Page 13 - Peer 2 Peer Learning Start-up kit

Communicating with the group
Keeping the discussion going between sessions helps to drive the momentum of the group.
Choose a communication platform that the group are comfortable using, will check regularly and is closed to the group. Email can be used however the discussion and threads of conversation can easily be lost in the normal ‘inbox clutter’. Notifications of meetings or other important group information could be emailed and posted to ensure it is seen by everyone.
Possible online platforms include:
z closed Facebook group z Slack
z WhatsApp group z Messenger group
Ask the group to identify any ‘guidelines for communication’ using the chosen method and post these on the platform. As the facilitator you may need to assist in starting the conversation and getting it moving. It’s also important to keep an eye on the conversations so these can be referred to during meetings and important group topics followed up on.
Holding joint group events/ networking
Connecting with other facilitators of peer-to-peer groups is an easy way of keeping track of what other groups are covering. This enables connections between groups to occur, whether through being able to highlight what other groups may have learnt through visiting group members or having a member of another group come and discuss what they have been doing.
Bringing two or more groups together can be really helpful. Remember, this is still a peer-to-peer activity so the groups are doing the same thing as a single group, just in a bigger forum. Use the same processes, for example develop pre-work, think about room set up so that small groups can sit together for discussion and reflection before sharing in the larger group.
More information can be found in this useful blog post online here: https://workshopswithwow.com/2013/05/29/tips-for- facilitating-large-groups/.
Tips
Facilitation tips and tools
The role of the facilitator is to use process to enable everyone to contribute and develop skills. They are not a subject matter expert, they are an expert in engagement.
Simple facilitation tools:
z think-pair-share – members have a quiet minute
to jot down their ideas, they then share with one person, the facilitator then collects an idea from one member of the pair by name, finally going back around the room collecting an idea from the other member of the pair
z bus stop – flip chart paper with questions/topics around the room, members move around the room in small groups adding ideas
z walk and talk – send the members off outside for a walk with a focus question/ topic and debrief on their return
z brainstorming – use Post-it notes to gather single ideas for each person, post it notes can be sorted into common themes
z ORID/ discussion method – a method of asking four questions:
O – objective or factual R- reactive or reflective I – Interpretive
D – decisional
See more detail online here: https:// workshopswithwow.com/2014/04/23/the-orid/.
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