TNC’s Top Ten Interactive Facilitation Techniques An informal collection of and partner favorites The following represents a collection of tried-and-true facilitation methodologies that can enliven a workshop or meeting, engage participants, and lead to valuable outcomes. Browse through this collection of ideas, and follow the links at the end, for ideas and inspiration as you start planning your workshop or session. The guidance provided here on to do it” is not intended to be prescriptive, but instead gives you a “how place to start as you develop the session flow that will serve your objectives. In addition to these ideas, many of which require significant advance preparation, consider using simple tools like polls, asking provocative questions, and icebreakers to stir things up and raise the energy level in your session. What it’s called What it’s useful for How to do it Café Fleshing out a number of topics Read the resource document for a comprehensive guide to For groups of 15 or more simultaneously, and allowing conducting World Cafes. Here’s a short summary: participants to actively engage in Create small café-style tables that are covered with blank several different conversations during butcher-paper. Provide ample markers and sticky-notes and one workshop session. anything else that you think might promote creativity. Each has a topic; a question or issue that genuinely By having participants rotate through matters to the group. Have each table appoint a host (or you tables, you can keep discussion can appoint one beforehand). groups to a comfortable size while Plan enough time for three (sometimes two is enough) rounds getting everyone’s input even at large of conversation of 20 30 minutes each. – meetings, and you can capitalize on Encourage tables to be creative. Doodle, draw key ideas, write the diversity of outlooks at your on the tablecloth, use sticky-notes to for flexibility and color. meeting to deepen the group’s At the end of each round, the host stays at the table and understanding, identify new insights, everyone else moves to another table. To begin the next and collectively advance ideas or round, the host briefly shares with the new guests the ideas solutions for the chosen topics. that emerged in the first round. Guests then build on the previous conversation, in similar style. To conclude the session, the table hosts can summarize their table’s proceedings, ideas, and insights with the entire group.
TNC’s Top Ten Interactive Facilitation Techniques An informal collection of and partner favorites The following represents a collection of tried-and-true facilitation methodologies that can enliven a workshop or meeting, engage participants, and lead to valuable outcomes. Browse through this collection of ideas, and follow the links at the end, for ideas and inspiration as you start planning your workshop or session. The guidance provided here on “how to do it” is not intended to be prescriptive, but instead gives you a place to start as you develop the session flow that will serve your objectives. In addition to these ideas, many of which require significant advance preparation, consider using simple tools like polls, asking provocative questions, and icebreakers to stir things up and raise the energy level in your session. What it’s called What it’s useful for How to do it Café For groups of 15 or more Fleshing out a number of topics simultaneously, and allowing participants to actively engage in several different conversations during one workshop session. By having participants rotate through tables, you can keep discussion groups to a comfortable size while getting everyone’s input even at large meetings, and you can capitalize on the diversity of outlooks at your meeting to deepen the group’s understanding, identify new insights, and collectively advance ideas or solutions for the chosen topics. Read the resource document for a comprehensive guide to conducting World Cafes. Here’s a short summary: Create small café-style tables that are covered with blank butcher-paper. Provide ample markers and sticky-notes and anything else that you think might promote creativity. Each has a topic; a question or issue that genuinely matters to the group. Have each table appoint a host (or you can appoint one beforehand). Plan enough time for three (sometimes two is enough) rounds of conversation of 20 – 30 minutes each. Encourage tables to be creative. Doodle, draw key ideas, write on the tablecloth, use sticky-notes to for flexibility and color. At the end of each round, the host stays at the table and everyone else moves to another table. To begin the next round, the host briefly shares with the new guests the ideas that emerged in the first round. Guests then build on the previous conversation, in similar style. To conclude the session, the table hosts can summarize their table’s proceedings, ideas, and insights with the entire group.
TNCs-Top-Ten-Interactive-Facilitation-Techniques.docx