Mastery Facilitation

6 P’s To Keep You Sharp as a Contract Trainer

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:35:05 PDT

Great article and tips here.

Facilitation theory in point form

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:14:56 PDT

Carl Rogers and others developed the theory of facilitative learning. The basic premise is that learning will occur by the educator acting as a facilitator, that is by establishing an atmosphere in which learners feel comfortable to consider new ideas and are not threatened by external factors.Other characteristics of this theory include:a belief that human beings have a natural eagerness to

Teaching about Safety?

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Sun, 24 May 2009 15:04:23 PDT

I just found this great lesson plan on identifying workplace hazards that would be a helpful addition to any class where you need to ensure participants take a proactive approach to safety in the workplace. It is put out by the Government of Saskatchewan and can be found at:www.readyforwork.sk.ca/movingonline/Learning%20Activities/Classroom%20Hazard%I would use this in Entrepreneurial Skills

Tips for Supervisors: Five Ways to Follow Up on Training

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:35:26 PDT

Would you like it if your employees only gave 50% effort or completed half of their tasks?Well, if you are only scheduling and implementing training sessions for your employees, you are merely doing half the job. Equally as important as these two steps is the task of following up your training sessions.Following up involves measuring and evaluating a session’s effectiveness. Doing so will provide

Simple, portable classroom activity

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:05:30 PDT

This game comes from http://www.teachmeteamwork.com/ and is a great portable exercise that can be used to make a variety of learning points.Teambuilding Game: Count Up Group Size: 10-15Age Range: Elementary – adultIntensity: Mental=1, Physical=1Time: 5-15 minutesSpace: Minimal – Medium -- LotsSet Up Time: noneProps: noneObjectiveThe group verbally counts up (sequentially as in 1, 2, 3, etc.) to a

What Constitutes Facilitator Competency?

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:52:32 PST

FACILITATION SKILLS COMPETENCY - a proposed modelAs a professional team of facilitators in a business that demands the application of our facilitation skills daily, we often dialogue around what makes a facilitator "competent." This is such a hot topic that we have in fact developed our own competency profile which we teach to, in our Master Facilitator Certification program. For more information

So what do you REALLY think about getting feedback?

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 08:11:10 PDT

How do you feel about receiving feedback as a facilitator? Do you welcome it, or do you cringe? Effective facilitators often understand the value of coaching and feedback, both giving and receiving, when it is done with care. But we are also used to it being given without so much care so have developed the skills to deflect the feedback we don’t agree with or appreciate. But, sometimes we

Reflection Activity

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:54:00 PDT

Word for word from a great new site I discovered... thank you! ...Using a story spine for a reflection activity During a workshop I was recently involved in, I introduced the story spine to a couple of participants to help them to tell a story using the simple framework. Not only did they embrace it enthusiastically and use it to great effect, unexpectedly the framework was adapted for a

Fall Certification Schedule - Vancouver

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:44:59 PDT

As children return to school this time of year, so do Facilitators. Below is our fall 2008 Master Faciliatator Certification schedule.To register contact 604.521.5473 or email to admin@actraining.comMaster Facilitator Level 1 10/3/08 - 10/5/08Fri-Sun 6pm-9pm/9am-4pm New WestminsterMaster Facilitator Level 2 11/21/08 -11/23/08Fri-Sun 6pm-9pm/9am-4pm New WestminsterMaster Facilitator Level 3 12/19/

Invest in Workplace Trainers

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 16:31:04 PDT

We are often called upon to create custom curriculum and train the trainer materials for corporate clients - an exciting challenge to marry subject matter expertise and our expertise in instructional and curriculum science, but the greatest challenge on these kinds of projects often lies in the roll out process.We design the curriculum and meet with the client for the Train the Trainer - and

On the Lot

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:25:21 PDT

How does a car salesman hook a new customer? -by being a keen observer of social norms and human nature. How does a Master Facilitator ensure learning and transfer? – by being a keen observer of social norms and human nature. Have we become car salesmen?No, they have become us! The skills of human dynamics and persuasion have long been a part of the “oldest profession” ( no, not THAT one - I mean

So what do you REALLY think?

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:05:59 PDT

How do you feel about receiving feedback as a facilitator? Do you welcome it, or do you cringe?Effective facilitators often understand the value of coaching and feedback, both giving and receiving, when it is done with care. But we are also used to it being given without so much care so have developed the skills to deflect the feedback we don’t agree with or appreciate. But, sometimes we need

It takes an athlete to dance, but an artist to be a dancer

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:39:58 PDT

Everyone has their own facilitation style. Facilitation is an art form, much like dancing or playing in a band. In dancing, you have to hold a rhythm with your partner. In a band, you collaborate and co-create without straying too far from the score. Whatever your artistry, there are good practices and “ best practices”. Here are some tips for ballroom dancers that apply equally to masterful

Learner as empty vessel? No way! They are filled to the brim!

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:06:39 PDT

Ever have a training day when it just seemed like nothing you were doing was working? Maybe you had "sleepers" or "chatters" or the preoccupied. You tried, you retried, you adjusted and tried again.......Well here is the good news....After checking YOUR efforts first (did you use active learning techniques, was your approach multi modal"? etc.) it may turn out to be your learners. The revolt is

Bandanna-Cup-Marble Teambuilding Game

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:26:34 PDT

This is a great, easy to use exercise that makes key learning points about each group member's responsibility to both follow and lead. Make sure you facilliatate this powerful debrief!Group Size: 4 to 10 people per bandanaTime: 5 – 15 minutesSpace: Medium – LotsSet Up Time: 60 secondsProps: For each team of 6-10 people: one plastic cup, one bandana,one marbleObjective: Transport a marble balanced

How we do it differently!

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:19:22 PDT

Advance Corporate Training Ltd. (ACT) is a brain-based learning specialist - our logo represents the six key secrets to ensuring learning takes hold in the learner and can transfer back to the workplace. Here are the six secrets and why engaging each one of them encourages higher learning levels. Personal Relevance(Association Cortex)When we associate learning with what we already know, we are

Why Facilitation?

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:07:42 PDT

Why not training, teaching, coaching or instructing?I have been an aggressive advocate of facilitation in adult education ever since I was in a very poorly led class at a University on teaching adults. We were literally told not to ask questions, not to "try to reinvent the wheel" and to just do essays on what was in the textbooks - we were also told not to challenge the professor as he was close

Icebreakers

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 09:48:12 PDT

I am working on some activities for a large scale teambuilding event and found this site with a great list of simple icebreakers. http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/leader/icebreak.html Enjoy!

Cultural extensions exercise

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:09:53 PDT

I just found this exercise online and it looks great - I have emailed the site for permission, in the meantime, check them out yourself... http://www.culture-at-work.com/body.html. What extensions have humans created for these various functions of the body? Purpose: The world can look different for several days after doing this exercise! It is useful in linking our societies' complex systems and

Does Your Training Make the Grade?

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 03:26:16 PDT

Presentation slides from a well received presentation to the local chapter of CSTD.

An Age Old Problem

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Sat, 31 May 2008 22:06:17 PDT

Get learners involved in teaching themselves.Purpose of exercise: To encourage participants to improvise and learn to communicate in different ways and to show how frustrated we get when we aren’t understood, despite our best efforts.Exercise: Tell everyone that until the exercise is over they are now no longer allowed to talk (This is important and you must enforce this as the trainer).The

It's simple: sleep more to learn more

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Sat, 31 May 2008 22:03:59 PDT

Less sleep. It seems to be the first solution nowadays as people try to juggle the demands at the office and in the home.This happens despite how sleep deprivation harms the ability to think and learn. Recently, as outlined by the American Physiological Society, scientists have made great strides in understanding why, and how, this happens. The act of learning new tasks causes the area of the

Ice Breaker/Energizer - Have You Ever?

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Sat, 31 May 2008 22:11:55 PDT

This an active, fun way to explore and celebrate the diversity of experiences that different people bring to any group. Participants stand in a group or sit in a circle.The instructor starts by explaining that they will call out different things that may or may not apply to each person. If the item does apply, then that person runs into the middle, jumps in the air, and does a high 5 with anyone

Any Questions?

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Procure) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:09:28 PDT

Here is a tip from one of my favourite websites - http://www.thiagi.com/ ."Most participants' brains seem to stop functioning when you invite them to ask questions. They all become suddenly bashful and avoid eye contact.Possible causes: fear of asking a foolish question or appearing to be the only confused person in the room.Suggested solution: Give everyone an index card. Ask participants to

Welcome to ACT Online!

noreply@blogger.com (Janet J) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:11:03 PDT

We believe in helping others learn, change and grow through self-discovery and experiential learning. To this end we would like to encourage you to visit our blog regularly, comment on our postings and let us know how we can help meet your learning needs.This “Mastery Facilitation” blog will focus on tips, tricks and success strategies for becoming a Masterful Facilitator.Your author is ACT Ltd.