BY: SADIE ROSENFELD, ICAD INTERN
The ability to lead a reflection with a group of strangers for a thoughtful and stimulating discussion can be nerve wracking. The Community Service-Learning office invited ICAD to run a facilitation training for leaders of the various Alternative Spring Breaks (ASB) to teach them strategies to lead intentional reflections, a crucial component of service-learning. The break leaders enthusiastically absorbed the various facilitation tips that Dr. Lori Britt and I shared. We paired these tips with examples from our own experiences facilitating.
As someone who has led and participated in multiple Alternative Spring Breaks, I wanted to provide the leaders with a structured outline of the kind of questions that may be useful to dive into deeper conversations with their participants. The break leaders practiced methods to help lead thoughtful and reflective discussions in an inclusive manner, in a way that invites people to be vulnerable. Being vulnerable can help us be opened to learning and shifting our perspectives.
I was impressed by how quickly the leaders grasped the information we presented. I felt as if our presentation not only taught the leaders impressive facilitation skills, but it also sharpened my personal leadership and group facilitation skills as well. I found myself using the very skills that I was attempting to teach the ASB leaders in my own presentation to ensure that they were understanding and engaging in the training. It was satisfying to feel as if the leaders involved in the training were gaining the tools and resources, they were hungry for to support effective group reflections.