Adaptive Action

What does adaptive action look like in communities of faith? Identifying the differences between technical and adaptive challenges only goes so far. This course will support the framing of effective community adaptive action, nourish students’ personal resources for navigating systemic change, and draw on the deep theological/meaning-making resources of specific congregations, nonprofits and other entities. Students will work with case studies, explore various “art of hosting” techniques for supporting adult learning, and engage in contemplative practice to sustain their hope and resilience in the midst of dynamic change. This course is structured around student cases, and students will benefit the most from the learning if they do the pre-work carefully. Here is a print version of the syllabus.

Course Objectives

• the student will be able to articulate their specific understanding of adaptive action, and their role in leading it
• the student will be able to write an institutional case study, draw out its pertinent elements (particularly in terms of identifying adaptive vs. technical challenges), and formulate an adaptive action plan for engaging it
• the student will be familiar with and able to implement at least two practices drawn from “the art of hosting”
• the student will be able to practice at least one form of mindfulness to support resilience
• the student will be able to identify at least one specific personal learning challenge, and formulate a plan for their own growth in meeting that challenge which they will pursue in the following year