3.7. Facilitation and Presentation Tools & Techniques

Learning Objectives:

• State 3 examples of how a trainer can create a learning climate that helps adults learn
• Discuss the benefits of understanding the course objectives, learning the material, practicing the delivery, and creating good questions while preparing for a presentation
• Discuss how basic classroom management techniques of starting and ending a session and setting expectations can enhance the learning experience for participants
• Explain the difference among icebreakers, opening exercises, and closing activities, and provide one example of each
• Explain how the use of voice and scanning the class for reactions can enhance the learning experience for participants
• Define facilitation 
• List three activities that facilitate learning
• Use questioning techniques to facilitate discussions
• Summarize the differences in presenting online versus presenting in the classroom
• Discuss one advantage of using flipcharts, presentation software, and other training aids
• List one example of when not to use flip charts or presentation software

Creating a Learning Climate: defined as “the andragogical approach to learning climate as being relaxed, trusting, mutually respectful, informal, warm, collaborative, and supportive with openness, authenticity, and humility as key contributing factors” (Biech, 2015). You want to think about having combined strategies, relevant course materials, suitable facilities, and reliable instructional instruments to contribute to a successful learning experience.

Andragogy: the method and practice of teaching adults and is based on five key principles of adult learning from Malcolm Knowles theory based on five key principles of adult learning: self-concept, prior experience, readiness to learn, orientation to learning, and motivation to learn. (See 3.1. Learning Theories for more info)

Here are practical tips from Training and Development for Dummies (Biech, 2015), to make sure your participants learn in either virtual or physical training environments:

1. Create a safe haven for learning
2. Create a comfortable environment
3. Encourage participation
4. Facilitate more than lecture

Preparing to Delivery Training: Preparing for the presentation and training session provides trainers with guidance and preparation for learning and development, to include:

• Clear understanding of the learning objectives 
• Learn the material
• Practice the delivery
• Prepare questions to stimulate learning

READ: 10 Tips for Better Presentations & Facilitation via ATD

Classroom Management for Training: For working with participants you want to hold their attention, create a safe space for learning, and build in some introductions or icebreakers so others get to know one another and interact with one another. To hold participants attention, it is recommended to:

• Use effective openings
• Setting expectations
• Structuring and closing presentations effectively
• Taking attendance and keeping records

Managing Difficult Participants: Sometimes you can have challenging participants in your training session that might disrupt the learning, so it’s important to know how to deal with it. Here are some potential disruptions you might encounter with participants who:

• Talks too often, so you need to ask what others might think or want to contribute
• Talks too long, so you should ask them to summarize their point
• Talks to someone else at length to facilitate the training
• Brings up personal or irrelevant issues you need to redirect
• Talks too little or under participates
• Recycle what’s already been decided
• Challenges ideas or opinions without any evidence or merit

Keeping Energy Levels High -- The Strategies: when a trainer uses active training techniques, learners will get involved in the training experience and be active learners to construct personal meaning. Here are some examples of active training techniques to include:

• Brainstorming: idea generation and group processing
• Case study: example of an event or situation to model process, practices or behaviors
• Role play: act out roles, attitudes or behaviors to practice skills

Energetic presentation + high energy:

• Project vocally
• Maintain an appropriate pace
• Avoid using fillers
• Enunciate clearly and distinctly
• Use participants’ names
• Use familiar terms and expressions
• Use a lot of examples
• Praise participants
• Use appropriate humor
• Maintain eye contact
• Use positive facial expressions
• Gesture with hands and arms
• Move around the room with energy

Presentation Style & Behavior: for any presentation, what is said is as important as what is shown, for training delivery. There are a number of tips on delivering interactive presentations and keeping the energy level high and understanding these standards for success:

• Verbal Communication and Use of Voice
• Capture attention
• Appearance
• Mannerisms
• Body Languages 

Facilitating Learning Activities: for the training field, facilitation refers to guiding or making learning easier, specifically the materials, learning content, and application for training on the job. Solid trainers are facilitators first, and presenters or “sage on the stage” last. It’s not about you, but the information you are trying to deliver to the adult learner. Being intuitive about your audience and their understanding of what you are sharing cannot be taught, but you can learn the basics about how to be a more effective facilitator -- here are some tips:

• Create an open environment by encouraging others to participate, contribute, etc.
• Set guidelines for learners’ participation by respecting others’ thoughts, ideas, etc. 
• Acknowledge people who participate by praising and thanking them for their contributions and ideas
• Create transitions between questions asked and answered by participants as well as between topic areas
• Be honest about what they know and don’t know - identify opinion from fact
• Express an opinion when appropriate by ensuring participants don’t feel judged or invalidated in their responses
• Give everyone an opportunity to participate, but never force anyone to join in
• Keep the discussion flowing and focused on the topic, while knowing when to bring this discussion to an end 

Facilitation Techniques

1. Asking questions
2. Question-and-Answer Sessions
3. Transitions
4. Silence
5. Active listening
6. Discussions

READ: The Role of the Facilitator via MindTools

Facilitator’s Self-Check, always asks “Am I…”: