[nabs-l] Facilitation tips

Sun Feb 16 05:03:21 UTC 2014

When I am leading a discussion as a teacher or presenter, I always
start by explicitly saying that I can't see raised hands and that
people should speak up if they want to participate. In my experience,
people usually speak one at a time even if you don't require them to
say their names. I have found that sometimes students, in particular,
feel awkward about saying their names so I just suggest they speak up
if they want to participate and that if multiple people are speaking
at once I will ask for names and specify the order that people should
speak in. People usually pick this up pretty quickly especially if no
one reinforces them if they try to raise their hands.
Another technique I learned from Adrienne Asch is to allow people to
raise hands but require the first discussant to speak and then have
that person call on the next person who has a hand raised. The second
discussant calls on the third, etc. Adrienne has had good luck with
this method. I have not used it yet myself because in my classes we
have not had extended discussions (usually just 1-3 responses at a
time) but it may work well for your group. It can help build a
stronger sense of camaraderie between group members.

Arielle

On 2/14/14, Sandra Gayer <sandragayer7 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello,
> I've taught in small groups and I didn't have an assistant, sighted or
> otherwise. It depends where you are in the room, in relation to the
> other people because I found it easy to tell who was lost, who was or
> wasn't concentrating so I would home in on them without their having
> to ask. Sometimes, of course, children will have questions and they
> just prefaced with my name automatically. However, I would echo what
> has already been said. Start as you mean to go on. Suggest to your
> assistant that he or she stands at a distance from you and only
> approach you if you give a signal that you need help. (This can be
> prearranged and doesn't, necessarily, have to be a visual one). Ask
> people to address you by saying your name, followed by theirs, (if you
> can't identify everyone by ear yet). Above all, have fun with it and
> deliver your rules in a fun, personable way.
>
> Very best wishes,
> Sandra.
>
> On 2/14/14, Carly Mihalakis <carlymih at comcast.net> wrote:
>> Hi, Julie,
>>
>> Or, just make it known to everybody in the group of your blindness
>> and encourage people just to speak up upon having something to say.
>> "All ya gotta do is make your blindness known to all. The rest,
>> should happen organically. No fuss, no muss!
>> for today, Car
>> 408-209-3239
>>
>> sp10:06 PM 2/13/2014, Julie McGinnity wrote:
>>>I agree.  You should definitely establish that rasing hands won't
>>>work, since you can't see it.  You should also tell your cofacilitator
>>>and ask him not to acknowledge when someone raises their hand.  That
>>>might be a bit weird, but it will help the reinforcement.  It
>>>definitely can be facilitating groups.  Just remember to speak up, and
>>>you can make it work.
>>>
>>>On 2/13/14, justin williams <justin.williams2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> > Establish your rrule set before you start.  Make sure everyone knows
>>> > that
>>> > you can't see, and to please remember that and just say something.
>>> > Ask
>>> > for
>>> > everyone's cooperation. Talk it over with your fellow facilitator.
>>> > Also,
>>> > if
>>> > you have a counseling department, then see if a group counselingg
>>> > professor
>>> > can give you more tips.
>>> >
>>> > -----Original Message-----
>>> > From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of minh ha
>>> > Sent: Friday, February 14, 2014 12:40 AM
>>> > To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> > Subject: [nabs-l] Facilitation tips
>>> >
>>> > Hi all,
>>> >
>>> > I am in a student organization called FACES, which promotes and
>>> > fosters
>>> > healthy dialogue on my campus regarding issues of race and privilege.
>>> > Recently, we began hosting book groups for students to read books on
>>> > subjects of race and I am acting as a facilitator along with one other
>>> > member. Anyway, the first meeting was tonight and I found it extremely
>>> > hard
>>> > to capture the attention of the students in my group.
>>> > When they had something to say, they would either raise their hand or
>>> > make
>>> > eye contact with my co-facilitator for him to give them the ok to
>>> > talk.
>>> > It
>>> > was super frustrating for me because I felt like I wasn't helping
>>> > leading
>>> > the discussion at all, instead just acting as a participant. Have you
>>> > guys
>>> > lead discussions of this nature before and what tips did you use to
>>> > help
>>> > you
>>> > be a better facilitator? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
>>> >
>>> > Cheers,
>>> > Minh
>>> >
>>> > --
>>> > "All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty
>>> > recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity:
>>> > but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on
>>> > their
>>> > dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." T. E. Lawrence
>>> >
>>> > _______________________________________________
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>>> >
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>>>
>>>
>>>--
>>>Julie McG
>>>National Association of Guide dog Users board member,  National
>>>Federation of the Blind performing arts division secretary,
>>>Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President,
>>>and Guiding Eyes for the Blind graduate 2008
>>>"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
>>>everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
>>>life."
>>>John 3:16
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
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>>
>>
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