Summer Institute Small Group Facilitation Ideas
Charlie Nutt, 2006
The small group process at Summer Institute is perhaps one of the most important aspects of the Summer Institute experience. It is in the small group that participants bond and build relationships (and hopefully long-term networking opportunities); discuss issues raised in general sessions, workshops, topicals; and work on their action plans during the institute. Faculty members serve as facilitators for the discussions each day and sounding boards for participants’ action plans. Small groups have not been used for the faculty to lecture or give a presentation on a topic.
The following is a list of ideas faculty members have used in the past for various components of the week in small groups – we all have done what works best for our own personalities and styles as well as for the “personality” of the small group.
First Night – Ice Breaker Plan and Action Plan Work
Traditionally the first night (Sunday) is a time for the group to meet and hopefully begin to bond with each other and the faculty leader. Some ice breaking activities people have done to help in this process:
· Participants introduce themselves and their institution and tell the group one thing about themselves that is special and has nothing to do with advising or their job.
· Pair participants and have them discuss their memory of what their first advising experience was as an undergraduate student and how that experience has affected their advising practices today – then they introduce each other to the group and describe their first advising experience
· Participants introduce themselves and give the one or two major issues that have led them to attending SI – these are put on a flip chart sheet and put up in the room to begin the week’s work – or have each person put their name and major issue on a sheet and post on the wall for discussion during the week.
These are just three ideas – I am sure other faculty members have many other ideas that have been successful.
Another key component of the first night is to discuss the action plan, its purpose, and its importance for the week.
I personally make sure that during the first night before we leave that each person has stated what they feel at that point their action plan is for SI and know that they can change or modify it as they learn during the week.
Daily Topic Discussions
The daily discussion of topics will in many ways be driven by your small group “personality”, needs, and the topics presented in the general session that day or workshops or topicals the day before. Some ideas that folks have used for this process:
· In the session guide, each general session presenter has put a set of questions about their general session – these can be used to begin the discussion if the group needs prodding.
· Put on the wall each day a flip chart sheet for that day’s general session and as the participants come in they are to write on the chart the one thing from the general session that stood out to them or was important to them – this gets them talking about the issues immediately and can be used to generate discussion and ideas
· Simply have each of the participants tell the one thing from the general session that resonated with them or they can utilize in their action plans.
Wes’s additions/notes 10/25/06
· 1. Follow the discussion guide...... works OK with a very inexperienced
group. I have discovered that this option is less appealing each year.
· 2. Follow each general session with an open discussion of the general
session topic...... works OK with a very experienced group
· 3. After each general session participants list and discuss 1) most
important points in the presentation and 2) remaining questions. This
works very well in a group that has veterans and newbies.
· 4. Allocate a portion of the time to #3 above and a portion of the time to
work in smaller groups sharing and critiquing action plans. This works
well when institutions and action plan topics are similar.
· 5. Set the day's discussion agenda at the beginning of each small group
session. This has rarely worked well primarily because the agenda is
usually set by a few dominant members of the group.
Daily discussions of topics can vary in length and depth – once again depending on the group and the topic.
Participants have appreciated being able to spend part of each session focused on their action plans.
Action Plan Work
A key element that makes the institute special is the action plan concept – participants leaving the institute with an action plan they can take back to their campus for implementation. One thing that normally happens is the topic, scope, or focus of many of the participants’ action plans will change as the week progresses – that is why it is important that action plan discussion be a part of each day’s session.
My personal approach is to have the participants work in teams or small groups all week on their action plans – each day they present thework they have accomplished on their action plan and get feedback, ideas, and recommendations from their group or team members – I float from group to group, mainly listening, and offering support, ideas or guidance. Each night they have homework to take the ideas and recommendations they have received that day and work on incorporating them into their action plan so by Friday they have gotten much input and had opportunity to add, revise, and fine tune their work. On Thursday, I normally make them switch their group members to have one last chance to get input from entirely different people who are hearing their plans for the first time.
On Friday they each have 10 minutes to present their action plans to the entire small group utilizing their material they have created that week – flipchart outlines, handouts, etc. The group has limited time to ask questions – I have the person leave the room and the group outlines strengths of his/her plan and recommendations for changes or revisions. It is a busy and hectic 3 hour session on Friday.
Once again, other faculty members have other strategies that work for them.
Daily Checks
Susan Campbell and Betsy McCalla-Wriggins (and I sometimes) have used the attached form each day in their small groups –they have the participants complete it before they leave the room to get a feel for how the group is going and how the faculty members may need to revise their focus or refocus the group’s work. The feedback can be very beneficial. Diane can have some available for you if you wish to use them.
Questions for Reflection
1. What has been the most significant topic covered in this segment of the Institute?
2. What question or questions do you have about the topics covered in this segment that remain unanswered?
3. What did your small group faculty leader do in the discussion group that worked well for you and promoted your learning?
4. What could your small group faculty leader do differently that would work even better?