The term crossroads evokes a place where a person faces a dilemma and needs to choose from among multiple paths. Knowing which way to go requires checking the signs and sensing what lies ahead. We might also think of a crossroads as an intersection where individuals meet but then continue on their own separate journeys. Both of these concepts are at play in the Crossroads model.
Unlike some other kinds of learning communities, the Crossroads model is a focused gathering of people who anticipate moving forward on their own rather than joining forces. Our participants have individual ambitions, commitments, and talents. A Crossroads event enables them to share their goals, but honors them as professionals who are following distinct trajectories. Crossroads breaks the isolation that midcareer educators often experience in their workplace. Knowing there are others who also struggle emboldens them to continue striving for excellence—albeit on their own terms, at their own pace, and in their respective spaces. Crossroads is immeasurably valuable for helping committed educators find the means to act on their professional judgment and beliefs.
Other powerful features of the model—including the proposal-writing process and the Incubator discussion format—remind professional educators of the benefits of listening with attention and respect. In an education climate where "communicating" can often take the form of "announcing," the culture and structures of the Crossroads model offer a unique forum for hearing others and being heard.
In post-Crossroads surveys and telephone interviews, participants frequently mention that in this forum they feel safe letting down their guard and listening to new ideas and perspectives. Participants routinely rate the Incubators for other people's Vexations and Ventures as just as informative and satisfying as their own, demonstrating that opportunities to hear critiques of what others are attempting can be immensely valuable. We view that response as testament to the professional community arising from the Crossroads model.
Our follow-up evaluations also indicate that much of the value of Crossroads is a result of the personal efforts put into it, rather than just the structure of the model. Participants attribute the success of Crossroads to the investment of the conference presenters and planners. As with any daring undertaking, this model requires participants to push beyond their comfort levels. We don't think the model could work otherwise—nor would it be so rewarding.
The term crossroads evokes a place where a person faces a dilemma and needs to choose from among multiple paths. Knowing which way to go requires checking the signs and sensing what lies ahead. We might also think of a crossroads as an intersection where individuals meet but then continue on their own separate journeys. Both of these concepts are at play in the Crossroads model.
Unlike some other kinds of learning communities, the Crossroads model is a focused gathering of people who anticipate moving forward on their own rather than joining forces. Our participants have individual ambitions, commitments, and talents. A Crossroads event enables them to share their goals, but honors them as professionals who are following distinct trajectories. Crossroads breaks the isolation that midcareer educators often experience in their workplace. Knowing there are others who also struggle emboldens them to continue striving for excellence—albeit on their own terms, at their own pace, and in their respective spaces. Crossroads is immeasurably valuable for helping committed educators find the means to act on their professional judgment and beliefs.
Other powerful features of the model—including the proposal-writing process and the Incubator discussion format—remind professional educators of the benefits of listening with attention and respect. In an education climate where "communicating" can often take the form of "announcing," the culture and structures of the Crossroads model offer a unique forum for hearing others and being heard.
In post-Crossroads surveys and telephone interviews, participants frequently mention that in this forum they feel safe letting down their guard and listening to new ideas and perspectives. Participants routinely rate the Incubators for other people's Vexations and Ventures as just as informative and satisfying as their own, demonstrating that opportunities to hear critiques of what others are attempting can be immensely valuable. We view that response as testament to the professional community arising from the Crossroads model.
Our follow-up evaluations also indicate that much of the value of Crossroads is a result of the personal efforts put into it, rather than just the structure of the model. Participants attribute the success of Crossroads to the investment of the conference presenters and planners. As with any daring undertaking, this model requires participants to push beyond their comfort levels. We don't think the model could work otherwise—nor would it be so rewarding.
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