Facilitating discussion groups now that youve watched the presentation and the film and have everything ready, its time to lead the youth in a facilitated discussion. A group leader or facilitator might be directive or nondirective. Consider who knows the topic, can assume an objective role, will be accepted by the group and has group. Facilitating group discussions stanford university. First of all, know that you will improve with timethis is something any veteran leader will tell you. The exchange of ideas takes place in a systematic and structured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the rss 2. Providing a discussion group is an attempt to give individuals a more meaningful. To facilitate is to help something usually a process move along. Facilitating group discussions in second life jolt journal of.
They have the charge to guide group members in a healthy and purposeful discussion that will help them address the issues for which the group is designed. Although we went through some of these tips in the presentation, it helps to have the tips in front of you during the discussion. One of the building blocks of selfcare is selfawareness. Print the sheet of celebrities living with mental health conditions found at the end of the guide. The word derives from facile which is french for easy. If you are particularly invested in this topic, consider asking someone who is neutral to it to guide or cofacilitate. Monopolized group general open discussion type groups vulnerable to being monopolized group leader efforts to change or broaden the topic to involve others are resisted a person who may monopolize the group, exerts influence by focusing the topic, independent of the questions asked, on a topic of personal interest. How and why some teachers use discussion lisa brown buchanan university of north carolinagreensboro discussion is a multifaceted, invitational classroom practice that presents possibilities for classroom teachers to engage. Guidelines for discussing difficult or highstakes topics. A group facilitators job is important, because they encourage communication without strongly influencing the discussion. Group discussion is an important activity in academic, business and administrative spheres.
Ann porteus, associate director of residential education. Spiritual disciplines can be described as behaviors that facilitate spiritual growth. The individuals take on an active role in this learning process. Using smaller groups ensures greater participation pdf. Jan 11, 2017 the session will often begin with a brief lecture, followed up by group discussion and activities. Through facilitation, the facilitator provides subtle boosts to. Introduction to planning and facilitating effective meetings about this publication introduction to planning and facilitating effective meetings is the sixth in a series of guides developed to bring information to coastal managers about the use of social science tools in their field of work. Group work consists of goal directed activities conducted by trained facilitators. Ask group members to share their opinions about the written material. Ten tips ideassuggestions for facilitating discussion. In order to do so, it is important to consider the features of effective discussions, and conditions that promote small group interaction and engagement. Bellamy of yale universitys program on recovery and community health. Process groups are usually less structured, though a counselor will still act as a facilitator to lead conversations or reign them in if necessary. One way to foster active and equal engagement is to divide the class into groups.
Facilitation tools for meetings and workshops seeds for change. Tips on facilitating effective group discussions sheridan. Tips for facilitating a group discussion small groups. Senior consultant, cihs practice and policy scholar mcsilver institute for poverty and policy research new york university tuesday, december 10, 20. Facilitation tools for meetings and workshops a compilation of tools and techniques for working in groups and facilitating meetings or workshops. Helping a process along to facilitate is to help something usually a process move along. Facilitate smaller activities before discussion and questions start, so that students have time and space to compose their thoughts. Was the exercise pitched at the appropriate level of training and learning needs of the group. Facilitating a small group discussion or a tutorial group effectively involves the acquisition of a skill set not often learnt during undergraduate or postgraduate. Tips for facilitating focus groups your role as a focus group facilitator is very important. An educator or trainer is seen as an expert who brings extensive knowledge of the subject to participants. Liven up your treatment schedule with these triedandtrue substance abuse group topics. Facilitating effective discussions centre for teaching. Choose one question at a time and toss it out to the group.
Your youth group discussion should be no more than an hour and an agenda helps you to stay on time and topic. Can we break into small groups for this conversation. Three is an effective group size namely because it is. Activities are a fun way to introduce the topic and prepare the children for discussion. What you want to gain from this course before you start, you may find it helpful to think about what you wish to gain from studying this course and how you can use facilitation within your role. This entry was posted on monday, december 10th, 2012 at 7. Support group facilitation guide mental health america. Whatever the context, it is helpful to structure such discussions in a way that defines boundaries for the process and provides some degree of closure within the classroom.
Learn about the role of the facilitator and ways to provide guidance and. In order to do so, it is important to consider the features of effective discussions, and conditions that promote small group. Youll start by looking at what is meant by facilitation and at different styles of facilitating. Select a number of questions, write each on an index card, and distribute. Guided discussion in the classroom university of tennessee.
An effective discussion group depends on a leader or facilitator who can guide it through an open process the group chooses what its discussing, if not already determined, discusses it with no expectation of particular conclusions, encourages civil disagreement and argument, and makes sure that every member is included and no one dominates. Support groups can be facilitated in a variety of formats, including having different types of facilitators. At the beginning of the group, ask, what should we do if we notice sidetracking. Facilitating wic discussion groups guidelines, concepts. Check in with the group to see if a new topic is of interest. How well did the facilitator manage any tendency to stray from the topic. Break big groups more than eight into smaller groups to discuss and then report about the subject.
While individual counseling is crucial in someones recovery, attending substance abuse groups can prove healing for other reasons. Monopolized group general open discussion type groups vulnerable to being monopolized. Enjoy it and you will see you and your group members grow in your relationship with jesus christ. Share written materials related to the topic for group members to read and discuss. Reaching a consensus objectives to select a problem for group to discuss and resolve. Group discussions designed to lead to a group decision. This is a good way to keep a group stimulated because you get more members talking more in subgroups.
Selfcare managing the wellbeing of a support group starts with managing the wellbeing of its facilitator. The vision of ccch small group ministry is to promote spiritual health, via christcentered fellowship, prayer and the equipping of believers within the body of christ. Facilitating online discussions mgh institute of health. Group discussions designed to share specific information and to hear about the views and perspectives of others. Peer support group facilitation skills mirecc coe home. Three is an effective group size namely because it is small enough that students. One way to facilitate a group discussion is known as the gallery exercise. F or many smallgroup leaders, one of the more intimidating things we do is facilitating a group discussion. In the gallery group discussion exercise, participants work in smaller groups and discuss issues related to a certain topic or subject. This guide that provides recommendations on leading the group discussion and questions to help break the ice in talking with youth. A sample agenda is included at the end of this guide.
Smallgroup discussion allows presenters to announce a topic or idea for group. Introduction welcome to this free course on facilitating group discussions. Group counseling guide worcester polytechnic institute. Possible leadership styles of a group discussion also vary. The ability to facilitate virtual groups groups where members use telecommunications to communicate with each other is increasingly an important skills for facilitators. Support groups can be facilitated in a variety of formats, including having different types of. In a small group discussion, did the trainee draw out the relevant. It is a systematic and purposeful interactive oral process. For many small group leaders, one of the more intimidating things we do is facilitating a group discussion. Scholar role activities facilitating a group discussiontutorial evaluation this evaluation form should be used by the departmental scholar role tutor or nominee to evaluate the facilitation of a group discussiontutorial undertaken by the trainee. If you are also planning to serve as facilitator, be sure. Facilitating group discussions mapex training institute. Group work activities can simulate real life experiences. Facilitating wic discussion groups guidelines, concepts, and techniques providing a discussion group is an attempt to give individuals a more meaningful experience that involves shared learning.
Facilitate group counseling a group counseling section should be divided up into three segments. An overview of online facilitation online community toolkit facilitator competencies internet resources from the electronic discussion on group facilitation. Meetings are directed by the support group facilitator. To make matters worse, its even challenging to gauge whether were doing a good job. An informational presentation designed for the facilitator to gain important information about mental health conditions before beginning a discussion with youth. A group discussion is a type of meeting, but it differs from the formal meetings in a number of ways. Celebrating communion in your small group we believe the context of a small group is a great place for communion to happen. Facilitating group discussions wic works resource system. Alternatively, you could use the small group time as a way of warming people up on the topic, and invite people to bring key points to the whole group discussion. Your ability to make everyone comfortable, encourage everyone to speak up, enforce a respectful tone, and manage the pace will determine the quality of the discussion and therefore, the information you gather. Be ready to respond quickly and attentively to the first person to post on a question or discussion thread.
Effective facilitation of a discussion involves the recognition and employment of different perspectives and different skills to create an inclusive environment. Group discussions are used by effective trainers to promote exchanging of ideas and active learning. It may not have a specific goal many group discussions are. Group discussions designed to explore ones own views and views of others. Ten tips ideassuggestions for facilitating discussion based on my observations as a teaching assistant, teaching fellow, and assistant professor at boston college, 2000present. Guidelines for discussing difficult or highstakes topics crlt. In the petrol pump model, the student is viewed as an empty head, and the trainers job is to fill it up with knowledge. Students in groups of 2 or 3, discuss topic question. Such discussions are an especially important time to explicitly. Each person takes 30 to 90 seconds to collect their thoughts, followed by a round robin. Ask group members to share their personal experiences with recovery as related to the topic in the written material. This is useful in situations that would benefit from small group discussion and creative energy. A welldesigned online discussion engages students in an openended conversation that promotes deepened understanding of a topic.
If the group seems offtopic or participants discuss things unrelated to the group discussion, the peer support group facilitator can try one of the following strategies. Differences between a facilitator and a topdown trainer point out. You will be the facilitator and assist a group discussion. Facilitation is the art of supporting a group at a workshop or event to effectively solve problems, make decisions, learn together and achieve its objectives. Being the first one to respond to a question, especially in a public forum like a discussion thread, can be intimidating. Dec 10, 20 secrets to group facilitation anthony salerno, ph. O ne of your key roles as a smallgroup leader is facilitating discussion at your meetings. So reward that extra level of effort to encourage the same among other students. Then a spokesperson from each group or each student reports back to the larger group. Second, there are several tips that will help you improve. Group work allows members to learn from and support each other. Print the sheet of famous people living with mental health conditions found at the end of the guide. If youre a certified or licensed substance abuse counselor, your event schedule likely involves process or themed groups for those recovering from drug or alcohol addictions.
Spiritual disciplines a series for small group discussions. Smallgroup discussions, under the guidance of a presenter, discuss issues to. Successful group leaders can control and enhance a group with good planning, openended. Scholar role activities facilitating a group discussion. For some, this opportunity is exciting and thrilling. The activity segment is used to introduce the topic of discussion for the day. Each member or a team of 23 takes a card and answers the question. Ask the group members questions related to the topic. Very few of us feel like well have all the right answers, or that we can handle whatever curve balls will be thrown our way and there will be some. The process of spiritual growth and development begins to take place when a person encounters god, and god begins to create a new level of consciousness or awareness. Facilitating wic discussion groups guidelines, concepts, and. If you are particularly invested in this topic, consider asking someone who is neutral to it to guide or co facilitate. Introduction to planning and facilitating effective meetings.
To facilitate, then, is literally to make an education process easier. Senior consultant, cihs practice and policy scholar. These skills can be adapted to fit the facilitator s own style and personality. Did the trainee facilitate a process to explore content related to the leaning objectives. Smallgroup discussion allows presenters to announce a topic or idea for group discussion.
Only one theme is covered in each scheduled theme group. The following guidelines can help instructors facilitate classroom discussion around controversial issues. This section will cover several facilitation strategies and approaches and also. Another is to jump the queue with a facilitation suggestion, e. You may find yourself taking on several roles for an event, including host, organizer andor projectionist. Here the exchange of ideas, thoughts and feelings take place through oral communication.
The important thing to remember is that this is a time of worship. Gallery group discussion exercise training workshops. There are different types of groups, which serve different purposes and require subsequent planning. Consider who knows the topic, can assume an objective role, will be accepted by the group and has group experience.
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