Facilitation Questions for a TBL Classroom

TBL Resources
, ,
1

In the dynamic environment of Team-Based Learning (TBL), the role of the instructor extends beyond delivering content; it involves facilitating meaningful discussions, encouraging critical thinking, and guiding students to deeper understanding. This post explores a range of facilitation techniques that can enhance your TBL sessions, making them more interactive, reflective, and impactful. You can refer to the facilitation grid below:

Facilitation_Grid
Facilitation_Grid1920Ă—1054 222 KB

We have also put together some facilitation questions that you can incorporate into your facilitation style to drive discussions:

Gather and Explore Ideas—Devil’s Advocate

  1. It seems like each team is agreeing that “B” is the best answer. Why didn’t your team choose “A” or “C” as the answer?

  2. If your team was to create an even better answer—call it “F”—what would that look like?

Gather and Explore Ideas—Paraphrase

  1. What is the key takeaway from the comments that were just shared by ……?

  2. That’s a powerful observation. Does anyone else have a similar observation?

Extend and Develop Ideas—Build

  1. Let’s hear from another team which may have agreed/disagreed with this response.

  2. Are there others on this team who can further develop the case—that this is the best answer?

Extend and Develop Ideas—Respond to Questions with Questions

  1. That’s a great question. I don’t know. What do you think?

  2. So, a question is on the table from this team. Which team has an answer or response?

  3. Compare and Validate Ideas—Redirect/Park or Interrupt/Refocus

  4. What might be wrong with the answers you have heard?

  5. Are there any other options for a correct answer?

Compare and Validate Ideas—Clarify or Simplify

  1. That’s a great observation—a wonderful answer. Can you elaborate or go into more detail—to help us understand that this is the correct answer?

  2. So, if you must re-explain your answer—in ten words or less—what would you say?

Integration—Consolidation—Takeaways—Create General Rules

  1. Based on this discussion, what did you learn?

  2. What’s your greatest takeaway from this discussion?

Integration—Consolidation—Takeaways—Generate Specific Examples

  1. So, with the observations and takeaways that we’ve discussed—can you think of an example or scenario at work—where you would apply this learning?

  2. Does anyone have a personal experience they’d like to share—that demonstrates the points and observations that were just shared?

You can also download the paper on facilitation grid authored by @lmichaelsen, Jim Sibley, and Loretta Whitehorne. Facilitation Grid.pdf (640.6 KB)

By incorporating these facilitation techniques into your TBL sessions, you can create a more engaging and effective learning environment. These strategies not only help students grasp complex concepts but also develop their critical thinking and collaborative skills.

Feel free to refer back to this resource as you continue to refine your facilitation techniques in TBL. Happy teaching!

If you have other facilitation techniques or ideas that work for your classes, please share them with all of us.

1 Like