Deliberations

I'd always associated the word deliberate with striving for a group consensus, especially on a jury. I've even served on a trial jury.

Then one day in 2006, during Masters degree study about collaborative learning theories, I went googling for a scholarly reference regarding small group communications. The book that looked most useful was listed on a syllabus for a course by US-based Professor John Gastil. Without introduction, I just emailed him.

Twenty minutes later I received an enthusiastic reply, with a bonus. I had stumbled upon the co-editor of another book, the essential The Deliberative Democracy Handbook and an introduction to Professor Lyn Carson at the university where I was doing my degree. With a simple communicative act of inquiry, I created a new future for myself. Within weeks I was working as her research assistant and exploring the link between learning and public participation in political decision-making. I am also fortunate to work for John too, as I head towards a doctorate. I have to pinch myself.

This blog contains the breadcrumbs of my journey. It's about my learning, my beliefs, my constant thinking aloud, and what I care about. Sometimes I just archive what I find.

On occasion, I'll turn on the webcam and let it run here while I'm talking to somebody on the Plain Old Telephone System. It's a window into my house in Melbourne where I work and play.

Feel free to leave a comment of support or critique on any my blog posts. As has been said before, I blog to think.

Sincerely,

Published under a Creative Commons License