The Experiential Library (1st ed): Transforming Academic and Research Libraries through the Power of Experiential Learning has been published (by Chandos Publishing), as of yesterday, and is available here. E-Book is also available through Amazon, Google Books, and other online book outlets.
Thanks to all the contributors for their excellent work!
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Experiential Libraries book to be published soon!
I'm excited to see that the book I edited during my Fall 2015 sabbatical is available for preorder.
http://store.elsevier.com/The-Experiential-Library/Pete-McDonnell/isbn-9780081007754/
Nice flyer:
The contributors did an amazing job illuminating this growing area of the library. I sure learned a lot during the project, and am keen to see where libraries continue to take experiential learning in its many forms...
http://store.elsevier.com/The-Experiential-Library/Pete-McDonnell/isbn-9780081007754/
Nice flyer:
The contributors did an amazing job illuminating this growing area of the library. I sure learned a lot during the project, and am keen to see where libraries continue to take experiential learning in its many forms...
Saturday, October 12, 2013
McDonnell/Russell Protocol - Drumming with Librarians in Sioux Falls and St. Cloud
Though my colleague, Keith Russell, came up with the idea that our "percussion-based experiential exercises" maybe constitute a new protocol that builds on previous group-drumming protocols, I think it should be called "Russell-McDonnell Protocol". Keith has done a lot of work in using experiential exercises for staff development and change management at his institution, University of Kansas.
That being said, I think the two conference sessions we did in Sioux Falls and St. Cloud over the last couple of weeks went very well. Keith and I have done drumming sessions at librarian conferences together three times now (Keith has done more than that solo), and each time seems to go better than the last. It was a fun time, and the participants at each had some very neat learnings which they shared with us. They talked about their feelings, how the drumming served as a metaphor, and one person said how great it was to see people smiling and experiencing joy!
Two other highlights of the conference were a session on Mindfulness practice/meditation in the workplace, by Jenny Sippel and John Daniels of Minneapolis Community and Technical College. I was excited to learn that MCTC Library has implemented a meditation room in a room that needed to be repurposed in the library--go MCTC! A session on music-making activities with public library patrons and children's programming, as well as a presentation from a talent firm that services libraries (for cultural, art, music, and entertainment programming in libraries) reminded me that libraries are not just about books anymore!
I am excited for the next opportunity to facilitate another event like this with my colleague Keith Russell! We'll see how the evaluations for the conference session turned out.
That being said, I think the two conference sessions we did in Sioux Falls and St. Cloud over the last couple of weeks went very well. Keith and I have done drumming sessions at librarian conferences together three times now (Keith has done more than that solo), and each time seems to go better than the last. It was a fun time, and the participants at each had some very neat learnings which they shared with us. They talked about their feelings, how the drumming served as a metaphor, and one person said how great it was to see people smiling and experiencing joy!
Two other highlights of the conference were a session on Mindfulness practice/meditation in the workplace, by Jenny Sippel and John Daniels of Minneapolis Community and Technical College. I was excited to learn that MCTC Library has implemented a meditation room in a room that needed to be repurposed in the library--go MCTC! A session on music-making activities with public library patrons and children's programming, as well as a presentation from a talent firm that services libraries (for cultural, art, music, and entertainment programming in libraries) reminded me that libraries are not just about books anymore!
I am excited for the next opportunity to facilitate another event like this with my colleague Keith Russell! We'll see how the evaluations for the conference session turned out.
SDLA/NDLA/MPLA Tri Conference drumming
MLA Drumming session - St. Cloud, MN
Saturday, April 27, 2013
More drums added to the Drum Resource Pages!
See above "Drum Resource Pages" for some very cool and unusual drums and other percussion instruments.
All of the photos and text were taken at the awesome Rhythm Discovery Center in downtown Indianapolis, IN. If you are ever visiting Indianapolis, visit this little museum. It is a treasure, and they have an awesome collection!
All of the photos and text were taken at the awesome Rhythm Discovery Center in downtown Indianapolis, IN. If you are ever visiting Indianapolis, visit this little museum. It is a treasure, and they have an awesome collection!
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Finishing
As I approach the end of my Experiential Education degree program through Minnesota State University, Mankato, I realized that this final capstone project is about going beyond the blog that I created to document my learning in the program. So, I have developed it into a resource that can accentuate the information that I usually provide in my in-person, hands-on drumming sessions.
To that end, I selected an initial list (I will be adding more as time permits) of four commonly used drums for group drumming exercises, ones which I am familiar with, but which some people out there may not be. So, please take a look at the links above (next to "Drum Resource Pages"), to find out more information about these drums...they really add a unique voice to a drum circle, so I hope you enjoy.
To that end, I selected an initial list (I will be adding more as time permits) of four commonly used drums for group drumming exercises, ones which I am familiar with, but which some people out there may not be. So, please take a look at the links above (next to "Drum Resource Pages"), to find out more information about these drums...they really add a unique voice to a drum circle, so I hope you enjoy.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
But the Beat Goes On...
I look forward to following the "drum path" that I've been on, and continuing to document my learnings along the way. I also plan to add more information to the resources section of the blog, so that it could also serve as a clearinghouse of information on group drumming as an organizational development tool in academic settings.
The beat goes on!
The beat goes on!
Book Review -- "The Drum: A History", by Matt Dean
When I saw "The Drum: A History" by Matt Dean on the New Book Shelf at the library that I work in, I thought it would be quite a fitting resource to complete my Experiential Education master's program. It is a hefty book--running 461 pages, it covers the history of the drum (as opposed to more general percussion instruments), with chapters such as "What is a Drum?", "Women Drummers", "The Modern Drumkit", and "Drumsticks". The meat of the book, though, is the history of this fascinating instrument on each continent--each continent has a chapter devoted to it (though Asia is split into "Western Asia" and "Southeast Asia").
Sufficed to say, I eagerly gobbled up the information in this book; I read the book cover to cover (not even skipping the chapter on drumsticks!). I was amazed at how much research the author Dean--who is a writer/blogger, an instructor, and professional drummer--performed on behalf of his dream to investigate the origins, uses, and varieties of the drum in all the world's cultures. The author rightly places his work in a long line of distinguished tomes that classify and describe percussion instruments and their history; I found Dean's book to be a very interesting read. His writing style worked well for the topic at hand, and even though the details of all the drums was a bit dry at some points, there were so many interesting bits of information, woven together in a relatively casual narrative style, that I was won over by it. As a librarian, I was pleasantly surprised to see the comprehensive and detailed back-of-the-book index as well.
The sections of the book that most attracted me were on the development of the hand drum in Western Asia and the many varieties of West African drums, such as the djembe--a popular "drum circle" drum. I learned that much of the drumming in the Near East in ancient times was for religious purposes, and was often done by women; this detail resonates with me, as I have noticed that the most enthusiastic and devoted group-drummers are women, and the drum circles are often used as a tool for spiritual and emotional growth and well-being. I also learned that the West and Southern African drum designs, which ranged from conical and goblet-shaped drums, to cylindrical drums and kettle-shaped drums, have been modernized and updated to what you would see in a typical drum circle today. Some of the most popular drums, the djembe and the ashiko, and even the modern invention of the "tubano" drum (see the "Drum Resource Pages" above the blog posts), are based on these designs.
All in all, a very good read for drum enthusiasts, and one which will probably be added to my personal library soon.
Sufficed to say, I eagerly gobbled up the information in this book; I read the book cover to cover (not even skipping the chapter on drumsticks!). I was amazed at how much research the author Dean--who is a writer/blogger, an instructor, and professional drummer--performed on behalf of his dream to investigate the origins, uses, and varieties of the drum in all the world's cultures. The author rightly places his work in a long line of distinguished tomes that classify and describe percussion instruments and their history; I found Dean's book to be a very interesting read. His writing style worked well for the topic at hand, and even though the details of all the drums was a bit dry at some points, there were so many interesting bits of information, woven together in a relatively casual narrative style, that I was won over by it. As a librarian, I was pleasantly surprised to see the comprehensive and detailed back-of-the-book index as well.
The sections of the book that most attracted me were on the development of the hand drum in Western Asia and the many varieties of West African drums, such as the djembe--a popular "drum circle" drum. I learned that much of the drumming in the Near East in ancient times was for religious purposes, and was often done by women; this detail resonates with me, as I have noticed that the most enthusiastic and devoted group-drummers are women, and the drum circles are often used as a tool for spiritual and emotional growth and well-being. I also learned that the West and Southern African drum designs, which ranged from conical and goblet-shaped drums, to cylindrical drums and kettle-shaped drums, have been modernized and updated to what you would see in a typical drum circle today. Some of the most popular drums, the djembe and the ashiko, and even the modern invention of the "tubano" drum (see the "Drum Resource Pages" above the blog posts), are based on these designs.
All in all, a very good read for drum enthusiasts, and one which will probably be added to my personal library soon.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
More Fresh Air
It's Spring Break Week here in Bemidji, and it's that time when I rediscover this blog. It's quite interesting to read and re-learn my development in organizational development, group drumming...Really this is all preparation and planning for my final, capstone project in my Experiential Education master's degree. Watch this space for more...
Overall, the last year has been one of great learning. The group drumming is going very well, and I have done another session for students and a couple more in the works.
Note to self: after seeing Mu Daiko, a Twin Cities based percussion ensemble that focuses on traditional Japanse Taiko drumming performance, I might want to explore this as another aspect of group drumming experience. It was quite a performance that we saw in Grand Rapids, MN. Watching Mu Daiko was like no other experience...
Overall, the last year has been one of great learning. The group drumming is going very well, and I have done another session for students and a couple more in the works.
Note to self: after seeing Mu Daiko, a Twin Cities based percussion ensemble that focuses on traditional Japanse Taiko drumming performance, I might want to explore this as another aspect of group drumming experience. It was quite a performance that we saw in Grand Rapids, MN. Watching Mu Daiko was like no other experience...
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Review of "The Skilled Facilitator"
I wanted to read parts of the book The Skilled Facilitator by Roger M. Schwartz, because it was suggested to me as an in-depth work, and Schwartz is an expert in facilitative leadership and facilitation in organizations. In a chapter on Guidelines for Using Experiential Exercises, Schwartz looks at experiential exercises in a critical way. This chapter is interesting to me because Schwartz gives cautions about using them, whereas other authors I've read have been more in their favor. He warns that they should be "consistent with the core values and principles of group facilitation", and that the "exercise needs to generate valid information", among other things (p. 374).
His main point, I think, is that the exercises shouldn't be forced, artificial, and rely on deception--for example an exercise where participants are asked to solve a puzzle that is missing a piece. He is also saying that experiential exercises really need to be tailored and valid for each specific group, and should provide actual useful information for the group to improve its functioning. Schwartz says: "In some situations, members learn more when the experience comes from the group's real tasks, and they experience the full consequences of group process." (p. 376) So, many experiential exercises probably may not fit this bill in an extensive, developmental facilitation approach for an organization.
This critical perspective of ineffective experiential exercises has made me think again about what the purpose of percussion-based experiential exercises is. Can a group drumming really engender changes in group behavior and effectiveness? Does a debriefing technique (such as the one I'm studying--funneling), really make an impact as far as carrying the learning forward into a person's work or life? Does the experiential exercise really have an impact?
Some ways that I think that group drumming/percussion-based experiential exercises ARE effective:
- they allow group members to function as a group (playing the group rhythm), but in a way that is out of their usual experience
- they increase feelings of well-being and stress relief (the benefit of the HealthRhythms approach)
- they allow a kinesthetic and musical experience in a low-stress setting; basically, participants can use their musical intelligence and have fun
- they allow groups to have a memorable, unique experience
Looking at this list, and having read several books now on facilitation for changing group behavior and improving group process, I can't help but feel that group drumming is only a small piece of the puzzle. From what I've seen and experienced in the group drumming sessions I've facilitated, it is fun and energizing, and can engender positive group feelings. But it's only one of many tools, and really has to be aligned with an overall learning goal to be effective.
His main point, I think, is that the exercises shouldn't be forced, artificial, and rely on deception--for example an exercise where participants are asked to solve a puzzle that is missing a piece. He is also saying that experiential exercises really need to be tailored and valid for each specific group, and should provide actual useful information for the group to improve its functioning. Schwartz says: "In some situations, members learn more when the experience comes from the group's real tasks, and they experience the full consequences of group process." (p. 376) So, many experiential exercises probably may not fit this bill in an extensive, developmental facilitation approach for an organization.
This critical perspective of ineffective experiential exercises has made me think again about what the purpose of percussion-based experiential exercises is. Can a group drumming really engender changes in group behavior and effectiveness? Does a debriefing technique (such as the one I'm studying--funneling), really make an impact as far as carrying the learning forward into a person's work or life? Does the experiential exercise really have an impact?
Some ways that I think that group drumming/percussion-based experiential exercises ARE effective:
- they allow group members to function as a group (playing the group rhythm), but in a way that is out of their usual experience
- they increase feelings of well-being and stress relief (the benefit of the HealthRhythms approach)
- they allow a kinesthetic and musical experience in a low-stress setting; basically, participants can use their musical intelligence and have fun
- they allow groups to have a memorable, unique experience
Looking at this list, and having read several books now on facilitation for changing group behavior and improving group process, I can't help but feel that group drumming is only a small piece of the puzzle. From what I've seen and experienced in the group drumming sessions I've facilitated, it is fun and energizing, and can engender positive group feelings. But it's only one of many tools, and really has to be aligned with an overall learning goal to be effective.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Fresh Air
To give some context of my state of mind, today I read some from a book about creativity, wrote a song that came to me in a flash of inspiration, and got a much-needed therapeutic massage. I'm on Spring Break, and feel like I can catch a breath of fresh air.
With this awareness of wanting to slow down, I can feel my mind turning into introspection, to reflection. I am keeping the momentum going, but slowing down a bit, too. In the next few weeks, I'm going to work on laying the groundwork for another "percussion-based experiential exercise" for students. Let it Spring.
With this awareness of wanting to slow down, I can feel my mind turning into introspection, to reflection. I am keeping the momentum going, but slowing down a bit, too. In the next few weeks, I'm going to work on laying the groundwork for another "percussion-based experiential exercise" for students. Let it Spring.
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