Facilitating Online: It’s a Creative Space!

Facilitation is facilitation is facilitation. Right? Well, not quite.

In her interview Designing Engaging Remote Workshops with Gwyn Wansbrough, Nathy Ravez works to understand how online learning is different from in-person learning, and how to facilitate in this unique space to maximize learning. Gwyn points out that virtual audiences don’t have the same non-verbal cues. They ask themselves, “Do I trust this facilitator? Do I belong? Do I have something to offer here?”

Below are some tips for success:

1. Ensure clear and thoughtful pre-workshop communications. Offering learners information about what they should expect from the virtual workshop helps to orient them and minimize confusion.
2. Customize the waiting room. Offering a quote, poem, or facilitated dialogue in the waiting room reduces idle time and engages the early birds. Using the waiting room in this creative way can be exciting and helpful for your group.
3. Engage people immediately. Engaging people early tells them they are of value in the space, and they will be invited in to engage. It communicates to participants that they are welcome, seen, and needed.
4. Call people by name. There’s something important about hearing your name called in a virtual space. Not only does it make you feel good, it shows that you are seen and respected. The 3C Model as taught by Global Learning Partners, encourages designing ways for learners to connect: with self, others, and content. Hearing and seeing individual names helps us to each other and makes dialogues easier between us.
5. Personalize from the start. The 3C Model also encourages us to invite learners to connect with content. Offering a question that enables learners to make a personal connection with what they are learning serves as a hook to anchor their learning and engagement.
6. Get all voices in the room early. Oh Dr. Jane Vella would be thrilled to hear Gwyn’s words! Indeed, we need to ensure each person in attendance feels seen and heard. Each person is of value and has come to learn and participate.
7. Take breaks often. Online there are few non-verbal cues. This can be challenging for facilitators – our brains need to work a lot harder to understand how our learners are doing. Taking short breaks, as well as integrating movement and ensuring meaningful engagement, will help keep energy up and attention focused.
8. Offer bite-sized content. Sitting in front of a computer screen is harder for most of us than sitting together in person. It is more challenging to focus; it is tough to not get distracted. Gwyn encourages us to invite learners to engage with small pieces of new content varying the engagement. GLP uses the 4A Model to ensure meaningful engagement and personalization of the content.
9. Ensure diversity of tasks. Change the size and type of breakout rooms; vary where and how work is accomplished; and, engage learners by drawing or writing. Each type of task will work well for some, but not all. So, mix it up.  
10. Design for spaciousness. Most of us move from meeting to meeting with little time to pause, ponder, or practice something new. Learning and innovation is helped by slowing down to consider questions such as: “What do I think of this process?” “How could I integrate this into my work?” “What might I have to let go of if this were true?”
11. Design for movement. Gwyn’s words ring true: “Movement is the facilitator’s secret weapon.” We don’t know how many hours people have already been sitting at their desk when they join us. Taking 3 minutes at the start of a gathering to stretch or find a different place to sit, can feel wonderful.
12. Offer options. Everyone learns differently and not everyone will be able to join in the same way. Inviting learners to decide how they want to share or participate while still ensuring engagement, can be helpful and respectful.

It is important to know that the virtual space is a creative space. Gwyn Wansbrough states this and we believe this to be true. Let’s lean into this idea, not be intimidated, and design meaningful online learning sessions for each individual present. We want everyone leaving saying, “Wow, I’m sure glad I came today!”