Tips and Tools:The Art of Experiential Group Facilitation

Tips and Tools: The Art of Group Facilitation by Jennifer Stanchfield


 “Facilitation is an art, rather than a science. By its very nature it is an experiential practice… it takes practice balanced with reflection and more practice… it is an ever dynamic process of give and take, learning and development.”

Group facilitators face the dilemma of how best to assist a group of participants in learning deeply. Experiential education requires participant activity—mental or physical—and enthusiasm to guide sessions to meet the group’s needs and objectives. Facilitators, then, must keep in mind key ingredients to making sessions work while remaining open to the group’s direction.

Tips and Tools explores the facilitator’s role in groups of all kinds and offers tools and activities to enhance group sessions. The author reflects on aspects of effective facilitating, including personal style and a firm understanding of group backgrounds. Strategies are offered to increase participant involvement and growth through efficient sequencing and reflection. Tips and Tools serves as a guide and an inspiration for group facilitators who seek out new materials to help spark creativity, provide new insight, and encourage success.

Table of Contents
Foreword
Introduction: Laying the Foundation
Chapter 1: Setting the Tone: Creating a Positive Environment for Learning Chapter 2: Designing the Experience: Sequencing Group Activities
Chapter 3: Creating Ownership & Facilitating Involvement
Chapter 4: Aspects of Effective Facilitation
Chapter 5: Facilitation Tricks and Tips
Chapter 6: Creating Meaning: Reflection & Metaphor
Chapter 7: Tying It All Together Closing Thoughts
Appendix A: Resources for Program Evaluation
Appendix B: Excerpts From Action Research Project
References
Resources

Excerpt
Starting With Style
Introductory activities create a positive environment, enhance performance, and set the tone for the rest of the program. Taking time up front for the group to get comfortable and learn names will pay off later. The more I work with groups, I realize how powerful some of the simpler things we do as facilitators can be. An engaging opening activity designed to get the group interacting and sharing names, backgrounds, and goals in an intriguing way can really maximize the outcome of group process.

Every facilitator has his or her own set of favorite opening activities. Many activity books have whole sections on this subject. I have learned some of the best and most effective activities in my repertoire from other facilitators and through experimenting with groups and adapting activities over time and experience. The following are a few favorites that work to set the tone for most group situations.

Postcard Introductions
Collecting interesting postcards is an engaging hobby I enjoy. I was inspired by an activity from Pam McPhee at the University of New Hampshire’s Browne Center many years ago when I was a student there. I have gathered more than 100 cards and often use them as a reflective tool (see A Teachable Moment, 2005 and Reflective Learning, 2000). Not only are they useful in reflection, but these postcards can be an engaging way to hook participants right up front. Due to the novelty of the cards and sharing information with partners rather than answering individually, participants find this activity engaging and less intimidating than other introductory activities. When I use this method to introduce group members to each other, I also get a pulse on my group and glean their attitudes and expectations for the group experience. Facilitation Suggestions:
• Spread postcards out on a table or floor where they are accessible to all group members.
• Ask group members to choose a card that represents the answer to one or more of the following questions:
Why did you come to be a part of the program?
What strengths do you bring to the group?
What are your expectations for the day?
What do you want to achieve as part of the program?
• Have participants find a partner and share their card and information about themselves.
• Give them an opportunity to introduce each other and their chosen cards to the group.
• If the group is especially large, mix warm-up activities with the sharing.
For example, ask two or three sets of partners to share, then play a name game, have two or three more sets of introductions, then another icebreaker, etc. This keeps everyone moving and focused, allowing more introverted group members to get comfortable and work up to sharing and introducing their partners.

Reviews
“Tips and Tools is packed with accessible information that helps to direct thoughtful facilitation. It promoted insightful reflection about the decisions I make during the group process. Jen’s willingness to share her expertise illustrates her passion for the profession and provides us with the inspiration and knowledge to improve our own work.” Mike Gessford, Adventure Education Coordinator, Saint Joseph College

“The book is a great resource for anyone wanting to increase the breadth of his or her processing toolbox. Everything is organized logically and is written in a way that is easy to understand, and more importantly, use. I especially enjoyed the personal examples Jennifer used throughout the book that brought the concepts to life. I will be recommending this book to all the facilitators I train and work with.” Sam Sikes, M.A., Founder, DoingWorks, Inc.

“A straightforward and complete overview of facilitation. After one reading of Tips and Tools, I redesigned the focusing and the sequencing sections of my own facilitator training.” Steve Simpson, Ph.D., Recreation Management and Therapeutic Recreation, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

“If you want to facilitate experiential groups, dive into this book to learn the basics. Jen Stanchfield has it right. Facilitation IS an art and she artfully guides the reader to action.” Faith Evans, PlayFully, Inc., Game Leader and Author of "The More the Merrier - Lead Playful Activities with Large Groups."

More information
ISBN: 978-1-885473-71-4
Page count: 200
Language: English