Online Variation of Gallery Walk: A Useful Tool for Active Group Reflection and Information Gathering in In-Person, Hybrid, Remote Programming
In past blog posts and in my Inspired Educator, Inspired Learner book I have shared about the value of “Gallery Walk” as an engaging structure for group reflection, inf
Group Visioning, Goal Setting and Group Norms Reflection: Three Cards to Tell Our Story
Three Cards to Tell a Story, and a Fourth to Help Us Decide How We Are Going to Get There: During this time of year, I often use my “Pick-a-Postcard” kit to focus on ki
Recipe for Group Success Reflection, Goal Setting, and Group Norms Activity
As you’ve seen in previous posts, I often compare group facilitation and teaching to cooking by exploring the key ingredients, techniques, and mindset that make it a success. Man
The Reflective Practitioner: Celebrating the Winter Solstice with Intentional Reflection and Planning
Over the past week, I've been awakening before dawn, as I often do this time of year —not jumping out of bed to start the day's work, but quietly enjoying the moonlit shadows on
End the Year On a High Note and Celebrate Your Group With Postcard Appreciations
In my ongoing community building and professional development with work teams and student and faculty groups, I traditionally facilitate a “Postcard Appreciations̶
Miniature Metaphors/Found Object Reflection
Inspire meaningful reflection and dialogue that goes beyond the traditional sharing circle. Spark reflective writing, exploration of positive character traits, or facilitate strong
Start the School Year Off With Strategies to Build Community and Enhance Engagement and Ownership of Learning
Taking the time to welcome students back to school and help them build a positive and productive learning community is more important now than ever before. Over the past month, I h
“Air Handshake Mingle” and “Distanced Concentric Circles” – Active Engagement and Social Connection at a Physical Distance
Rather than opening a program or class with a whole circle introduction I always begin rapport building and reflective dialogue with partner or small group sharing activities and b
Designing the Experience: The Importance of Thoughtful Sequencing
This summer I am facilitating a number of facilitation workshops for college student leaders. One of the most important topics we explore is the essential practice of sequencing wh
New “Conversation Starter” Buttons Have Arrived! An Update to a Favorite”Welcoming Ritual”, “Hook” Engagement, and Reflection Activity
My “Conversation Starters” Pin Back buttons are a playful and engaging way to start a program or class off with style, and a favorite tool of educators and facilitators
Graffiti Wall for Active and Engaging Reflection Online or In-Person
In my February post, I shared how I have been using my favorite closing reflection activity, “Group Drawing,” online with Jamboard combined with breakout groups (Jamboa
Play Doh Pictionary and Charades Race Online
Play Doh Pictionary and Charades Race are two of my favorite activities for integrating academic or training content review and reflection with community building and social and em
Choice-Centered Breakout Rooms to Increase Engagement and Ownership of Learning
Facilitating a sense of choice, control, and ownership from the very start of learning and group experiences is fundamental to maximizing engagement and buy-in. In past posts, I
Group Drawing: A Favorite Collaborative Reflection Activity for Online or In-Person Experiences
Group Drawing is my favorite reflective activity to close a group experience, lesson, or workshop. I made it up on the fly with an in person group more than twenty years ago when I
October Newsletter: Re-Imagining Meaningful Engagement, Social and Emotional Learning and Community Building
When my travels to facilitate professional development came to an abrupt halt in March, I couldn’t imagine how I would bring my experiential facilitation, teaching, social an
Insights Into the Art of Intentional, Purposeful, and Participant-Centered Facilitation and Teaching from the Inspired Educator Blog:
Excerpt from Experiential Tools Newsletter Oct 2nd, 2020: In the midst of learning about exciting new updates on Zoom, helpful new apps, the latest tech tools, and creative activit
Inspiration and Support Series: Connecting and Collaborating with Educators and Facilitators from Across the Globe
Over the past six weeks, I’ve been facilitating online “Inspiration and Support Sessions” with educators and facilitators from all over the world. In these co-creative smal
“Hooks to Engage” and “Welcoming Rituals” Essential Tools for Connection!
This article from the Inspired Educator Blog Archive is as important today as it was a decade ago — if not even more so now in our new online and in-person at a distance teaching
