As students, we do our best to learn and know that you as professors, do your best to teach. However, things need to change. Here are a few requests that will help students learn more easily and more deeply. Thanks for caring enough to read these nine tips!
It’s taken time – you see I’m an extrovert – but I have learned to appreciate silence. Whether a learning event, meeting, working session, workshop or check in, I value time when no one is talking. I know it can feel uncomfortable for some and sometimes the seconds can feel like hours to others, but I have learned that this is time well spent.
Have you ever gotten the sense that people are distracted or multi-tasking when asked to read or listen to content, no matter how fascinating that content is? Have you ever struggled to keep people on task when discussing something they’ve heard or read?
Welcome to a tool called framing questions! Framing questions are presented to learners to help focus their attention and listen with purpose.
Years ago, I was on a Board of Directors for a local charity. Another board member always brought her knitting to our meetings and when someone asked why she did this, she simply responded, “It helps me concentrate.” After 30 years of meetings, trainings, and other convenings — in the role of facilitator, teacher, participant, member, Chair, Secretary, leader, professor, or facilitator
Many of us are back on the road facilitating in-person events. It feels great! We can move around the room to engage with content and each other, we can sit in a circle for personal sharing, and we can touch, add and move ideas around to co-create meaning as we stand at a wall or move around a table.
There are many occasions when you will want to bring in an expert to share wisdom, best practices, and expertise. As planner and facilitator of the event, you are still responsible for the learning that occurs around the new knowledge shared by the guest speaker. Focus on creating a learning-centered design versus a teaching-centered one.
If you facilitate events, training or meetings, chances are you have had to navigate conflict or tough conversations. These are normal and unavoidable. And, they are not easy.
So, how do know when to shut them down and when to invite them in? How do we know how to ensure enough safety and respect for all present?
This is about you taking ownership of your growth and learning. Each individual is unique with their own interests, skills and preferred ways of doing things.
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