Run down of Programme:
2.00-2.45pm Myth of Stress [Intro, 7min game (given 5min to discuss), debrief of activity]
2.45-3.15pm Types of stress [10min discuss, 5min each group to present]
3.15-3.45pm Sources of stress [10min discuss, 5min each group to present]
3.45-4.00pm Seeing through stress [compare types and sources of stress on different halves]
4.00-4.05pm Tensed then released activity [aware of what happened when stress and relax]
4.05-4.20pm Deep relaxation [lying down and listen to soothing song]
4.20-4.30pm Singing and doing hand movements for the song "Happiness is here and now"
To improve:
1. For the 7min game, need to clearly instruct the minimum height, define what is a stable structure, 1 monitor for each group (instead of i monitor for 2 grps)
2. For the segment of "Sources of Stress", facilitator had difficulty guiding the participants to clearly list it out as every group easily conclude big concepts, like expectations, attachments, etc. It would be good if each group can choose the top three most stressful things and slowly go through it by using 5 levels of WHYs in search of the sources of stress. [this exercise is to guide the participants to break down their so-called sources of stress by going through their own discovery journey, starts with being aware of stress]
3. For the segment "seeing through stress", facilitators faced difficulty in guiding it.
4. Conclusion, facilitators managed to link the whole process to The Four Noble Truths, but it would be good that The Noble Eightfold Path could be shared with the participants too.
Highlights:
During the segment discussing on sources of stress and seeing through stress, it was chaotic as in the discussion seemed to have gone out of control.. Discussion went into abstract discussions, like "if we could eradicate stress, does it mean that we could then have happiness?", "does attachment bring stress?", "we already know the source of stress is due to expectation, there is nothing to discuss", "i think that attachment is fine, it does not give me stress", etc. Facilitators did some damage control by sharing that this workshop is not an academic session in which we are searching for an answer to a query, it was a session to be aware of your own stress, the sources. If you have found the sources of stress, so what? Have you done something about it? This would be something that everyone of us, as unique individuals, need to address it ourselves.
email: dharmaroundtable@nusbs.org.sg
facebook group: NUS Buddhist Society
friendster group: NUS Buddhist Society
forum: www.nusbs.org.sg/forum
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
30 Oct 2010, Dharma Friends Workshop for NUSBS @ NUS Staff Club, Aquarius Room
- to let our potential Dharma Friends know about their role in being Dharma friends
- to guide our potential Dharma Friends to work well on their role such as to lead the discussions and involve everyone in during the group discussions especially during Dharma Circle (and also Dharma Camp)- to guide them the more effective and persuasive way to share their Dharma knowledge within members in Buddhist Society
- to somehow ensure that they have better knowledge of Dharma compared to other members
The workshop was supposed to be from 9.30am to 12.30pm. At 9.30am, only Nalene turned up, followed by a few members. Logistics were not prepared on time. The workshop only commenced at 10am.
12 of them turned up: Nalene (Welfare), Johan (Dharma), Poh Jin (Secretary), Xin Zhao (Vice President), Kevin (Resource), Jia Qi, Li Min, Xiao Hui, Chin Xia, Si Wei, Soe, HariHom.
10-11am: Difference between facilitator and presenter, common worries to be a facil
itator, benefits to be one, the stages involved in a facilitation, different characters in a group.
11-11.45am: 1st Trial DC with feedbacks
11.45-12.30pm: 2nd Trial DC with feedbacks
12.30-12.50pm: Round up
11-11.45am: 1st Trial DC with feedbacks
11.45-12.30pm: 2nd Trial DC with feedbacks
12.30-12.50pm: Round up
General inputs:
The participants appeared responsive throughout the workshop and receptive to Trainers' advice and suggestions. Their involvement was encouraging and it was very interactive. During the trials, the dummies did well in facilitating discussion and trainers were impressed with the progress made.
What we did well (Debrief on 11/11/10):
- More familiar with workshop contents as we did it before
- Share real-life facilitation experience
- Conducive venue: quiet, projector, whiteboard available
What to improve (Debrief on 11/11/10):
1. Team work:
- Assign specific roles to each person
- More mindful of dynamics with partner facilitators
- Main facilitator to slow down before moving on
- Communicate any conflicting ideas to partner facilitator first
2. Content/Style:
- More interactive, 50 mins of talk may cause restlessness
3. Others:
- Trial run
- Print hardcopy evaluation forms and ask them to fill up on the spot
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