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U.lab HubHostGiude v1 Summary
U.lab HubHostGiude v1 Summary
WHAT IS A HUB?
INTRODUCTION
In u.lab, we believe in learning by doing which means that it is not enough to learn new concepts
intellectually; the real learning happens through application and practice in the real world.
A hub is any physical space where u.lab participants come together to learn and co-create, using
the frameworks and methods offered through the u.lab MOOC. In that sense, hubs help people
translate insights into action and co-create with others. The physical space enhances the typical
MOOC experience by providing group support for self-organized learning and co-creation. At a
local level, hubs can help connect people around common interests. At a global level, the various
hubs from around the world will be part of a network that exchanges insights, experiences, and
knowledge.
A hub can also be virtual. In the past we have seen examples of participants gathering online, in
virtual meetings, around a theme they all care about. This offers a different quality of being
together, and can still deepen the learning and increase the sense of being in it together.
Dialogue walks
Sensing journeys
Prototyping activities
These activities will be described in detail and instructions will be given during the u.lab
course itself.
3. Meet weekly during u.lab and continue meeting afterwards
Some hubs continue to meet after u.lab ends: to further develop prototypes, continue the coaching
circles, deepen their SPT and/or awareness practices, etc.
HOSTING A HUB
To be a hub host, you may want to think about the following:
Formulating an intention for your hub and the invitation for the community
What is the (time) commitment each of you can give, what are your individual intentions for
this hub, what are your needs/strengths/worries, etc.
Also explore what everyone's individual intention is for participating in u.lab and in the hosting
team.
Co-sensing phase: Participants will be invited to go to the 'edges' of a system of their choice and
apply deep listening and sensing practices. You could organize activities such as learning journeys,
stakeholder interviews, or shadowing practices (see the syllabus for more detail). Perhaps
emphasize that these activities are not necessarily to gather factual data, but rather 'deep data': an
experience of the system from the perspective of various actors within it. Then, since everyone in
your hub will be applying similar practices though not necessarily on the same challenge, issue,
or system the hub can be a place for people to come back, share and make sense of what they
have experienced with others.
Presencing phase: This will probably be the phase that feels the most unfamiliar to your
participants, particularly when they are eager to jump to solutions and implementing ideas. After
having leaned into the challenge or system in question, and having deeply explored the field and
reality that your participants are dealing with, this is a time to practice letting go and allowing the
deeper sources of knowing to emerge. In addition to creating this space in your hub for stillness
practice, journaling, and reflection, you might also want to take some time to explore what this
phase requires.
Feeling into the questions "Who am I?" and "What is my work?" is essential here, as well as
creating a safe space in which people feel they can surrender to and trust the process. What is this
reality calling on them to be and/or do? What action is required from them, and where
might they need to let go and leave room for things to unfold?
Crystallizing phase: This is the time to help each other crystallize what has come to the surface.
Because presencing is the act of connecting to source, participants may feel that what arises for
them is not yet all that concrete and relatively divergent. The crystallizing phase serves to collect
the gems from the presencing phase, reconnect to your intention, and formulate the required next
steps to manifest the future you want to create. To that end, you can host practices for participants
to get clear on what their next steps might be, such as dialogue walks, 3D-mapping, sculpting,
journaling, or SPT practices.
Prototyping phase: Now that next steps are materializing, take small actions to generate feedback
on your ideas. You can facilitate 0.8 prototyping by first creating space for participants work on their
prototypes. You could facilitate methods for generating feedback on prototypes in your hub, for
instance by hosting a prototype market, creating role-plays, or using 3D-mapping to make visual
representations of ideas in your hub.
After u.lab - Co-evolving your prototyping process: continue the iterative process of next steps,
feedback from the system and the universe, next iteration, etc. As a hosting team, you can
continue to offer space and time for sharing and learning, keeping participants connected to their
intention, and co-evolving the prototyping activities.
Still have questions? Have a look at the extended hub host guide for much more detail!
-u.lab team