[peeragogy-handbook] Who wants to join us and AI in writing the Patterns of Patterns 3 paper?
Contact Mr. Danoff's Teaching Laboratory
contact at mr.danoff.org
Tue May 20 05:45:47 UTC 2025
Hi, Cris, Joe, Mary, and Sridevi!
Thanks for another great Monday Meetup! I hope you don't mind, but I
included the peeragogy mailing list on this email to see if anyone else
wants to be a co-author :)
To catch up those who missed the call today: we discussed starting a
"Patterns of Patterns 3" paper for the upcoming USA PLoP conference.
https://plopcon.org/plop2025/
Would any of y'all like to join us? The deadline to submit is in a little
over 12 days from now on June 1st, 2025.
We decided to have the first draft written by AI. We've discussed in
earlier papers working with AI, so that seemed appropriate. This was our
workflow:
1. Put the first two Patterns of Patterns papers where we introduced and
refined PLACARD and the three 2024 summary papers of workshops where we
used PLACARD into ChatGPT and asked "Deep Research" to make a draft, which
it did well. I also asked for an image and it hallucinated badly.
2. Put that draft into the wonderful "Pyria" peeragogical remix of
ChatGPT that Fabrizio started which made the attached "visual appendix" and
"similar metaphor for the original visual map" images plus appendix
text. You can view the AI chat at this link
https://chatgpt.com/share/682c11db-b7ac-800e-8487-c2e0cada6753
3. Asked DeepSeek to revise the draft, but it ended up summarizing. It
also couldn't handle uploads of all 5 papers and images. DeepSeek doesn't
currently produce shareable links.
4. Tried the same thing with Claude and got a similar result, it
couldn't handle the paper uploads and just gave a summary. You can view the
AI chat at this link
https://claude.ai/share/5ad7746f-c4bc-48e4-8a9e-edf68113d959
5. Went to Grok and it handled all the prior papers and images, but
still just gave a summary. You can view the AI chat at this link
https://grok.com/share/c2hhcmQtMg%3D%3D_9cf29954-ada9-4474-97a2-65aebdb03096
6. Put those 3 summaries and new images back into ChatGPT along with our
earlier PLoP paper "Patterns of Peeragogy" and asked Deep Research to
combine it all into a revised holistic draft. You can view the AI chat at
this link https://chatgpt.com/share/682b3917-afbc-800e-8522-4cafb21f385a
Below is the revised draft we can expand on this Google Doc =]
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EMC9oCwAN2HKZj9G7GHPLsAhak0G64O5nEEeqZdTJ_c/edit?usp=sharing
*Does anyone else want to be a co-author of this paper?*
Patterns of Patterns III Abstract
Building on prior work in the *Patterns of Patterns* series, this study
evaluates the *PLACARD* methodology – integrating *Project Action Reviews
(PAR)*, *Causal Layered Analysis (CLA)*, and *Design Pattern Languages
(DPL)* – as a framework for global collaboration. Through workshops in
Asia, Europe, and North America (AsianPLoP, EuroPLoP, PLoP in 2024), we
engaged participants using a mix of reflective practice, futures thinking,
and pattern harvesting. The results include a new proto-pattern, *“Have
Multiple Leaders Onsite,”* highlighting the importance of co-facilitation
in hybrid settings. We discuss the process, outcomes, and lessons learned
from these sessions, illustrating how PLACARD can scaffold
distributed, *speculative
yet structured* collaboration. Limitations such as time constraints and
cultural barriers are examined, and we propose improvements (e.g.
multilingual support, tool development) and future applications. This
community-driven report balances academic analysis with a narrative of *playful
exploration*, aiming to inspire both researchers and practitioners to adopt
and adapt PLACARD for collaborative problem-solving.
Introduction
In an era of increasing global interconnectivity, effective collaboration
across cultural and geographical boundaries is essential. Traditional
methods often falter when addressing the intricate layers of context
inherent in international teamwork. The *Patterns of Patterns* series has
developed *PLACARD*, a methodology that integrates *Project Action Reviews
(PAR)* for reflection, *Causal Layered Analysis (CLA)* for deep inquiry,
and *Design Pattern Languages (DPL)* for design solutions, to meet this
challenge. Introduced in 2021 (*Patterns of Patterns*), PLACARD was first
tested in five U.S. and U.K. workshops; by 2024 (*Patterns of Patterns II*),
it proved adaptable in localized settings. This third installment explores
its efficacy in truly global contexts.
In 2024, we conducted PLACARD workshops at *AsianPLoP (Fujisawa,
Japan)*, *EuroPLoP
(Irsee, Germany)*, and *PLoP (Washington, USA)*, engaging diverse
participants in hybrid and in-person formats. These sessions applied
PLACARD to bridge perspectives and envision future collaboration, yielding
insights into facilitation practices and generating a new proto-pattern, *“Have
Multiple Leaders Onsite.”* This paper details these experiences,
highlighting PLACARD’s potential to support inclusive *global collaboration*
and proposing future enhancements to the approach.
Background
PLACARD, first outlined in *Patterns of Patterns* (Corneli et al., 2021),
combines three complementary approaches for collective learning and design:
-
*PAR (Project Action Review)* – A reflective process assessing
intentions, actions, and outcomes to learn from experience.
-
*CLA (Causal Layered Analysis)* – A futures studies technique analyzing
issues across multiple “layers” (the immediate litany, underlying systems,
prevailing worldviews, and deep myths) to reveal root causes and
alternative perspectives.
-
*DPL (Design Pattern Language)* – A framework for capturing and sharing
reusable solutions in a structured context–problem–solution format,
inspired by pattern language theory.
By combining these approaches, PLACARD enables teams to cycle iteratively
through reflection, deep analysis, and pattern creation. *Patterns of
Patterns II* (Corneli et al., 2024) refined this integrated method through
additional workshops, suggesting its scalability. Building on insights from
prior peeragogy research (Corneli et al., 2015), we now apply PLACARD in
international conference settings to test its effectiveness in globally
distributed collaboration.
*Figure 1:* The *PLACARD Iceberg* illustrates the methodology’s layered
structure. The visible tip of the iceberg represents immediate *Visible
Practices*, corresponding to surface-level observations captured through
PAR (“what we did and observed”). Beneath the waterline lie deeper
layers: *Systemic
Dynamics*, reflecting emerging practices uncovered through pattern
elicitation (DPL); *Worldviews & Norms*, encompassing the workshop culture
and facilitation models; and the deepest layer, *Myths & Metaphors*,
encompassing creative prompts and futures thinking. All these layers are
grounded in foundational values (e.g. collaboration, equity, distributed
learning) at the base. This metaphor highlights how observable actions rest
on deeper frameworks, emphasizing the depth of context that PLACARD
addresses.
Methodology
We implemented PLACARD in three 2024 conference workshops, adapting it to
each context:
-
*AsianPLoP 2024 (Fujisawa, Japan)* – A hybrid focus group with one
onsite and two remote facilitators (via Jitsi). Participants reflected on
the conference using PAR and then applied CLA to analyze underlying issues,
identifying linguistic barriers and growth opportunities
file-cn7ehbw5eycdtfgnftbu9f.
-
*EuroPLoP 2024 (Irsee, Germany)* – A hybrid session titled *“AI Future
Envisioning with PLACARD,”* with one onsite and three remote
facilitators. Participants employed a *Transfeminist Tech Oracle* card
game as a creative prompt, then used CLA and PAR in tandem to explore
speculative AI futuresfile-repujaavi4ib9zzcvwz5z9
file-repujaavi4ib9zzcvwz5z9.
-
*PLoP 2024 (Washington, USA)* – An in-person workshop, *“Imagination Run
Wild,”* with three onsite facilitators. Participants envisioned future
collaboration scenarios using prompt cards and CLA; due to time
constraints, a post-session PAR survey was used for reflection after the
event.
Across all sites, we coordinated via shared online tools and messaging,
while recognizing the added value of having facilitators physically present
to manage activities and engage participants.
*Figure 2:* *Anatomy of a PLACARD Workshop* – this diagram provides an
overview of how PLACARD’s components and supports interconnect during a
session. At the center is *Pattern Harvesting*, where insights are
synthesized into new or refined patterns. This core process is driven by
the primary methods – PAR, CLA, and DPL – shown at the top. It is supported
by surrounding elements: *Creative Prompts* (tangible aids like cards to
spark imagination), *Onsite Facilitation* (co-located facilitators
providing guidance and support), and *Remote Collaboration* (digital tools
coordinating global participants). All components work in concert toward
the foundational goal of *shared sense-making and global collaboration*,
illustrating how PLACARD scaffolds the journey from initial reflection to
actionable outcomes.
Results
The PLACARD workshops yielded both practical and conceptual outcomes. A key
result was the identification of a proto-pattern, *“Have Multiple Leaders
Onsite,”* addressing challenges in hybrid-facilitated events:
-
*Context:* Interactive conference workshops with both in-person and
remote participants.
-
*Problem:* A single onsite facilitator struggles to manage breakout
groups, technology, and overall flow, leading to gaps in support and
reduced engagement (especially for remote attendees).
-
*Solution:* Deploy multiple co-facilitators physically onsite to
coordinate activities, handle logistics, and engage with participants.
Onsite leaders can divide roles (e.g. one per breakout table or task),
ensuring better guidance and responsiveness, while remote facilitators
focus on online participants.
This pattern emerged from contrasting experiences: at AsianPLoP and
EuroPLoP, solo onsite facilitators found it difficult to support all needs,
whereas at PLoP the presence of three onsite leaders significantly enhanced
participation and problem-solving. Beyond this specific pattern, the
workshops demonstrated PLACARD’s capacity to surface insights into group
dynamics and prompt creative ideas (e.g. visions of future collaboration)
even within short sessions.
Limitations
Despite positive outcomes, we observed several limitations in our
implementation of PLACARD:
-
*Participant Understanding:* The complexity of PLACARD’s three-fold
process could overwhelm newcomers. Some participants struggled to grasp
CLA’s layered analysis or the pattern format without prior exposure. More
upfront orientation (e.g. brief examples or pre-reading) is needed to
improve understanding.
-
*Time Constraints:* Each workshop was limited to 60–90 minutes. This
often curtailed the depth of exploration – for instance, there was not
always time to complete a full PAR debrief during the session itself. The
compressed schedule forced trade-offs (skipping or shortening certain
steps), potentially reducing the richness of outcomes.
-
*Facilitation Challenges:* Hybrid setups introduced technical and social
challenges. Remote facilitators had difficulty fully engaging with in-room
activities, and vice versa. When only a single facilitator was physically
present, they were stretched thin managing both in-person and virtual
aspects.
-
*Cultural & Linguistic Barriers:* Working across cultures introduced
language and context gaps. For example, at AsianPLoP some jargon (like
“transfeminist” in the card prompts) was unfamiliar, and discussions in
English favored those more fluent. These factors sometimes hindered
inclusive participation and idea exchange.
Lessons Learned
Through reflection on these workshops, we distilled several lessons for
future PLACARD applications:
-
*Adaptivity:* Flexibility in facilitation and agenda is crucial. We
found that adjusting on the fly to participant needs (e.g. spending extra
time on CLA when interest was high, or simplifying tasks when confusion
arose) improved outcomes and engagement.
-
*Onsite Facilitation Matters:* Having multiple leaders physically
present proved invaluable. Co-located facilitators could quickly address
issues, energize the room, and coordinate parallel activities in ways that
a single or remote facilitator could not. This supports the proto-pattern
that *in-person co-facilitation enhances hybrid workshops*.
-
*Iterative Pattern Harvesting:* Capturing patterns works best as an
iterative, collaborative process. In our case, many pattern ideas only
fully emerged after the workshop, during group reflection on what happened.
Allowing time and perhaps follow-up sessions for collective pattern mining
can yield deeper insights.
-
*Creative Prompts and Playfulness:* Incorporating games, metaphorical
cards, and imaginative prompts successfully sparked creativity and
enthusiasm. However, these tools need clear framing – participants require
guidance on how to connect playful exploration to real-world patterns.
Balancing open-ended play with structured reflection ensured that fun ideas
translated into meaningful outcomes.
Future Work
We identify several avenues to expand and improve PLACARD based on our
findings:
-
*Pattern Validation and Growth:* The proto-pattern from this study
(“Have Multiple Leaders Onsite”) should be tested in future workshops or
meetings to evaluate its effectiveness and refine its form. As more
patterns are harvested, a *pattern language for facilitation* can be
developed, enabling community feedback and iteration on emerging best
practices.
-
*Multilingual and Cultural Expansion:* Future sessions should be
conducted in diverse languages and cultural contexts. For example, running
a PLACARD workshop in Spanish or other languages (with the aid of real-time
translation tools or bilingual facilitators) could broaden participation.
This would also help adapt metaphors and prompts to be culturally resonant,
addressing the linguistic barriers noted above.
-
*Tool Development:* Dedicated digital tools could better support
PLACARD’s hybrid facilitation and analysis. For instance, an online
platform might guide participants through PAR questions, capture inputs for
each CLA layer in a shared visual, and assist in pattern drafting
collaboratively. Such tools would ease the cognitive load and help remote
and onsite contributors stay in sync.
-
*Broader Domains:* Thus far, PLACARD has been applied in academic and
conference settings. We see potential to apply this methodology in other
domains – for instance, in educational institutions for curriculum
co-design, in industry for cross-department retrospectives and foresight,
or in civic/community workshops to address social challenges. Exploring
these contexts will test PLACARD’s versatility and social impact.
Conclusion
PLACARD empowers globally distributed groups to collaboratively reflect,
analyze, and design solutions by weaving together multiple methodologies.
The 2024 workshops demonstrated how combining structured retrospection with
speculative play can generate actionable insights and patterns for better
collaboration. We invite others to adopt and adapt PLACARD, advancing
distributed sense-making and evolving a shared pattern language for the
future of collective work.
References
1.
Corneli, J., Murphy, A., Puzio, R. S., Vivier, L., Alhasan, N., Bruno,
V., Pierce, C., & Danoff, C. J. (2021). *Patterns of Patterns: A
Methodological Reflection on the Future of Design Pattern Methods.*
In *Proceedings
of the 28th Conference on Pattern Languages of Programs (PLoP ’21)*. ACM
Press. *DOI:* 10.5555/3712039.3712044
2.
Danoff, C. J., Tedeschi, M., Ayloo, S., Corneli, J., & Puzio, R.
(2024). *PLACARD
Workshop.* In *Proceedings of the 10th Asian Conference on Pattern
Languages of Programs (AsianPLoP ’24)*, Fujisawa, Japan. Hillside. *(Access
via Hillside Commons: asianplop/2024 proceedings, Paper 50.1)*
3.
Tedeschi, M., Ricaurte, P., Ayloo, S., Corneli, J., Danoff, C. J., &
Belich, S. (2024). *AI Future Envisioning with PLACARD.* In *Proceedings
of the 29th European Conference on Pattern Languages of Programs (EuroPLoP
’24)*, Irsee, Germany. ACM Press. *DOI:* 10.1145/3698322.3698444
4.
Corneli, J., Alhasan, N., Vivier, L., Murphy, A., Puzio, R. S., Tabor,
A., Ayloo, S., Tedeschi, M., Singh, M., Khetan, K., & Danoff, C. J.
(2024). *Patterns
of Patterns II.* (Experience report, submitted to PLoP ’23, in
preparation). *DOI:* 10.5555/3721041.3721050
5.
Corneli, J., Danoff, C. J., Pierce, C., Ricaurte, P., & MacDonald, L. S.
(2015). *Patterns of Peeragogy.* In *Proceedings of the 22nd Conference
on Pattern Languages of Programs (PLoP ’15)*, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, Oct.
24–26, 2015. ACM. *DOI:* 10.5555/3124497.3124531
- Charlie
p.s. If you don't have the Monday meetup on your calendar, please email me
and I'll add ya!
--
Charlie Danoff
Owner, Mr. Danoff's Teaching Laboratory
contact at mr.danoff.org
http://www.mr.danoff.org
https://bsky.app/profile/teachinglaboratory.bsky.social
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