At the Train the Trainer 1 course held at the Kempenfelt Conference Centre last week (April 12-15, 2010), OPSEU members and staff had a chance to work together to enhance their skills and confidence as OPSEU facilitators. Twenty participants joined two facilitators in exploring labour education through interaction and participation.

Participants and facilitators at Train the Trainer 1

The participants brought with them a diverse set of skills and goals.  Participant goals included increasing confidence, initiating class participation, improving facilitation skills and addressing conflict when it arises.

The program also examined barriers to equitable participation, facilitation nightmares, how to build an inclusive environment and approaches/strategies we encounter when co-facilitating.

Participants engaged in planning their co-facilitation piece.

Some co-facilitating approaches/strategies identified by participants are:

• Make use of the parking lot

• Ensure you complete the task on hand

• Break up “cliques”

• Ensure both facilitators have clear roles

• Clarify the agenda, goals and content to be covered

• Be flexible

• Acknowledge requests and follow up on information requested

• Mediate when necessary

• Give time for dealing with delicate issues

• Diffuse or confront a situation as necessary

Some participants brought their ideas for improving existing OPSEU courses, which they had a chance to explore through practice facilitation.  Eight of OPSEU’s courses were taken to a new level of co-facilitation using different innovative techniques to make them more participatory and fun.

Monday November 1, 5:00 p.m.  to Thursday November 4, 1:30

NEW!!!!  Strengthening Facilitation Skills Level 2 is for members and staff with at least five years of experience with OPSEU facilitation work.