A congress is a wonderful opportunity to get together—and, always too
short a time to say and do all we would like to with the people we know
and meet. In addition, there can be projects we would like to get
underway with our colleagues that simply need more time and contact.
To fill this gap we are forming SIETAR Communities of Practice (CoPs) to
enable us to connect and share ideas at the Congress as well as
cooperate year round.
What is a CoP? In short: a way for intercultural practitioners to reach
out to other practitioners.
There are two ways to start building a Community of Practice:
- Go to the SIETAR Europa Online Workspace and start talking with
others about topics, themes, and projects you have in mind and would
like to share. This workspace is open now and will stay open after the
congress.
- Attend the SIETAR introductory CoP workshop at the Berlin Congress
(April, 1, 11.45 to 13.15) and form a group there. We have reserved
rooms for such groups to meet during the congress.
Either way, we suggest you look at the SIETAR CoP workspace now. Here’s
how:
- Go to
http://www.sietar-europa.org, click on Workspace in the menu bar at
the top. This takes you to the workspace Home page. (You can also go
here directly using
http://quickplace.mce.be/sietar-eu). The site is
protected for your safety and privacy, so if you don’t already have an
ID and password, follow the access instructions below.
Access instructions: If you are a SIETAR Europa member you should
already have an ID and password. If you do not, or have forgotten or
lost this information, contact Christine Longé, the SIETAR Europa Office
Secretary at office@sietar-europa.org.
If you are a non-SIETAR member registrant to the congress and want to
participate, Send Christine your last and first names along with your
preferred email address. She will email you an ID and password
straightaway.
- Then click on SIETAR Community of Practice in the sidebar at the
left. We recommend that you visit the rooms of the platform listed on
the left sidebar:
- Start in the Café where you can introduce yourself and say hello.
Click on the New button. This gives you a screen to write in. Leave a
note, maybe a picture. Help others get to know you. You may return here
as often as you like to talk informally to other members.
- Click on What is a CoP? to get an overview of the CoP process.
- Suggest a project or a project idea, or respond to someone else’s in
the Open Forum. Go to the room named Projects and interest groups
-> Getting Started. This page will tell you how to open a project or topic.
Then make a posting in the Open Forum, just as you did in the Café. Tell
who you are, your ideas for a topic, theme or project and why it is
important to you, etc.
- Read the User Guide or even doing the Tutorial. Both links are on the
workspace Home page.
Though the platform is in English, you may want to work in another
language. Just begin your communication in the respective spaces on the
web and agree how you will work with your colleagues.
Start now. Enjoy the experience, and, if you have a question, comment,
or suggestion, send us a note via the workspace or using
one of the
email addresses below.
Cordially, your facilitators,
Michael Thiel (SIETAR Germany)
thiel@cinco-systems.de
George Simons (SIETAR Europa) gfsimons@diversophy.com