Facilitating Change: Examining Honors Students’ Perceptions of Learning Facilitation Techniques

Authors

Conner W. Suddick, Idaho State UniversityFollow
Lindi Dice, Idaho State UniversityFollow

Date of this Version

2023

Document Type

Article

Citation

Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council (fall/winter 2023) 24(2): 67–94

Comments

Copyright 2023, National Collegiate Honors Council. Used by permission

Abstract

Despite advancements in global communication and interpersonal networks, in-person discussions and scholarly discourses often falter in the classroom—stifling innovation and preventing opportunities to foster deeper human connection. This study explores the remedy of facilitation: the art and science of enabling a group to unleash its creativity, address conflict, and unlock collective wisdom. Authors present a variety of facilitation techniques used in teaching honors students (n = 13) and closely examine how students articulate their personal learning outcomes after practicing effective facilitations. Liberating structures, which engage everyone in problem-solving, practicing self-discovery, and envisioning potential solutions, are used. Reflective assessments indicate student growth and skill development, including flexibility, adaptability, and communicative agility. With honors programs and colleges as loci for multidisciplinary learning and holistic leadership development, authors encourage practitioners to take active roles in fostering the next generation of facilitators. Ideas for future curricular adaptations are presented.