Creative Facilitation for Community Educators

In this 2-day professional development course you'll learn how to creatively facilitate presentations, workshops and short courses (of up to 1-day) on any topic for adult learners. You will:

• gain skills to facilitate learning rather than just presenting information

• build a toolbox of enlivening facilitation processes that will keep your attendees engaged right from the get-go

• understand the concept of needs-based learning

• learn how to create learning environments where everyone's needs are met

• gain insights into creating a group culture of learning.

This course is suitable for people starting out as community educators and more experienced facilitators who want to broaden their repertoire of creative processes. This short introductory course will put you on the path to becoming a confident and creative facilitator.

International facilitation educator Robin Clayfield will lead the course, bringing her four decades of creative learning experience to this intensive weekend. Northey Street's adult education coordinator and experienced facilitator Gav Hardy will be assisting Robin. We have been running creative facilitation courses in partnership with Robin since 2004, when we ran a 6-day Dynamic Groups course.

"I got more out of this weekend than my whole teaching degree." - past participant

By the end of the weekend you will:

1. Understand how adults learn - the three modes of learning - and how we can deliver more effective learning outcomes.

2. Know how to create session plans that balance style with substance.

3. Start building a toolbox of creative educational processes and resources.

4. Have practiced facilitating a creative presentation.

5. Gain insights into the context of learning.

You will have the confidence to plan, create and facilitate sessions ranging from 1-hour to 1-day. The learning environment will be fun, supportive and sensitive to learners needs.  

About the Facilitators

Robin Clayfield is a Permaculture Pioneer and international educator, group facilitator, ceremony guide and ‘best-selling’ author specialising in Social Permaculture, creative, interactive facilitation, teacher training and group leadership. She has lived and breathed Permaculture, Deep Ecology and social change for over 40 years. Robin has written books, a training manual and many kits, card games and resources to support educators, facilitators, group decision makers, Permaculture practitioners, activists and community workers from diverse industries and lifestyles. She has lived at Crystal Waters Permaculture Eco-village in Queensland, Australia for over 37 years and consults and facilitates for focused groups, intentional communities, organisations, social enterprises and individuals globally.

Gavin Hardy is Northey Street City Farm's adult education coordinator, a permaculture educator, designer, author and film maker passionate about community food. Gav has been facilitating community-based workshops in design, drawing, permaculture, arboriculture, agroforestry, horticulture and ecology for two decades. He learnt his craft mostly with Robin Clayfield from Earth Care Education and also from Robina McCurdy (Earth Care Aotearoa) and Shani Graham (Living Smart WA). Gav continues to learn about creative facilitation processes from his peers, actively seeks to develop new ways of teaching and aims to bring joy and fun into the education space (as it's a great way to learn!). Gav is an advanced Iyengar yoga practitioner and holds Bachelors Degrees on Engineering and Landscape Architecture plus a Certificate Level 4 in Training and Assessment.

Important details

• This course is held over the weekend of the Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th of March, 8.30am to 5.30pm. There will be short breaks for morning and afternoon tea, and 60 minutes for lunch.

• Course resources will be provided.

• A certificate of completion will be issued by Northey Street City Farm

• There may be an option to run a third day later in the year, or a series of monthly short sessions, to hone your skills. To be decided with students.

• The focus is on face-to-face learning, but the principles are applicable to the online environment as well.

In the spirit of collaboration, we will enjoy a shared lunch on both days. Morning tea with snacks, seasonal fruit, herbal teas and dairy milk alternatives will be provided. On Saturday night you will be invited to join Robin, Gav and your fellow students for dinner.

Fees

The course fee is $300. A deposit of $150 can be paid with the balance (of $150) to be paid two weeks prior to the course starting. Fees may be paid via direct deposit to Northey Street City Farm. Email Gav at education@nscf.org.au for details.