Facilitation Approach

In a facilitative approach trainer is not the only one who is talking unlike many traditional classrooms. The learners have the equal opportunity and chance to voice their opinions and thoughts. Infact the role of the facilitator is more to get students to communicate with each other and get them to share their ideas and thoughts with each other and arrive at a common understanding. The communication from the facilitator’s end is to allow this process to happen seamlessly and ensure that the group in engaging with each other and bring them back on track in case they are completely digressing from the task.  Facilitators role is also key in ensuring that the environment in the class is such that students feel free and motivated to express what they feel in a manner that is not offensive to others. The students should not feel threatened and thus not feel shy in expressing their inner self.  In order for this to happen, the facilitator needs to be very conscious that he/she always practices this in any communication they have with their learners or peers.

The power hierarchy in a facilitative approach is very equal instead of trainer assuming a higher ground who knows everything.  In a facilitative approach students and trainers have equal power to question each other and students can also disagree to what the facilitator sayd if they feel like it. As mentioned earlier students are prime and the facilitator’s role is to help them learn collaboratively with each other. For this to happen, facilitators needs to be playing a role of a guide instead of preacher. The facilitator should help students discuss and settle disagreements themselves instead of facilitator enforcing his answers and expect students to agree to those.

The facilitator does have a role of helping students get to the task. However the process that one follows may differ based on how the group is responding and engaging with each other. There may be some unexpected things thrown at the facilitators during the process. A good facilitator is skilled and open enough to deal with these unexpected directions and processes. The role of the facilitator is also very crucial to ensure that the task for the class is accomplished by the end of the session. The facilitator does have a say but more to bring the group back to track and help in closure of things. However the facilitator cannot force in opinions on students and should not do that.

The videos pretty much help reinforce the role of the facilitator in different ways. I really liked the pilot video that describes the role of a facilitator as an architect, pilot and a guide. I think it beautifully sums it up and brings about the nuances in the role of the facilitator.