Facilitation skills&

Group based learning

Learning objectives• Explain what facilitation is and when it is required

– With particular reference to group learning activities

• Explain the difference between teaching, training and facilitation

• Review examples of how not to facilitate group learning

• Review key characteristics of successful facilitation

• Identify appropriate facilitation techniques to be applied in common circumstance

Teaching, training and facilitating• What is the difference?• A good trainer = a learning facilitator

– Trainees learn by doing– Trainees can learn a great deal from each other AND the

trainer• Particularly important depending on what it is that is

being learnt and how it is being approached– KSA: knowledge, skills, attitudes

• Teachers tend to “deliver” information, experience and wisdom

• Adult learning teachers should also be good trainers• We should all aim to be good facilitators and trainers

What do we mean by facilitation?

• Successful facilitation is about enabling learning

• A facilitator enables learning to take place by setting up the environment, structure and prompts for effective learning

• They enable and facilitate the learning process

When is facilitation required?• When learning from others is required• When sharing experiences and ideas• When there is no simple “right” answer• When working in groups

– Learning from groups, learning by doing = natural learning process

– Learning appropriate solutions to challenges and problems

– Ownership of solutions and answers = more likely to be retained outside of the training activity

Video

• How to successfully facilitate group discussions…?

• Questions to be considered as you watch:– What is being done well?– What is being done badly?

Group work…• Break into small groups as directed• Read through the exercise hand out• Discuss the element of the case study

allocated• Agree your recommendations for the

appropriate facilitation characteristics required

• Identify someone to feedback for your group

Successful facilitation

• Key characteristics of successful facilitation

• Reference of key points

• More details included in:– 2000 Tips for Trainers and Staff

Developers, Phil Race (2001)

Group work: preparing participants

• Help participants understand the benefits of working in groups

• Think about the different ways of forming groups

• Optimum group size and group dynamics• Structure initial group work carefully• Explain how groups can go wrong• Ensure suitable group work space

Forming groups

• Dependent on the task, consider what makes the best group?

• Provide clear instructions on forming groups– Random, skills based, geographical, like

minded, balanced, considerations outside the task in hand

• Be prepared for “herding cats”!

Group size

• Different sizes for different tasks– Pairs, couples, threes, fours+

• Need to consider:– Time available– Desired outcomes– “Passenger” behaviour

Getting groups started• Ensure ownership of the task• Keep the beginning of the task short and

simple• Don’t rely on oral briefing only, use printed

briefing• Visit the groups in turn and check “correct” start• Clarify the task when asked• Break tasks into manageable elements• Try to control the amount of time groups spend

on successive stages of each task

Group learning = learning by doing

• Think of something that you know you do well– How did you get to be good at it?

• Design learning by doing into group activities• Reading is not necessarily doing• Listening to experts is little to do with doing• Listening to each other has a lot to do with

group learning• Allow time for sufficient practice• Make it okay to get things wrong

Poor facilitation – interaction 1

• Ignoring non-participants

• Allowing domineering people

• Lack of preparation

• Being too didactic or controlling

• Poor interpersonal skills

• Lack of cultural sensitivity

Poor facilitation – interaction 2

• Favouritism

• Talking too much

• Intimidating participants

• Being intimidated by participants

• Putting participants down

• Failing to invite equal contributions

Thank youAny questions?