Training and Development
 

OPSEU Facilitators Sharpen their Skills

June 4, 2009

Last week’s (May 25-28, 2009) Train the Trainer program uncovered some amazing, skilled OPSEU facilitators. Ten staff and ten members came together to strengthen confidence and capacity to teach OPSEU courses, and to take education to the locals.

Back left to right: Brenda McCullach, Brenda Wilson Young, Don Ducette, Rob Mithrush, Jennifer Van Zetten, Nichola Martin, Debbie MacDonald, Ann Wallace, Barb Thomas (facilitator), Tami MacDonald, Leslie Sanders, Denise Near, Jim Jurens. Middle: Libby Zeleke, Denise Sands. Front: Sonia Boudreau, Leslie Howard, Kay Singh (facilitator) Felicia Fahey. In the course, but missing from the photo: John McHenry, Sandra Smith, Wade Stevenson.

Participants came with their own “agendas” – how do you get people involved in learning? How do you deal with nervousness in front of a group? How do you lead a discussion when things are getting tense? 

But they also examined how to address barriers to equitable participation; how to move a conversation on when things are getting bogged down; how to build an inclusive environment where everyone can contribute.  And they practiced facilitating some of the more challenging activities from eight different OPSEU courses.

They even developed some different ways to use the new materials for orienting new OPSEU members.

Train the Trainer 2: Focus on Design Skills will be held in October 2009. Please consult the information on this website.