in this article. We hope it’ll be helpful to design your next online gathering for humans.
Here is a small sarqyt for you.
Click here to download a list of the guiding questions provided in this article. We hope it’ll be helpful to design your next online gathering for humans.
Ruslan Kildeev for resense360.