Bring on the Revolution!
In this issue . . .
Slow Learning - Bring on the Revolution!
Upcoming Training Workshops - Boredom Busters
It's Not the Training, It's The Spaces Inbetween
As a trainer and facilitator I often think what happens after an event when I have left the participants or organisation? When you work with groups do you wonder if they will ever use the training materials, reflect on a conversation that you facilitated or pass on the learning to other people? Sometimes we are lucky and get great feedback. I got this feedback from a CEO in a voluntary organisation:
Sheila's session "...allowed individual staff to see where they are happiest working in terms of our strategic outcomes and helped us to extremely quickly see the areas where there are gaps. In addition to this, the activities identified a missing outcome in our strategic work which hadn't been recognised before. The session resulted in itself bringing about a high level of energy amongst the Board and staff."
It is the 'high level of energy' I am personally proud of. When people have energy at the end of a session, they will use it to make something change.
Take a wee bit of time to relax and enjoy this ezine and have a good summer.
Best wishes,
Sheila Fraser
Are you like me in that you are asked to deliver less training as the 'topic expert' and see the shift in the modus operandi of the trainer to facilitate learning and create a learning environment. In my facilitation techniques session, 'Open Space; World Café, Appreciative Inquiry with a pinch of graphics' I let participants experience the time to talk.
Margaret J Wheatley says 'Conversations are the natural way we humans think together'.
I believe that a good conversation gives us energy. Think of the times that you have had with friends and the chat and energy crackling between you. We need more time to have cracking conversations and think together.
Slow Learning - Bring on the Revolution! The recent releases from TED (ideas worth spreading) brought me a great piece of insight. Sir Ken Robinson says we should slow down learning, take time to taste and enjoy the new ideas. We know fast food is not the best way to enjoy our food, so neither is fast learning - cramming the information in with no real appreciation. The clip is 18 minutes long. Take your time to enjoy Ken's ideas slowly, appreciate how he gets you to focus on not environmental resources but human resources.
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Meta Saga
I have been working with a new facilitation technique called MetaSaga. Kate Coutts, from Unst, Shetland, introduced me to the technique. She used it to design a leadership programme for school teachers. Kate says the facilitated sessions are about 'Discover yourself in the world around you!' and amalgamates metaphors (Meta) and stories that take you on a journey (Saga).
I recently used the technique at an event at John Knox House in Edinburgh (Go to Discussion tab on the website). The feedback after the event from one participant was 'every time I pass the front of John Knox house I think about the conversation that took place there with you'. In this case the facilitation had gone beyond the event and into another time and space. I am planning Meta Sagas as 'Home-days', the opposite to the Away-day. People will get an opportunity to explore the environment around their workplace using metaphors and stories.
I am participating in a Rural Diversity Conference on the 16th June where I explain the use of Meta Saga for exploring your rural environment.
If you would like a list of metaphors to help you get started email me at sheilafraser@btinternet.com
Upcoming Training Workshops
Here are the training workshops I am running over the next few months.
Do you need to liven up your training? Add some energy? Make it easy for your trainees to learn? Sheila Fraser Associates has lots of activities that will liven up the boring bits in your training sessions.
This one day event will allow you:
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To try out Ice Breakers that will not only just break ice, but enhance learning
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To participate in activates using accelerated learning techniques
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To review a variety of activities that can make the dry and boring bits of learning come to life and be memorable
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Network with other trainers and share good practice
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Reflect on how all these activities can benefit the learning in your organisation
Date : 24th August 2010 (5 places left)
Open Space; World Café; Appreciative Inquiry with a pinch of Graphics
Do you need to enhance your facilitation techniques? Ensure participation of everyone? And make it easy for your participants to contribute?
Of the people who attended this workshop in July over 90 % said they would recommend this training to others.
"Great ideas for facilitation skills and very relaxed and respectful environment'; Good grounding in all the approaches; many practical tips; Sheila uses lots of different learning styles to engage everyone."
Date: 26th November 2010
Tales and Toys 2 Go -including Meta Saga
I have designed a workshop that will help you usetoys and games in your training. I will helpyou create two minute stories that add power to your training message.
The key objectives of the workshop:
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To identify toys that could be used to enhance learning
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To participate in games that are appropriate for a variety of situations
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To introduce toys and games to a conservative audience
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To explore the use and power a short story or anecdote
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To network with other trainers and share good practice
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And reflect on how all these activities can benefit the learning in your organisation
Date: 10th January 2011
Find Your way through the Quality Jungle- Quality Scotland event
Date: 18th August 2010
Where to See Me
June 16th June 2010 Rural Diversity Conference - talking about Meta Saga;
taking place in several venues across Scotland
Tuesdays Toastmasters - Linlithgow speakers
Wednesdays Cognitive Psychology studies - Edinburgh University
July 8th July 2010 Third Sector Employability Forum Conference - Edinburgh
14th July 2010 The Storytelling Café - Edinburgh
21st July 2010 The Training Forum - The Barony Bar - Edinburgh
(email me if you have not had an invite)
August 11th August 2010 Comedy evening to raise money for Make IT4 Africa
September SpeakersBank training in Schools across Shetland
And I will also be spending a lot of time in the new Bathgate Swimming Pool near where I live!
For more information contact Sheila Fraser at: Sheilafraser@btinternet.com
Who I Am
If you are a trainer, how do you keep up to date with everything new that's going on and find time to develop new ideas?
I am an experienced, trusted and reputable trainer, facilitator and presenter. I provide training and specialise in helping other people who are involved in training and change.
I specialise in being at the forefront of everything that's new in training and development and am bang up to date with new trends in learning. I offer an extensive range of tools and activities to liven up any event, to make sure that learning is remembered.
Click here to access my website
