The Expedition continues
Once again a new year started with the superweek when the TA network gathered
here in Jyväskylä to celebrate the 19th birthday of Tiimiakatemia. There were also
lots of visitors from abroad which enabled our guests to meet people from the
international network.
It was great to see that the network is also expanding to the east since Learning
Expedition got two participants from Kazaksthan – Alexsandr and Alexsandr.
Because of the unfortunated cancelations and the transition of the project group we
actually had more hosts than we had guests this time.
During our three day expedition both of our keen participants were introduced to
methods used in Tiimiakatemia. Between the scheduled program we also had
a great opportunity to have inspiring conversations from daily politics to cultural
differences of our two cold nations. It was a great start for the year 2012 and with
you we’re going to make the most of it.
Best regards,
Project group Nina, Vili & Niko
What’s cooking with Learning Expedition?
Learning Expedition started a new phase when new project group – Emma Ojala, Vili Nieminen and Maija Kotamäki – took over in the beginning of the year. Here we have just gathered some bits and pieces on what we have been up to. Please, read on to find out.
Action and mingling during the Superweek
Year was kicked off by annual Team Academy Superweek. Friends from near and far gathered in Jyväskylä to take part Team Mastery 3 (training programme for Team Coaches), Ignition (international gathering of young entrepreneurs), Team Mastery Arena (biannual forum of Team Coaches) and celebrate Team Academy’s 18th anniversary. Naturally, we hosted Learning Expediton at the same time. We had eight participants from different parts of Europe: UK, Germany and Spain. Besides being introduced to TA’s learning methods, explorers had a chance to get to know some of our international network. We joined Team Mastery and Ignition at Taulun kartano for birthgivings and traditional Finnish sauna.
Intensive Expedition with SOL France
In February Learning Expedition was organized specially for SOL France from Etienne Collignon’s initiative. We had 14 participants representing various different organizations, most of came from France but few travelled all the way from Canada. This time we spent evening at Yellow Office of Monkey Business. We also had dialogue session with Iiro Kolehmainen regarding his thesis “Exporting Finnish Educational Learning Processes Through Co-Creation in Europe”.
Just to add a new aspect to the Expedition, Mother Nature decided to challenge us with temperatures dipping low as -30C. This combined with some lost luggage (with your winter gear in it) can be a terrifying experience for somebody who has never experienced Finnish winter. Luckily we managed sort out some warm clothing so everybody was able to enjoy the snow and ice without freezing.
Relaxing dialogue in May
In May we had Learning Expedition with a group of three, two participants from Portugal and one from London. Due the small size of the group, we had chance to enjoy relaxed atmosphere with lengthy dialogue. Also, project group got a crash course to Portuguese culture!
At the end of May we also organized “mini-Learning Expedition” for visitors from Sweden. How can you explain all the wonders of Team Academy in few hours? Well, after being introduced to all the essential information we hope that they get bitten by the virus and come back for more.
And… we have learned a lot too!
Beginning of the year has been a serious learning journey to everybody in the project group as well. We would like to thank all of our participants and everybody from our network for their challenging questions and feedback! All that has been very helpful to us. We are constantly willing to improve the event so that our guests get the most out of it. If you have any ideas in your mind, please let us know : D
What’s in store for the fall?
Next couple of months are going to be wonderfully busy for us. It looks like we will have several events coming up. Next event will be on 14th to 16th of September and in October we will organize event for UK Akatemia (www.akatemia.org.uk). Hopefully we have guests from Germany and Brazil as well. And of course we are really looking forward to the event in January 2012!
Looking forward to new adventures!
Project group, Emma, Maija and Vili
Story about April´s Learning Expedition 2010
Our second Learning Expedition on this year is behind now. Experience was an awesome and the participants as well as we learned a lot on those three days. Here are some things what we discovered;
First of all we had 3 most amazing participants, Olga, Martine and Cecile who arrived from Strasbourg, France. Participants didn’t know anything about Team Academy advance, so this was something totally new for them.
First day went very fast. Day’s agenda was purely to get to know each others, why we (project group and participants) were here at Team Academy and what were the participant’s expectations for the event and what questions they wanted to ask us or other TA teampreneurs (team entrepreneur) or coaches.
Chaos. Tons of new information, methods, enthusiastic people and lots of different emotions. Ladies were completely exhausted but happy at the end of the day. Here’s some of the things we went through: what is team academy, team academy’s vocabulary and explanations, theory behind our methods, questions in learning contract, pre-motorola, post-motorola, essays(what have I learned and how can I put it into practice), discussions about what is project and how do they start. Olga’s challenge: Improve my pedagogical skills. Cecile’s challenge: Increase my self confidence/trust myself more. Martine’s challenge: Energy for bringing Team Academy to France.
On second day Johannes Partanen told the history of TA and what is the big picture behind starting this kind of program; We study in teams because learning in a team is faster than by individual. Teams have development levels, and only few teams reach the highest level. Some of the telling of a ‘top team’=they are seeking the outside world, they have good network and contacts, there’s good discipline in the team and they have learned to take care of the slower learners and they understand the value of education and invest on it.
On second day we crystallize our learning’s and participant prepared a presentation. One of the leading questions was; How do you apply these learning’s into action in your own work/ life?
The show was full of emotion even though there were no words in it. Team Academy audience enjoyed the show a lot and they gave a huge applause to the LE ladies.
Fantastic event with amazing people who we want to stay in touch with. We are looking forward to have this same feeling with the next LE participants in June.
Greeting from Team Academy Finland,
Project group Päivi, Nina and Emma
Learning Expedition March 2009
On the 18th of March a group of enthusiastic people from France, Spain and Finland gathered together; why? What was the main agenda for these people, why were they at the Team Academy Finland? I’m sure, that there can’t be found only one right answer, but they were all participating in LEARNING EXPEDITION to Team Academy! Our dear friends; Olga, Pascal, Yann, Stéphane, Philippe and Thomas.
Our foreign penguins had a learning journey both to Team Academy methods, and also to Finnish traditions; already at the first evening, when we were at the Ranch, our friends from Strasbourg showed some real courage; they jumped right to the icy lake from the sauna! (No wonder they are entrepreneurs in France) ; )
Our following days held in a visit to the Castle of Schaumann (Partus-coaches` new working spaces right next to the Team Academy). We also went to the Crazy Town, which is a community for young entrepreneurs in the centre of Jyväskylä. Our second day held in also some cultural elements, we visited Alvar Aalto-museum; Aalto was a famous Finnish architect and designer in the modern art field. In the evening we enjoyed a tasty dinner at the Viking Restaurant Harald.
Learning journey had its climax at the Ranch; the group of international penguins gave birth! They learned to fly! They learned the basics about team work and team learning! They build a rocket! It was awesome. At the Ranch we had also a privilege to witness the birth giving from the Young Leaders 2009.
At the last day the participants also made a learning contract for themselves; it is a great tool for measuring different fields one should develop themselves. After the Learning Expedition the responsibility about the action is in the hands of the penguin. Team Academy’s responsibility is to support in any way. I think we really succeeded to give the knowledge about basic Team Academy-methods! What is taken into action, then? We just have to wait and see. ; )
I want to thank my project group, Maija Kotamäki and Niku Raatikainen. And a special yellow thanks Monkey Business, especially Ville Keränen! And Pascal Bastien; without him this Learning Expedition wouldn’t happen. Thank you, Pascal.
Ahead towards new challenges!
Minna Janhonen