Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

OCTOBER 28, 2013

It’s been great to discuss instructional design with other trainers that Deborah has brought together. The secret is in the structure and design of the small group exercises. And, as the facilitator, you have to be good at improvising and skilled at coaching some participants to adapt exercise so it meets their need.

Reflection 98

Reflection Training Train Design 98

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

JULY 31, 2013

I’ve been working program and instructional design, facilitation of peer calls and workshops – in collaboration with the fantastic team at Spitfire. Since not every person in the cohort could travel to Washington, DC, we had virtual participants who joined us via phone and the webinar software. The report out was a competition.

Reflection 97

Reflection Action Learning Change 97

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

MARCH 25, 2014

Each of us took on a different aspect of nonprofit technology design and incorporated some interactive exercises. As one of my great teachers said, ”You are not good at what you do unless you are always learning and reflecting on your practice.” How To Think Like An Instructional Designer.

Training 101

Training Train Reflection Resource 101

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

APRIL 5, 2011

Some reflections: Health Organizations: Social Media. 6. Creative Use of Energizers: Avoiding the 3:00 PM My Brain Is Full Slump: No matter how engaging your content or instructional technique is – people get tired towards the end of a whole day of training. It is a well known fact that exercise helps you think better. (And

Social Media 97

Social Media Reflection Leadership Media 97

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

APRIL 4, 2010

The space was large enough so we could have small group tables, space for food, and space to do full group and small group moving around exercises. Here are some reflections on the instructional design: 1. These leaders are then given the meeting agenda (game instructions), keep the group on track, and volunteer to report out.

Social Media 95

Social Media Reflection Learning Social 95

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

JANUARY 5, 2012

On New Year’s Day, I heard a story on NPR about some research on instructional techniques used by many college professors – the lecture and how it is less effective in an age information abundance. This is important for both online and offline instructional delivery. Content Delivery Is Not Learning.

Experiment 119

Experiment Learning Create Exercise 119

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

SEPTEMBER 29, 2014

Will Digital Post-It Notes Replace Paper? When I facilitate training, I use analog and digital tools and materials. I know some colleagues prefer not to use paper , but go all digital. A few months ago, I listened in on a Google Hangout with Eugene Kim and Dave Gray where they discussed the question “Is documentation learning?”

Facilitation 139

Facilitation Arts Pakistan Exercise 139

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

MAY 17, 2011

The content is important, but it is only half of the instructional design task. Present a concept for 15 minutes, break people into small groups with a particular exercise to apply the material, and then come back as a full group for a report out. This mirrors what you might do in a face-to-face workshop.

Design 109

Design Effective Experiment Learning 109

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

APRIL 27, 2012

This blog post includes some reflections on the instructional design, delivery, and insights that I hope will inform the field building discussion taking place over at the Packard OE Program site. These definitions have informed the curriculum, instructional design, peer learning design, and how we will measure and learn along the way.

Pakistan 113

Pakistan NGO Network Exercise 113

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

NOVEMBER 7, 2013

For training where you are focusing on a skill, it allows for folks express their opinions (negative or positive) and not have get in the way of the instructional flow later on. In some instances, you might need a longer amount of time to do this exercise, but the way this was facilitated with 50 people was highly productive and efficient.

Facilitation 102

Facilitation Technique Ideas Exercise 102

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

FEBRUARY 11, 2014

As a trainer and facilitator who works with nonprofit organizations and staffers, you have to be obsessed with learning theory to design and deliver effective instruction, have productive meetings, or embark on your own self-directed learning path. It is a more structured body break and incorporates more in-depth debrief on content.

Learning Theory 139

Learning Theory Learning Brain Exercise 139

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

MARCH 22, 2013

So, expect to see regular reflections on good instructional design and delivery for any topic, but especially technology related. How does the room set up support or fight your instructional design? I’m also doing a lot of training of other trainers.

Teach 102

Teach Instructional Design Learning Instruction 102

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

NOVEMBER 6, 2014

As a trainer and subject matter expert, I fight a big battle when designing a workshop. Balancing the amount of content delivery with exercises and right sizing given the available time for the workshop. The format of the concept poster was more open then the close-ended set of exercises and questions on the worksheet.

Activities 107

Activities Activism Active Integration 107

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

JANUARY 19, 2017

As a long-time trainer, professor, and teacher, I feel strongly that interactive learning activities – going beyond the death by Powerpoint Lecture – is the key to retention and application for participants. Your room set up can support your instructional activities that engage participants or get in the way.

Lecture 93

Lecture Classroom Utah Experiment 93

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

JUNE 28, 2016

Participants reflected on their style strength and how it has helped them be successful in different situations. We had some fun doing role plays with a partner to figure out their style and some reflection on how we needed to adapt. Reflection questions : “Why did this work?”. ask, “How have sales been going?”.

Reflection 66

Reflection Arts Exercise Facilitation 66

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

OCTOBER 7, 2014

The session was an introduction to design thinking methods and to generate ideas for instructional modules for networked leadership development. The session starts with two quick exercises so we can be comfortable with the concepts. This allowed us to experience the whole design process – design a new wallet – and reflect on it.

Design 107

Design Course Leadership Network 107

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

MARCH 2, 2011

To reflect on how these modules might be used in their own trainings. The session provided strategy theory and a simulation exercise based on creating a digital activism campaign for the Story of Electronics film (that now has Arabic sub-titles ). The Yemen Team has some additional reflections on their workshop blog.

Activities 92

Activities Active Activism Digital 92

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

JUNE 25, 2012

This blog post includes some reflections on the instructional design, delivery, and insights that I hope will inform the field building discussion taking place over at the Packard OE Program site. The exercise usually takes 90-120 minutes in the afternoon, but participants were so engaged they didn’t want to stop for tea.

India 103

India NGO Network Exercise 103

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

JANUARY 3, 2012

I’m not a happy camper unless I’m learning something and for me learning is about reflection – which includes blogging and establishing rituals like the 18 minute process that Bregman shares in his book (see below.) I’ve been immersed in writing about measurement and testing instructional frameworks this year.

Reflection 104

Reflection Technique Journal Teach 104

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

FEBRUARY 8, 2018

As a long-time trainer, professor, and teacher, I feel strongly that interactive learning activities – going beyond the death by Powerpoint Lecture – is the key to retention and application for participants. Your room set up can support your instructional activities that engage participants or get in the way.

Learning 85

Learning Classroom Classes Student 85

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

JULY 25, 2017

I answered yes to all, but more importantly I think these two methods helped me the most: Carve out time for reflection after each training and do an after-action review with yourself. If time is available, also do a plus/delta exercise with participants as a close out to the session. Measure, evaluate, reflect, and improve.

Participatory 79

Participatory Facilitation Technique Asia 79

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

SEPTEMBER 25, 2009

We began the session by filing out of the conference room to the parking lot outside for an interactive exercise called " The Dance Floor and the Balcony." The instructions for the exercise are: Get in a circle. Repeat the exercise, this time with the goal of moving one person to the opposite side of the room.

Collaboration 93

Collaboration Learning Exercise Online 93

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

DECEMBER 31, 2013

Since were are on the Mediterranean Sea, I did the final reflective exercise as a walk on the beach. I got to perfect it when I taught master classes and workshops for NGOs and activists in New Zealand and Australia. Photo by Gary Clark. Many best wishes for happy, healthy, and abundant 2014 for you.

Tunisia 127

Tunisia Facilitation New Zealand Technique 127

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

APRIL 24, 2007

I saw a black board in the corner of the room, wheeled it over and wrote the key words of the presentation and shared my favorite advice about issues of incorporating technology into your instructional practice: "It isn't a matter of if technical glitches will happen, it's what are you going to do when they happen.

Reflection 50

Reflection Laptop Wiki Artist 50

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

AUGUST 14, 2015

Because webinars were a new medium to trainers back then, I used Richard Mayer’s research on multi-media learning based on understanding how the brain works and the ability to pay attention to guide the instructional design. In order to do that, you have to think like an instructional designer ! Medium: Up to 50 people.

Facilitation 50

Facilitation Interaction Reflection Design 50

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

NOVEMBER 9, 2009

And they worked! I wanted to capture a couple of reflections on the process as well as content learnings by way of this post. . One of the things that is essential to good instruction (or presentation) is knowing your audience. It's a shift from sage on the stage instruction to honoring the learners for what they know.

Social Media 87

Social Media Game Media Social 87

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

JULY 24, 2012

This type of active exercise gets people moving, serves as an icebreaker, and also is an efficient way for the group to share a lot of useful practical learnings. We did a “Fish Bowl” exercise where several volunteers brainstormed an editorial calendar for the month of September, while the rest of the group observed.

Network 98

Network Build Learning Strategy 98

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

NOVEMBER 7, 2008

I'm feeling good about the workshop because I feel that I'm finally closer to mastering differentiated instruction with social media and nonprofits. If you had the first group work on the simulation exercise, they'd be uncomfortable. This saved a lot of time during the report out on reflections and learning. Let me explain.

Louisville 50

Louisville Reflection Conference Game 50

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

JANUARY 13, 2010

The key to success in social media is to leave room for reflection at the end of a project. Reflection gives you a chance to understand what worked and what didn't. That was the reason for the eating chocolate exercise I did in PoST class on Monday. My challenge was to get into a reflective mindset.

Classes 95

Classes Learning Fundraising Reflection 95

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

JANUARY 14, 2009

I used to joke that my brain has evolved because I've been doing it for so long - that I've been exercising my brain's synthesis muscle for many years. When I read this, I started to reflect on the different groups that I typically get in training workshops and the need for differentiated instruction.

Brain 103

Brain Social Media Media Social 103

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

AUGUST 24, 2016

For the leadership development, there were four guiding questions that we explored throughout our journey – and now as I’m back I will continue to reflect and take action based on these: What does it mean to be a leader in the face of complex challenges. What social disparities do you most want to remedy?

Leadership 50

Leadership Develop Israel Exercise 50

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

DECEMBER 9, 2007

I'm happy that my new laptop has an extended battery life so I am writing some reflections on the plane en route to Boston. What I most enjoy about doing face-to-face training workshops is the right after reflection questions: How could this learning experience been improved? What worked? What didn't?

Reflection 50

Reflection Slides Metrics PowerPoint 50

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

JUNE 28, 2018

Opening Exercise. The session kicked off with a Spectragram exercise involving the full group. I learned this technique from Allen Gunn from Aspiration over ten years ago at 2007 Penguin Day. We decided to use an understanding exercise, a SWOT analysis related to the topics. Reflection and Takeaways.

Participatory 78

Participatory Digital Facilitation Exercise 78

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

MAY 4, 2015

I also was honored to facilitate a reflection exercise as part of the closing plenary session with data for good rock stars Bob Filbin, Jeffrey Blandt, and Jake Porway. It has been a long time since I’ve attended a conference where great content and instructional design were so well integrated. Mark of a good conference?

Conference 50

Conference Data Exercise Reflection 50

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

NOVEMBER 12, 2015

Here’s what my reflection: Technology Tools To Poll Participants. When thinking about adding mobile/online polling to a training, you have to think like an instructional designer for it be effective. Help participants digest and reflect on some content shared during the session. In other words, to what end?

Poll 50

Poll Technique Group Tools 50

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

APRIL 8, 2015

He lead us on a series of improvisation exercises designed to teach important skills for networked leaders: empathy, awareness, celebrating failure, being open to change and more. Okay, I admit the improvisation work is a lot of fun, but there is a lot of learning embedded in the reflection and debriefs. Of course, we messed up.

Teach 50

Teach Change Exercise Social 50

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

NOVEMBER 5, 2014

The next day, I facilitated a workshop on Best Practices for Crowd Funding that blended traditional instruction with innovation lab facilitation techniques. This post shares the content and I’ll share a post about the instructional design in a second post. Ask team members to reflect on their lessons learned.

Fund 132

Fund Campaign Practice Giving 132