Peer2Peer

Discussion Facilitator Guidelines

GENERAL INFORMATION

The PURPOSE of the Peer2Peer Tabletop Discussions is:

•        To share ideas with your peers;

•        To meet other colleagues who do the same thing you do (i.e., network);

•        To address “nuts and bolts” issues and solutions to problems;

•        To discover resources and how to access them.

The FUNCTION of the Facilitator is to:

•         Promote communication from each participant at the table;

•         Guide and direct an open and honest discussion of the topic among those at the table.

(NOTE: This is not a lecture. You’re the facilitator, not the teacher.)

THE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS

•        Identify yourself and explain the purpose of discussion (see PURPOSE above).

•        Have each participant at your table introduce himself/herself with name, affiliation, title and primary job responsibility.

•        Enlist a volunteer to be a Reporter/Scribe…or you may chose to do this yourself.

            (NOTE: This person will need to write/print legibly, as we will compile the results from each table.)

•        Start the discussion with the topic identified. Have each person tell one or two points they would like to discuss, related to the assigned topic. Make a list of these points, which will be the basic outline that directs the discussion.

•        REMEMBER: the goal is participation by the entire group, not instruction by a single member. Don’t let one or two people dominate; encourage those who are reluctant to contribute and ask them specific, nonthreatening questions. (“What do you think? Do you have something to add?”)

•        Disagreements can occur. Keep the opinions directed at the topic and not at individuals.

•        • If the topic gets sidetracked, judge the value to the overall goal/topic and either continue or suggest it be addressed after this session between the interested parties.

•        At the conclusion, have the group quickly summarize the discussion, re-address the initial points they wanted to cover and determine 3-4 key tips, conclusions or ideas.

•        Ask the Reporter/Scribe to record these summary tips/ideas on the provided Summary Sheet. Lead the table in determining ONE key point to share with the entire group. (NOTE: Upon completion of the program, NADP staff members will pick up the Summary Sheet for each topic…so leave it on the table, please.)

•         Thank everyone for their participation and invite them to continue the discussion after the session. Locate the Evaluation forms and encourage each attendee to fill them out. THIS IS IMPORTANT. The data from these Evaluations are compiled and used for shaping future events.