Facilitation Guide for Effective Conflict

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TEACHING AND FACILITATION
When using facilitation as a method for holding a class, a teacher needs to employ other 
strategies than she/he usually does. The most common understanding of what a teacher does 
is very different to what a facilitator does. 
SCHOOL TEACHING
FACILITATION
Teacher starts from his/her own knowledge 
Facilitator starts from the knowledge of 
the group
Teacher presents new information from the 
front of the classroom. 
Facilitator uses participatory methods – 
activities in which all members of the 
group participate
Information flows in one direction, from
the teacher to the students
Information flows in many different 
directions, between all members of the 
group – a true exchange of ideas
Teacher is concerned with students 
understanding the right point of view
Facilitator encourages and values different 
views

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11
ENGAGING STUDENTS IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY
When facilitating a workshop, it is important to be aware that different students have differ-
ent learning styles. From psychological and pedagogical research, it appears that people learn 
more when more of their senses are involved. The “Learning Heads” give a rough estimation 
from this research.
Source: Arnold, Rick, Bev Burke, e.a., Educating for a Change, Between The Lines, Toronto (1991)
It is interesting to notice that the most commonly used way in which people try to pass in-
formation and experience (skills) is done in the least effective way: by speeches (hear only). 
Although it is not always possible to engage students through all their senses when exploring 
a topic, due to lack of time or other constraints, it is a good idea to always try to use as many 
different ways of presenting a topic and asking students to explore it.