Key Discussion Point

"The word 'dialogue' means 'words between us.' The word 'facilitate' means 'to make easy'. Your role as facilitator is to make those words between easy (43).
Do you agree with the author that this your role as a facilitator? How can a facilitator create an atmosphere that encourages a dialogue rather than a monologue? Provide an example of how you have encouraged dialogue in a learning environment either through the course design, environment of the room or communication between you and your learners or provide an example of training you have received which does the same.

Analysis

Norris’s book From Telling to Teaching is directed toward facilitators who provide internal corporate training, workshops and seminars. As an employee of a corporation that requires a substantial amount of mandatory training, I found this to be an interesting read that offers a variety of insights into this area of adult education. The suggestions offered within the book can lead to a few simple improvements in the content delivery of training sessions.

The underlying theme, the learner has as much to offer as the instructor, is a significant point to consider in the world of adult education. Adult learners can potentially bring a wealth of information to the learning environment. It is the role of the facilitator to create an atmosphere which will allow information to be exchanged.

Creating this environment begins at the door. Norris states that this begins with an inviting, engaging and safe atmosphere. The author provides the specifics for establishing this type of environment. This is done through both the aesthetics of the room and communication. Facilitators need to consider various learning modalities: visual; auditory and kinesthetic and reach learners in a variety of ways understanding that each learner has his or her own learning preference.

A substantial part of the concepts behind the book deals with dialogue. This is established at the moment the learner walks though the door and the game rules are expressed to the learner which conveys a sense of safety. The learning environment is designed to facilitate partnerships between facilitator and between learners. Exercises are designed to allow participants a chance to communicate with one other person before asking them to speak in front of a large group.

The author concludes the book with step-by-step instructions for designing the course. She suggests that three or four open questions be formulated at this stage. A who, why, where and when format is suggested as an aid to developing the details of the course. Who is your audience? Why do they need the information? When will the class meet and how much time will be needed? Where will the class meet? These questions are necessary in order to incorporate the suggestions for an engaging learning environment. Additionally, the book recommends a storyboard to layout the content of the course.

I was inspired to rethink the methods I use when I conduct trainings. The informal and upbeat style reflects the philosophy she is espousing in the book. She draws the reader into the setting of the class and asks us to consider what we already know and connect it with what she has learned through her own experience.

Summary

From Telling to Teaching by Joe A. Norris, Ed.D. is a slim paperback that offers specific guidelines for teaching in a style that differs from straight lecturing. The author weaves how-to instructions with a philosophy on teaching that considers the learner's own desire to learn and one's ability to contribute to one's own learning experience. The main concept is based on a dialogue approach rather than a monologue or "telling" approach.
Each chapter focuses on a particular idea which challenges the reader to reconsider some of the methods used in presenting material. An early chapter delves into the details of how each learner is greeted, how the tables are arranged and considers even the sights, sounds and smells of the room. Other chapters are focused on various learning styles, methods for encouraging dialogue within small groups and using methods that will help learners activate prior learning so that they may better connect new material being learned. Throughout the book, Norris asks the reader to rethink ways in which to engage and energize learners.
The book is easy to read and is written in a style that reflects the author's philosophy. We become engaged in the reading by the questions posed by the writer. We are invited in to the scenarios she provides. This is reinforced through the introduction of simple theories with additional easy-to-follow suggestions, sample questions and visual cues. Although the book seems to be directed at workshops or corporate training, many of the ideas could be applied or adapted for any type of adult education setting. It is particularly relevant to adult education because it considers both the prior knowledge of the learner and the ability of the learner to be a participant and contributor to the learning environment.

Dialogue

This chapter was enlightening. The author points out that the brain is always seeking something interesting and automatically wants to respond to something. This is talked about in the context of the need to open up a dialogue between learners and the facilitator. Using open questions which can actually set thoughts in motion for the learner can be a more effective method of teaching rather than simply asking the learner to recall what the instructor has said or taught. I like this quote about open questions, "take learners to a deeper level, a more reflective place, a thinking place." Another interesting point the author brings up it to wait for a response. I think we all become uncomfortable with silences when we pose a question. She the extra time allowed for a response is likely to elicit one.

Chapter Three

What I found most interesting about this chapter was the classifying of three learning modalities: visual; auditory and kinesthetic. Visual learners - the author estimates the percentage at 60% of all learners. Obviously, these are the learners who take in the visual aspects of everything. Teachers respond to them because the visual learners are watching them and appear to be the most engaged. Kinesthetic learners (25%) who need the hands on experience to learn. Sitting and listening is torture for them. These students generally doodle or take notes just to be doing something. Then we have the auditory learners in the minority at 15%. This style of learner enjoys hearing words, listening to books on tape, attending lectures and discussions. What is the most interesting part in the breakdown of these three learning styles is that most teaching is designed for auditory learners even though they make up the minority of all learners. I am a kinesthetic learner with visual tendencies. I always have to doodle. I can't follow audio books, listening to the recorded weather report on the phone (I have to listen over and over again because I start daydreaming) I really don't learn until I do, but pictures help. Would anyone following this blog care to share what type of learner you are? How do you learn? How do you teach? Are they the same?

Setting the Learning Environment

Interesting chapter that deals with stimulating the senses. The author states that what learners not only see, hear and feel but also smell and taste, assists in setting the tone for a learning environment. She uses the analogy of how one prepares their home when company is coming. As hosts/hostesses we want the environment warm, inviting and engaging. She suggests using round tables so participants can see one another, "setting" the tables so that markers, highlighters, post-its are available, setting out name tags and welcome signs. Some new ideas for me are having music on to create a more inviting atmosphere and a colorfully decorated table for the instructor/speaker. She suggests instructors should be available to greet each participant as they arrive. I lead a training session for new hires and I get the point behind these suggestions. I probably wouldn't do all that she suggests but the concept of creating an inviting, stimulating environment for an initial training session is a good one. Not only are we teaching our new staff, we are also setting the tone for what the company is about and modeling how we conduct business. Especially because we work in a residential community I think it would be beneficial to use some of these touches in our trainings.

Chapter 1

Received the book and ready to go! Here is a great quote from the first page, "When you, as an educator look into the eyes of your learners, you are standing at the gateway of enormous learning capacity." Such an image of hope and possibility. I think it's a good way to open the book and open our minds about alternative methods of teaching. This chapter asks us to think about why so many instructors use a one-sided lecture format rather than open up a dialogue with our students. The author stresses the need to engage and energize our learners. She seems to be challenging educators to approach teaching in a less doctrinal format. I think she makes some great points. Each learner is an unique individual and comes to the classroom with their own personal experience. By opening up the avenues of communication, learners can learn from one another and contribute to their own learning process.

Waiting for the book

Anxiously awaiting the arrival of the book so I can begin to read it. Thought I would practice using the blog.

Hello!

Hello! I registered late for the class and now I'm thinking maybe this is all a bad idea. : ) The book I chose is titled From Telling to Teaching by Joyce A. Norris. I read a brief description of the book and it seems to address an important issue in adult education which is that students come with their own unique experiences which needs to be incorporated into the teaching process. I think this is particularly relevant when you are dealing with older adults who have accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience.