A Krash Course in Online Facilitation

A Krash Course in Online Facilitation

Foundational facilitation skills for online virtual meetings

Online meetings are different. At times, they can be deathly. But, with planning and skill, they can be deadly.

Running meetings and group gatherings can have their risks. However, with some of the right thinking, tools skills and some tactful tactics, the role of the group facilitating can become less daunting.

This short course introduces the Five Fundamentals of Group Facilitation and demonstrates their function and value to help you effectively, and gracefully, lead your group sessions online.

This is an online version of the In-The-Room Crash Course in Group Facilitation. (Also, this underwent a name change in April 2021, just to confuse things.)

1. Facilitation Five Fundamentals

The Facilitation Five Fundamentals help you to solve problems when they arise in meetings, and more importantly they make sure issues don’t arise in the first place. Participants will find the training provides them with a solid grounding as well as fresh ideas, processes, exercises and practical tips for working with groups. These tools will help to keep your session participants engaged and actively participating.

2. Understanding On The Line

Some things are very different when we’re gathering online. We experience zoom fatigue, there’s more awkward situations, even with the best intentions there can be overtalking, in general there’s more blocks to a feeling of ‘togetherness’. 

When we’re not in three dimensions, It’s a different medium, and sometimes it feels weird.

If we can get a better understanding of how this medium works (as well as how it doesn’t) this can help us to translate our skills from in-person meetings (In The Room) to the virtual realm (On The Line).

3. Designed for On The Line

This course is designed and delivered with for the specifics of the medium of online virtual meeting spaces. All the tools, processes, activities and theoretical thinking will help you to get the most out of what this medium has to offer, as well as avoiding its obvious challenges and common pitfalls.

Methodology

This course will be delivered via Zoom over 5 weekly sessions:

  1. Getting Settled, 2.5 hours
    All about what’s good to give your attention to at the start of sessions to set yourself up for success (and to make your job easier).
  2. Culture Coding, 2.5 hours
    Figuring out how to create a safe environment in the group, in a collaborative way.
  3. Listening and Supporting Speaking, 2.5 hours
    Exploring your most important skill, and including suggestions reading the room.
  4. Case Clinic & Decisions, 2.5 hours
    Looking at some tricky situations that can happen in groups, and selecting some viable solutioneering.
  5. Further tips for online group gatherings, 2.5 hours
    Collecting a final wrap up of tricks and tools for online virtual meetings.

Course Pack

20 pages of notes, posted to participants prior. The first half of the pack relates to content relevant to In-The-Room. The second half of the pack covers ideas specific to online facilitation tips.

Further Details

When’s the next one?

Here’s all the upcoming training workshops that you can book individual places.

FACILITATION TRAINING

Get the competence and confidence to
chair, convene, conduct or coach
your groups in style.

THE CORE OF FACILITATION
Level 1: one-day introductory workshop

A CRASH COURSE IN FACILITATION
Level 2: five half-day sessions mid-level short course

THE CRAFT OF FACILITATION
Level 3: Nine-week evening exploring course The Craft of Facilitation, level 2 group faciliation skills course by Dave Dunn

GROUP FACILITATOR

For meaningful meetings,
courageous conversations
and wicked workshops.

Also experienced at strategic visioning & planning; hosting conferences; chairing AGMs; MC-ing open mic nights and cheer leading laughter workshops.

Take a look at his previous clients list.

Dave Dunn is organised, curious and playful. dave.dunn.ie Group Facilitator

VARIOUS WORKSHOPS

These are interactive,
engaging and empowering
learning workshops.

Pitching & Presenting, Resilience, Time & Task Management, Laughter, Listening, Creativity and Business Development Training.

Short, half-day or full-day.
They're also good craic.

Here's a list of upcoming open workshops. dave.dunn.ie workshops