Applying Effective Tools for Successful Community Engagement Training Sessions
In our previous blog, "Team Friday's Approach to Training and Community Co-facilitation," we uncovered our strategic process for designing impactful training sessions. Now, we dig into the application aspect, exploring the vital role of facilitators and the tools we utilize to ensure the best learning experience for participants in our training sessions. At Team Friday, we recognize that effective facilitation and incorporating interactive tools are key to successful trainings that contribute to community engagement strategies and professional development.
THE FACILITATOR’S ROLE: CURIOSITY AND ENGAGEMENT
At Team Friday, our facilitators are pivotal in creating an engaging and interactive environment during each training session. They adopt a curious approach, encouraging participants to ask questions and explore the training topic enthusiastically. By being approachable and attentive, facilitators make participants feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and experiences.
Furthermore, facilitators actively involve participants in discussions, activities, and exercises to ensure a dynamic learning experience. They emphasize the importance of participant engagement and interaction as it enhances knowledge retention and supports individuals to apply their learnings effectively in real-world scenarios.
Facilitators set the tone for the training session, but the participants are the wisdom keepers and stars of the show. By staying curious about what participants already know and what they want to learn, our facilitators foster an engaging and curious environment.
INTERACTIVE TOOLS FOR ENGAGING LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Team Friday facilitators integrate various interactive tools into our online training sessions to foster active participation and knowledge retention. These tools are carefully selected to cater to our participants’ diverse needs and preferences.
Polls: At the beginning of each training presentation, facilitators use polls to engage with participants, open up dialogue, and tap into the familiarity with the training topic. This interaction allows guests to give their input and feedback right at the beginning, so facilitators can adjust and incorporate, ensuring that the content aligns with the participants' goals.
Background Context: Setting the context is crucial for building a cohesive learning journey. Facilitators provide background context on previously covered topics to create connections between training sessions. Additionally, they offer data and research related to the training topic to ensure folks have context and a shared foundation.
Real-World Examples: Incorporating real-world examples is instrumental in illustrating the successful application of the techniques taught. These examples demonstrate how the strategies have been used effectively in practical scenarios, instilling confidence in participants to apply their learnings with positive outcomes. Facilitators encourage sharing of examples and look for ways to incorporate, together.
Practice Time: Practice time in breakout rooms is a highlight of our training sessions. Facilitators devote time for participants to practice, share, and apply their newly acquired skills in a supportive environment. This interactive exercise allows participants to give and receive feedback from their peers, fostering confidence and readiness to apply the techniques in real-life situations.
Take-Aways: Towards the end of the session, facilitators provide participants with handouts containing bite-sized key information on the training topic. These one-pagers serve as handy reference guides for participants to revisit when they need support or guidance while implementing the techniques in the field.
Reflection: After the training session concludes, facilitators create space for reflection. Participants are encouraged to think about what they have experienced, shared, and provide feedback to the facilitators. This valuable input helps us identify areas for improvement and ensures that future training sessions are continuously enhanced. Reflection is a key component for integration.
At Team Friday, our commitment to maximizing reach and impact extends to applying effective tools in our community engagement training sessions. Our facilitators are engaging and integrate various interactive tools into our sessions. We strive to create an enriching learning experience for all participants. We equip our attendees with the knowledge and confidence to positively impact their communities through continuous improvement, customization, and participant-focused approaches.
We are proud to be catalysts for meaningful change in our communities.
