Supporting Facilitators

Because they work directly with participants of the Seasons of CS professional learning offerings, facilitators play a critical role in delivering on the Quality Professional Learning Standards. So, it is essential that CS Champions provide support to the facilitators before, during, and after each professional learning event.

Before the Professional Learning Event

The CS Champions should organize an online meeting with facilitators several weeks before the event to be able to answer any questions, prevent any complications, and introduce everyone. In 2023, this meeting was referred to as the “Summer of CS Facilitator Orientation”. Prior to a synchronous virtual meeting, facilitators were asked to participate in four asynchronous activities. After doing so, facilitators from all of the Summer of CS workshops convened to share best practices and review expectations. Below are slides from the meeting where facilitators shared engaging facilitation strategies and reflections:

If your event includes group activities that involve all workshop participants, it is important to clarify the purpose of those activities and describe how they may impact the individual workshops in regards to timing and content during the facilitator meeting.

In addition to the facilitator meeting, it is important to maintain frequent and open communication with facilitators. CS Champions should consider scheduling time in advance of the workshop to review the Digital Digest, a document that is intended to be a one-stop-shop for participants to access workshop materials and logistics. See the Digital Digest template with a link to an example completed digest below:

CS Champions should work with facilitators to ensure that the Digital Digest is distributed to participants prior to the start of the workshop.

During the Professional Learning Event

CS Champions should provide ongoing support to the facilitators and workshops participants during the professional learning event. Typically, a CS Champion should check in with facilitators during specified break times to ensure that they have all of the materials and technology to continue to deliver the professional learning.

After each day of a multi-day professional learning event, it is imperative that CS Champions meet with facilitators to conduct a “Daily Debrief”, which is an opportunity for facilitators to share any needs that they and/or their participants have, and for the CS Champion to provide feedback and suggest adjustments for the facilitator to make. The “Daily Debrief” might also include a conversation about a few of the elements in the Quality Professional Learning Standards using this QPLS companion tool.

After the Professional Learning Event

First and foremost, it is important to acknowledge the impact of the facilitators. Be sure to appropriately thank them for their time and efforts. 👏

After the event, the CS Champion should ensure that facilitators are compensated for their time. This might be delivered as a part of an expenditure contract with a professional learning provider. Please ensure that all parties are paid in a timely manner.

As was the case during the workshop, consider meeting with the facilitators to conduct a retrospective of their workshop, which serves as an opportunity to identify professional learning elements that were impactful, as well as those that can and must be improved. Prior to the retrospective meeting, consider sharing survey and evaluation results with the facilitators.