Large industry conferences can be a challenging venue to craft a learner-centered design. They are, in nature, structured agendas with a commonly accepted approach and style – keynote addresses, panel discussions, and large passive audiences. With a desire to advance application of knowledge and reflection on conference learnings, we attempted to shake up our large […]
Most groups will have a range of literacy represented. When you are working with a group that has low literacy, consider the tips below to make sure everyone feels included and able to learn. Use language that is familiar to the group. In general, everyday language is more easily and universally understood compared to academic […]
Just as many of us got used to meeting and facilitating sessions online, we are back in-person. You may be asking yourself: Do I still remember how to do that well? What have I learned in this virtual space that can be applied to the in-person space? What is true for physical spaces that was […]
A colleague from Kansas recently told me that she had received some pressure to “cover more material” in order to “make the most” of the professional development investment. “Yikes!” I said, “That is so contrary to all we know about how humans learn.” “Don’t give into the pressure,” I added, “You have to leave room […]
A well-selected technique can deepen dialogue, increase engagement, generate meaningful ideas, and make work easier. Speed dating is one I love using. When to Use It You want to boost the energy in the room. You want participants to hear from many colleagues in the room in a short amount of time. This technique works […]
For many of us, wondering aloud can take tremendous courage. This is especially true if it is not invited. The technique ‘I like, I wish, I wonder’ offers a multi-layered process for hearing and collecting input or reflections that are nuanced, fresh and exciting. Opening space for wishes and wonderings can feel especially inspiring. […]
We call each other ‘family’. So, you can imagine how happy we were to reconnect after three long years of the Covid pandemic! We are staff and partners of Episcopal Relief & Development. On February 7-11, 35 of us gathered in Accra, Ghana from seven countries (Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, USA, and Zambia) representing […]
Have you participated in a meeting or event lately where, instead of starting with an overview of the agenda, you started by taking breaths together? If you haven’t yet, you might soon. Embodiment practices are increasing as a form of self-care and healing, and they can be helpful in supporting learning and facilitation. At Vermont […]
Cultivating a culture of healthy feedback – receiving and offering it – takes time and intentional work in multiple areas. It can begin during onboarding and run through to the exit interview. Leaders can model healthy feedback processes and ensure commitment at all levels of an organization. It can take place in one-on-one settings as […]
I’ve been working with the principles and practices of Dialogue Education for more than a decade. I’ve come to feel as if too little has been said about the content of our courses, workshops, and classes — how we find content, how we shape it, how we select it, and how we weave it into […]