At the end of the first day, the social reporters/facilitators gathered to share their observations, views and reflections on the day. We identified a number of concrete recommendations that we felt could improve our own capacities in facilitation, moderation and social reporting.
So, what did we take away from the day's experience?
- Process instructions need to be simple, clear and concise. They should be given when participants are paying attention so we should encourage participants to stop talking in plenary.
- When inviting participants to ask questions during a panel session, moderators could: (i) ask for more directive or theme based questions; (2) suggest that participants identify to whom they are addressing their question; (3) invite small group discussion to identify one question that they would like a panelist to answer.
- Panelists should be reminded to re-iterate the question to which they are responding especially if there were a number of questions to which they could be responding.
- Limit the amount of information, data and statistics shared in a presentation. As a participant, it is too easy to get lost.
- Most importantly, remember that as a Knowledge Facilitator, you are not alone but part of a team of capable individuals who can all contribute to the session by (i) facilitating smaller group discussions; (ii) brainstorming on the process midway through the session especially if things get off track; and, (iii) giving each other positive and constructive feedback.
Watch the KFs deconstructing their day.