Increase Engagement and Belonging By Starting With Partner and Small Group Connection Activities
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
Welcoming Activities for Meaningful Engagement, Community Building, and Reflection
Strong Beginnings The first few minutes of an experience are a key time to hook and engage learners, create context for learning, and set a welcoming tone. A novel and inclusive ac
Cultivate a Sense of Ownership and Enhance Engagement
One of the key tenets of experiential education is that people of all ages learn best when they perceive a sense of control and have choice and ownership in their learning experien
Harnessing the Power of Play
Never underestimate the power of play in learning! Play is a serious subject. There is a great deal of research on play and what constitutes true play, types of play, and stages of
Insights on the Art of Practitioner Self-Reflection from Guest Blogger Deidra Goodwin
As the calm of winter settled in here in Vermont during the last days of 2023, I enjoyed the quietest weeks of my professional calendar. During those slower-paced days of work life
Cultivating Appreciation, Celebration, and Gratitude All Year Long | Favorite Activities and Reflective Prompts
Gratitude is a reflective act, practice, and attitude that I try to weave into my workshop sessions and classes all year round. This can range from simple gratitude-centered conver
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
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
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
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
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
Engaging and Inspiring Learners at Home: A Curated List of Distance Learning Resources for PK-12, College and Adult Educators, Facilitators, and Parents
It has now been three weeks since my in-person workshops with educators, facilitators, and students came to a screeching halt because of the Coronavirus crisis. Since then, I, like
