We've held a few events now where we've done pattern-writing in groups. While some people feel fine writing patterns solo from home, given that we are writing a pattern language of group process it's not surprising that many of our collaborators find it more fun or effective to do the pattern writing live in groups. Here is some of what we've learned so far about doing that. We've found there tend to be several steps in the development process for each pattern. Here is the sequence we naturally fell into during the April 2010 session at Bowen Island: A. Initial brainstorming: An open-ended conversation of 2-4 people surfacing ideas and possibilities for this pattern (3 people seemed to be a particularly popular number). Patterns selected based on who was excited to work on what.
-
One person would volunteer to be notetaker. Many of our notetakers used a starting document within a word-processing program listing the main categories of our template so that as people spoke their statements could be directly entered into the categories of:
- Image Ideas
- Heart & Description
- Cautions & Caveats
- Related Patterns
- Resources
- Other
We tended to group Heart & Description together and then later pull out the most essential or resonant statement as the Heart. While Cautions & Caveats is only an optional part of the description, we found ourselves listing it separately.
-
In order to deal with the problem of losing content input from the notetaker, some of us started by having a few minutes during which the notetaker would think and write their own initial thoughts, and then we'd start the out-loud conversation by having them tell the others their input.
- Sharing personal stories and experiences (some of which were outside the realm of group dynamics but could then be mined afterward for what would also apply in a group setting) was an important part of this.
- Other patterns this one might relate to would be mentioned in the course of the conversation, often accompanied by an immediate sorting as to whether the relationship was strong and consistent enough to justify inclusion in the Related Patterns category of the template or whether it was a more occasional relationship that might come up in the Description or as an Example. Sometimes new Potential Patterns were noted to be added to the brainstorm list. Familiarity with the existing lists of Patterns and Potential Patterns obviously helps enormously in this, and we found that newcomers gained enough currency to do this after one full day of choosing patterns from the list and discussing them.
- After a while of open conversation, the notetaker or someone else would ask for the categories of that pattern that had not yet been filled in, and we'd then target the conversation specifically to fill those fields.
- This step took about 30-60 minutes per pattern.
B. Writing up the rough notes, if it wasn't done simultaneously with the initial conversation. The notes need to be arranged into the proper categories of the template, and entered into the wiki. It's also good to select the Heart at this point while the conversation is still fresh. This is pretty much a one-person operation.
C. Polishing the notes: Taking the draft text that was often in the form of incomplete sentences or bullet points and drafting it into complete sentences and paragraphs to express that pattern. This also often includes tracking down correct links and references, or finding an actual visual to upload instead of just an idea for one. Completing this step usually moves the pattern from Sprout to Bloom stage. Probably best done by 1-2 people.
D. Editing the pattern: Normally includes one or more newcomers to working on that pattern. Looking the pattern over for language, clarity of expression, substitution of everyday words for process-geek jargon, seeing if the Name and Heart "sing," adding things that were missed, listing additional resources, and so on. If you are doing group reviews of entered patterns live in-person, it helps to have a projector on hand that can hook up to someone's computer.
.