Aims and Objectives |

Expected
Outcomes |

Action Plan |

Team

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1. CONTEXT

With the coming of new approaches and methodologies in language teaching (e.g. communicative language teaching, student centered education, teacher as reflective practitioner, intercultural learning) groupwork and group interaction has come to occupy a central place. In addition, the educational role of language educators has also highlighted the importance of learning in groups. For example, the educational aims set out in Project 2.1.2 of the ECML's first medium-term programme (Language Educators Facing the Future) such as helping learners become more effective communicators, developing critical thinking skills, and developing attitudes and skills required for conflict resolution can all best be worked on through groupwork activities.

However, in order to use groupwork successfully teachers need a thorough understanding of group dynamics, as well as a number of key skills, in addition to personal qualities such as open mindedness, tolerance, and respect for others. Based on our experiences, an understanding of group dynamics and the skills required for leading groups can best be acquired experientially. Teacher education has a key role in equipping future generations of teachers with the experiential knowledge and the skills required for group facilitation. If teachers-in-training get good models for e.g. encouraging contributions, dealing with conflict, or summarising the key points of a discussion, they are more likely to take on these roles themselves as future teachers. This is why it is crucial that teacher educators are given opportunities to develop as group facilitators.

2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ____________________________

General aims

The general aim of the project is to provide training in group facilitation for a number of key professionals working in language teacher education. These key professionals will also play a supporting role in the production of a training kit providing materials for reflection and development for teacher trainers in the area of group facilitation. By group facilitation we mean working with groups in ways which are empowering for each group member, and which enable the group to learn together in democratic ways.

Specific objective 1: To provide training in group facilitation to professionals involved in the training of language teachers

Specific objective 2: To put together a training kit to support the professional development of teacher trainers. This will come out in the form of a CD-Rom with an accompanying booklet, and will include checklists, descriptions of key concepts, descriptions of challenging situations (with alternative suggestions), and self-observation instruments. This will be an essential resource for the participants of our central workshop when they plan future workshops in their own contexts, and when they want to reflect on their own development as facilitators. It will also be useful to any trainer looking for an overview of group facilitation and wanting to develop in this area.

3. EXPECTED OUTCOMES ____________________________

A. Workshop participants will:

1. … have understood the key principles of facilitation
2. … have enhanced their understanding of terms and concepts connected with group facilitation
3. … have experienced and tried out ways of supporting learning within groups
4. … have experienced and tried out a range of group facilitation activities
5. … have identified and worked on some key sub-skills of facilitation
6. … have become aware of the significance of verbal and non-verbal signals from group
       participants
7. … have observed and analysed examples of facilitator language
8. … have developed their understanding of the dynamics and life of groups
9. … recognise and understand how to work with the resources within a group they are facilitating
10. … have developed an understanding of the importance of feedback and tried out a range of
        feedback procedures
11. … have developed awareness of the cultural aspects of group facilitation
12. … have developed strategies for dealing with challenging situations in groups
13. … have formulated and started to carry out individualised action plans
14. … have contributed to the production of a training kit on group facilitation to be used as a
        resource by professionals who teach language teachers.

4. ACTION PLAN ___________________________________

2005
28- 29 January
Meeting of the project team to

• fine-tune project plans,
• clarify roles and responsibilities and to
• come up with a provisional outline for the training kit.

11- 12 November
Meeting of the project team to

• review version 1 of training kit and
• prepare central workshop.

2006
28 March - 1 April
5-day ECML central workshop to

• provide training in group facilitation to key professionals who teach teachers,
• pilot version 1 of training kit,
• plan the cascading process of workshop participants running future workshops,
• set up a network of teacher trainers equipped to run workshops in group facilitation.

Participant profile: