Facilitation 101 for Conservation Professionals

This course focuses on understanding the role of a facilitator and learning basic facilitation skills that can help participants harness the collective wisdom of a conservation team. Participants will learn how to prepare for and facilitate effective meetings and workshops, both in-person and online. Specific topics will include: preparation for meetings and workshops, the facilitator’s role in guiding the flow of the conversation, use of icebreakers and energizers, key aspects of adult learning, navigating conflict and difficult participants, enhancing creativity, and helping teams be realistic about what they can accomplish. The course will include a combination of presentations, discussions, hands-on practice facilitating group exercises, and experience planning an agenda and selecting facilitation exercises to use to achieve specific objectives. The course is oriented toward conservation project teams but will be applicable more broadly. 

• Learn at your own pace (watch prerecorded lectures and videos, read papers, and participate in discussions) with instructor support April 28 - June 29

• Live meetings (also recorded) April 28 - June 9 from 1:00-3:00 ET on M/TH each week. Exact dates are: 4/28, 5/1, 5/5, 5/8, 5/12, 5/15, 5/19, 5/22, 5/29 (no class on 5/26 or 6/2), 6/5, and 6/9.

• See TOPICS & LEARNING OUTCOMES below for the details about guest lecturers each week

Module 1: Overview of Facilitation

• Describe the basic ideas behind facilitation (e.g., wisdom of crowds, theory of adult learning)

Module 2: Pre-Planning for Facilitation

• Describe the work necessary to ensure an effective meeting or workshop happens before the event

• Describe the elements of developing an effective agenda, including setting objectives, selecting participants, deciding how to use the time and documenting decisions

• Practice setting expectations by using ground rules for meetings

• Describe the need to assess team readiness and develop a team charter before undertaking longer collaborative processes

• Practice facilitating, guiding the flow of the conversation, managing the time and documenting the main decisions

Module 3: Facilitating a Group Through Diverging and Converging

• Describe how exercises in diverging and converging can help a group make decisions

• Facilitate exercises that involve asking questions, paraphrasing, summarizing and encouraging

Module 4: Adult Learning

• Describe how to involve adult learners and take advantage of their experience

• Facilitate exercises designed for adult learners (e.g., that take advantage of participants’ experiences and are relevant to their lives)

Module 5: Special Characteristics of Virtual Facilitation

• Use dynamic exercises (icebreakers, energizers, polls, etc.) to address common challenges related to virtual facilitation

Module 6: Navigating Conflict and Difficult Participants (Pitfalls of Facilitation)

• Use skills to address conflict and difficult participants

• Develop a situation model

• Facilitate exercises that involve asking questions, paraphrasing, summarizing and encouraging

Module 7: Enhancing Creativity

• Describe what creativity is and how facilitation can enhance it

• Facilitate the process of brainstorming and selecting conservation strategies

Module 8: Theory of Change: Defining & Documenting a Team’s Vision of the Future

• Describe what theory of change is, its value, and how to help a team develop one

• Facilitate the development of results chains (a tool for documenting a theory of change)

Module 9: Analyze and Adapt to Strengthen a Project

• Describe importance of helping teams analyze their performance and make adjustments to increase their effectiveness

• Facilitate “pause and reflect” (analyze and adapt) exercises

Modules 10-11: Bringing It All Together and Planning Your Agenda

• Define the objectives and design the agenda and materials for a one-day workshop

• Facilitate one of the exercises for a one-day workshop

FORMAT:

• 3 months of access to course materials as you work at your own pace 

• Get instructor support via email, discussion threads, group meetings, and one-on-one appointments

• After working through the course materials, set up an optional meeting with the instructor to discuss your own personal project from work or school

CONTINUING EDUCATION:

• 16 CEUs with The Wildlife Society

• Go to our Continuing Education Page for more details

CONTINUING EDUCATION:

• 16 CEUs with The Wildlife Society (go to our Continuing Education Page for more details)

CERTIFICATIONS:

• Earn 1 credit towards a professional certificate in Conservation Planning with CWS

ACADEMIC CREDIT:

• Earn 1 academic credit (go to our Academic Credit Page for details)

• Earn an additional 1-2 academic credits with an Applied Project