Page 7 - Facilitator Guide 8-27-18

TOPUCU Facilitator Guide
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Tip 3 Use open ended questions
Avoid asking yes / no questions. Instead, ask open ended questions that lead the participants to expand
on their comments to ensure others understand their thinking. This technique has proven very successful
in promoting group participation. (i.e. Instead of asking the students if they like school, ask them what
their favorite (or least favorite) subject is in school. Then follow up with a question of why they
answered the way they did.)

Tip 4 Promote Healthy Group Dynamics
Your role as a facilitator is much like the conductor in an orchestra. While you don’t play an instrument,
the success of the group is influenced by how well you know the material as well as how well you
facilitate their interactions.
Several ways to increase the odds of success of your team are:
• Use “we” statements as opposed to focusing on yourself or on one participant in particular (The
message is “we are in this together”)
• Ask questions, listen and encourage everyone to contribute
• Promote positive participation by emphasizing comments made by participants that can be linked
to comments made by others
• Acknowledge and reinforce comments made by students that relate to key learning objectives

Tip 5 Gain the trust of your group
Be transparent, and even vulnerable at times, by sharing your own relevant stories and experiences. It is
vital that the group can see your buy in to the TOPUCU program and how you have applied the principles
to your life situations. If you come off as someone who “has it all together”, your ability to connect with
the students could be negatively impacted.

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