IASCD Curriculum Leadership IASCD Curriculum Leadership Development NetworkDevelopment Network

Facilitation StrandFacilitation Strand

Icebreaker- Getting to know Icebreaker- Getting to know each othereach other Activity:Activity: Facilitate introductions Facilitate introductions

and warm up for our two days and warm up for our two days together.together.

Topics: sharing personal and Topics: sharing personal and professional background, professional background, anticipated job responsibilities anticipated job responsibilities

Pop-UpsPop-Ups

When starting to warm up a When starting to warm up a group it’s helpful to find out what group it’s helpful to find out what everyone has in commoneveryone has in common

Pick topics that are non-Pick topics that are non-threatening and fun to startthreatening and fun to start

Then assess knowledge in the Then assess knowledge in the field you will be working field you will be working in..i.e.curriculum, instruction, in..i.e.curriculum, instruction, assessmentassessment

Communication is Key!Communication is Key!

“How would you rate yourself as a communicator?”

“Are you able to present your vision in a way that motivates others and is

understandable?”

“Would you want to sit in a meeting facilitated by yourself?”

“Do you think others would say the same thing?”

Inside/Outside CircleInside/Outside Circle

Sometimes changing the Sometimes changing the structure of the group and the structure of the group and the environment allows people to environment allows people to loosen up and interactloosen up and interact

Pick topics of common interest Pick topics of common interest starting with personal topics starting with personal topics then work into job related topicsthen work into job related topics

Active Listening and Active Listening and ParaphrasingParaphrasing ActivityActivity: Top 3 needs you’d like : Top 3 needs you’d like

to see addressed over our year to see addressed over our year together, expectations for our together, expectations for our time togethertime together

““Active, effective listening is a Active, effective listening is a habit as well as the foundation habit as well as the foundation of effective communication.”of effective communication.”

Effective communication:Effective communication:

Be honest & clearBe honest & clear Actively listenActively listen Establish a sharing atmosphereEstablish a sharing atmosphere Use cadres- for seating, discussion, Use cadres- for seating, discussion,

planning, brainstormingplanning, brainstorming Explore how others tackle a similar Explore how others tackle a similar

issueissue Set goals and timelinesSet goals and timelines Follow-up & report backFollow-up & report back Send minutes after the meeting endsSend minutes after the meeting ends

Checking for UnderstandingChecking for Understanding Active listening: eye contact, questioning, Active listening: eye contact, questioning,

nodding headnodding head Participants’ body languageParticipants’ body language DialogueDialogue Products: participants complete a taskProducts: participants complete a task Q & AQ & A Plus-Delta charts Plus-Delta charts Post-it Parking Lot (comments written on Post-it Parking Lot (comments written on

post-its and placed on the wall)post-its and placed on the wall) Break-out groups and feedbackBreak-out groups and feedback SurveysSurveys Focus groupsFocus groups

Facilitating for Problem Facilitating for Problem SolvingSolving How will you work with groups to How will you work with groups to

identify problems and build identify problems and build solutions?solutions?

Using process tools for Using process tools for facilitation is a must skillfacilitation is a must skill

Where do you begin?Where do you begin?

Cause and EffectCause and Effect

The Fishbone diagram can be The Fishbone diagram can be used to analysis the problem used to analysis the problem and the effects and causes that and the effects and causes that contribute to it.contribute to it.

Brainstorm with the group Brainstorm with the group potential causes of problems or potential causes of problems or issues in an orderly way so you issues in an orderly way so you can get at the root causes of it.can get at the root causes of it.

Process Tool –The FishboneProcess Tool –The Fishbone

At your table, discuss a topic that At your table, discuss a topic that might be a mutual problem at your might be a mutual problem at your school that you will have to address.school that you will have to address.

Draw the fishbone diagram, list the Draw the fishbone diagram, list the problem/issue to be studied in the problem/issue to be studied in the “head of the fish”“head of the fish”

Determine major categories which Determine major categories which are factors that affect the probem are factors that affect the probem

Determining CausesDetermining Causes

Work to reach consensus as to Work to reach consensus as to the most likely causes of the the most likely causes of the problem.problem.

Begin to brainstorm ways to Begin to brainstorm ways to eliminate the causes to bring eliminate the causes to bring about a solution.about a solution.

In What Ways In What Ways CanCan a Group a Group Reach a Decision?Reach a Decision?

Majority rules: votingMajority rules: votingUnanimous decision reachedDictated decisions (top-down approach)CONSENSUSWhat method worked for you?

What is a Consensus?What is a Consensus?

Each person in the group is heard and Each person in the group is heard and understood by the othersunderstood by the others

ANDAND

Each person is able to live with the decision Each person is able to live with the decision or solutionor solution

ANDAND

Each person is willing to commit to his/her Each person is willing to commit to his/her role in carrying out the decision or role in carrying out the decision or implementing the solutionimplementing the solution

Consensus Building…Consensus Building…

Requires time, listening, acknowledgement of

ideas, and trust!

Pick your facilitation ToolPick your facilitation Tool

At your table, use the “Tool Box” At your table, use the “Tool Box” to choose a facilitation tool that to choose a facilitation tool that you would like to shareyou would like to share

Plan how you will demonstrate Plan how you will demonstrate the tool with the group.the tool with the group.

Within 5 minutes, model the tool Within 5 minutes, model the tool and possible uses as a and possible uses as a curriculum leader.curriculum leader.

Take AwaysTake Aways

What will you take away from this What will you take away from this session? session?

How will you use the strategies How will you use the strategies discussed/demonstrated?discussed/demonstrated?

““The secret to being a good facilitator is to The secret to being a good facilitator is to know the purpose, know the stakeholders, know the purpose, know the stakeholders, and plan for a process that is fun, and plan for a process that is fun, engaging, andengaging, and leaves the group feelingleaves the group feeling that that time was well spent.”time was well spent.”

ResourcesResources

Holcomb, E. 2001. Holcomb, E. 2001. Asking the Right Asking the Right Questions. Questions. Corwin Press, CA.Corwin Press, CA.

Jensen,E.1998. Jensen,E.1998. Sizzle and Substance, Sizzle and Substance, Presenting With the BrainPresenting With the Brain in Mind, The Brain in Mind, The Brain

Store, CAStore, CA Schwarz, R. 1994. Schwarz, R. 1994. The Skilled Facilitator, The Skilled Facilitator,

Jossey-Bass, CAJossey-Bass, CA Wilkinson, M. 2004. Wilkinson, M. 2004. The Secrets of The Secrets of

Facilitation, Facilitation, Jossey-Bass, CAJossey-Bass, CA Resources for Facilitators Resources for Facilitators

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