Sharing the space with a co-facilitator and exploring creative ways to make facilitation interesting
On May 27-30, 2013 at Bayview Wildwood Conference Centre, OPSEU members and staff came together to practice co-facilitating portions of several OPSEU courses. This Train the Trainer "Focus on Facilitation Skills " introduced participants to the theory and practice of activist education used at OPSEU.
Participants explored the methods and skills they can use to:
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introduce a variety of activities
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build community and equity among participants
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take up small group work
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lead large group discussions, and
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address common conflicts and tensions
The participants, who brought with them a unique set of skills, channelled their energy and enthusiasm into creating new and exciting ways to co-facilitate. The Train the Trainer program examined barriers to equitable participation, encouraged participants to share their facilitation nightmares and highlighted the significance of preparation time to successful co-facilitating