Facilitation

Facilitation Skills Aims 1. Understand different types of learning styles & consideration in sessions 2. Explore the role of a facilitator – skills knowledge and values 3. Consider all the planning and activities needed for running sessions Top Tips for facilitating Remember intro and outro Point out links Allow the participants to find the knowledge Pitch it right Respond to group dynamics Prepare – be organised Know the objective: what’s the point?

Heads, Hearts and Hands of a good facilitator:

PRAGMATISTS

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Physical/concrete outcomes Functionality New ideas that make things better Efficiency Sharing ideas / knowledge/ practices Common sense / logical approach

Poorly structured activities “talking in circles” (not getting to the point /repetition/rambling) Slow progress Lack of action

ACTIVIST

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See one, do one, teach one, Being told what to do Interact first, theory later Theory without application / lots of reading Discussion activities Long sessions Things with an answer Revisiting unsolved problems Repetition (if we’re getting it right) Forced repetitive timetables Short activities Team activities (good with teams) STRENGTH of an activist: open to change, willing to jump in, energetic, enthusiastic BEFORE Prepare materials resources – what to bring Have resources for people ready Knowledge- what’s the session for?

Planning knowing the topic Varied knowledge of discussion topic  research Considering any possible barriers Risks Get input to see what to include Timescale How long will each activity take?

Have a plan of how the day / session should go Plan content Consider whether the discussion will have an AGENDA – and what ti will be Plan what you are going to do Identify clear aims

Who’s involved? What will they need?

Any individual specific needs in the group?

How long is the group’s collective attention span? Age and ability of the group Make sure it’s age appropriate Who is expected What could possibly go wrong?

What sort of environment will work best here?

Big/small groups etc.

Consider the space you will be using Prepare the space – ensure it’ a good learning environment DURING Empower everyone to speak Maintain an enthusiastic and engaged atomstphere e.g through games and vaired media Judge fun levels- and improve if low Enough helpers Group dynamic / atmosphere

Consider age/abilities Judge whether it is appropriate or now TIMEKEEPING Keep calm Keep reflecting Make sure everyone feels heard Check people are OK Check that there is no one excluded and if so find out why How to encourage participation When to take breaks and for how long?

Make sure the kids stay involved Have prompts: visual, sounds, ideas Know the aim and keep it in mind Keep it relevant Keep discussion focused and relevant without interfering Manage direction of conversation and interest Ask for feedback during and towards end Listening and answering questions Maintain positive energy AFTER Tidy up Clean up Distribute any material out-comes Action plan and communicate afterwards Think about ‘Even better if’ – how to

improve Collate evaluation / feedback results Summaries discussions made and areas discussed Valuation – did group get what they achieved?

Use evaluation to help with future sessions Strengths and weaknesses Was it fun?

Debrief with co-facilitators – how did it go?

Feedback What went well?

Reflect and RECORD Gather feedback Do any of the topics discussed/activities need revisiting?

What would YOU change?

Make sure people have clear actions to take away Make sure everyone understands what has been discussed Ask the groups for an opinion Debrief with participants – did they enjoy it?