Publications and sample materials

Growing up by the Bay is a collection of stories based on oral history interviews of people who grew up around Jervis Bay in the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s. The stories were collected in 2007 by a team of volunteers from the Lady Denman Heritage Complex, led, trained and supported by Meg Bishop from Real Options. A total of 30 people were interviewed for this project. Many others will be interviewed in future as a continuation of Growing up by the Bay and for new projects of the Lady Denman. The exhibition will be shown periodically at the Lady Denman and also travel to other regions. A book was also produced. This book provides an enduring memento of the younger lives of the people who shared their stories of Growing up by the Bay. The exhibition was opened on 9 February 2008 with around 150 people attending on a wet and wild day. Real Options are able to work with museums, local history groups or others to develop and manage similar projects. We have skills in oral history collection, digital recording and curating exhibitions. If you are interested to discuss a project please contact us. The book and the DVD are available from the Lady Denman Heritage Complex. Woollamia Rd & Dent St, Huskisson Ph 44415675 ladydenman@shoalhaven.net.au

Strategic questioning This was developed by Fran Peavey who describes it as “An Approach to Creating Personal and Social Change”. Downloads: Strategic Questioning – an article by Fran A summary of first and second level questioning

Six Thinking Hats

This tool was developed by Edward de Bono to encourage people to move beyond an habitual thinking style and develop a more rounded understanding of an issue or situation.

Downloads

• Introduction to Six Thinking Hats
• Coloured prompt cards for group use

The Diffusion of Innovations

The Diffusion of Innovations theory was developed as a method for looking at the way innovations are taken up by a population of people. The population is categorised into five groups – starting at innovators (a minority) and then early adopters, followed by the majority of the population and then followed (or not followed) by laggards (another minority). This is a very helpful way of thinking about target audiences and a range of education methods are suggested for each of the five groups. We find this a useful tool to match audience groups with education methods.

Download the Real Options model of Diffusion of Innovations

Discovering Democracy Program

The Australian Nation
Citizens and Public Life

Two learning circles for the adult and community education sector. The Discovering Democracy program was prompted by concern about the level of political literacy in Australian society. This project has involved extensive consultation with potential user groups in a number of urban, regional, rural and remote areas of Australia.

Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs 1998-2001

These kits are available here as PDF files. There are also two discussion guides to support a discussion of around 40 minutes, so you can get an idea of how a leaning circle might work and the kinds of issues in the kits.

Downloads:

• ©The Australian Nation.pdf
• ©Citizens & Public Life.pdf
• ©The Australian Nation Discussion Guide.pdf
• ©Citizens & Public Life Discussion Guide.pdf

Swan River Action Kit

An introductory guide, information to support small group learning and action, and a series of 10 informal discussion starters.
Water and Rivers Commission of Western Australia 2000

Who Built the Sandcastle?

A learning circle to help the community understand and become involved in coastal management. This was developed by a process of consultation at three levels - the Commonwealth Government, regional coordinators and local community groups.
Environment Australia 1998

The Salt of the Earth

A learning circle on dryland salinity. This kit covers such issues as causes and effects along with environmental, rural and social costs. It explores different responses to the problem and the difficult question of who should pay.
Murray–Darling Basin Commission 1996

Do-It-Yourself Learning Circles: A guide to preparing your own learning circle resource material

A simple guide for individuals and groups who are interested in developing resource material for discussion groups based on the learning circle method.
Real Options 1999
Download: diy.pdf

For a Common Cause

A book of 22 case studies about communities – local and regional, urban and rural – and the roles they have played in positive environmental change.