Postcard/Object Strength Activity: Showing Appreciations and Celebrating Peers
I pulled this post from the Archives as it is one of my favorite activities to use this time of year with both adult and youth groups who are wrapping up their programs or the scho
Domino Fraction Line Up: An Accidental Success in the Classroom
I find that some of my best activities and strategies are created by accident, when a lesson plan doesn’t go quite as I planned, or when an unexpected situation arises and I have
Know the Why Behind What You Do
Take time to study the theory and science behind what you do. Regularly reflect upon and intentionally observe what works in your groups, and consciously develop your philosophy of
From the Archives: “Bag of Nouns” for Review, Formative Assessment, and Fun
I was inspired to repost this article from the blog archives (August of 2014) after using it in a particularly successful active review session with a group of students today. It i
Sequencing Reflection and Processing in the Middle of the Experience
Effective facilitators put a lot of thought into sequencing their programs so that lessons and activities build upon the previous ones. They start with less intimidating methods to
Tips for Facilitating Meaningful Reflection
These tips will help you create an environment that encourages involvement in meaningful reflection and discussion. • Reflect throughout the experience. Reflection can we wove
Facilitating Reflection: Challenges and Opportunities
Helping facilitators and educators view reflection differently and find ways to make it meaningful and engaging has been a focus of my professional work over the past two decades.
Meaningful Reflection Brings Learning to Life
Reflection brings learning to life. It is the essential ingredient in education, training, therapy, and team-building, that promotes growth and change in learners. It is the cata
Team Tally for Group Building, Reflection, Academic Review, and Data Gathering
This group questionnaire has multiple purposes: rapport building, reflection, data gathering, brainstorming, context setting, and academic or training content review/assessment. T
Commonalities Mingle Activity for Rapport Building, Reflection, Positive Group Norms and Academic Review/Discussion
This is an effective activity for building rapport in groups of all kinds. It is also a useful method to reflect on academic or training material while at the same time learning ab
Object and No Prop Pair Share Activities to Set the Tone, Build Community, and Initiate Reflective Discussions:
August is a month of new beginnings for educators and group facilitators. These last weeks of summer are filled with back to school meetings, training, student community building,
Best Of Back-to-School and Fall Program Kick-Off Activities and Strategies
It’s that time of year again. The school year is just beginning as is the start of fall programming for educational agencies and training organizations. Here is a collection
Choice, Control, and Ownership in Learning and Group Experiences
When people feel like they own their learning experience and have a sense of control and ownership from the start, buy-in, and participation increases. Simple but intentional actio
Showing Appreciation and Celebrating Success
This time of year as I work with school programs to wrap up the year and facilitate final faculty professional development days, the idea of celebrating success and honoring the co
Re-Use, Repurpose, Upcycle
Upcycling is also known as creative reuse. With upcycling, an item that is no longer being used for its intended purpose but is repurposed— given a new purpose—and given added
The Improvisational Facilitator
One of the aspects of facilitation I most appreciate is the ongoing creative energy and adaptation that it both requires and inspires. I enjoy experiencing live music, of all genre
Tips & Tools for the Art of Experiential Group Facilitation
Almost ten years ago, out of the desire to share my passion for experiential education and the art and science of group facilitation, I completed the first edition of Tips & To
Guiding Your Group: A Participant Centered Approach to Facilitation and Teaching
The basic tenet of experiential education is the idea of facilitators (e.g., teachers, leaders) approaching their work as guides in the process of discovery, rather than as all-kno
