We generate assumptions in just a few seconds as we enter an environment. The first thirty seconds of our participants' arrival may make a bigger difference in their learning than the content we present.
You've plugged in the equipment, checked your materials, gotten your coffee, arranged the room, and now some folks are coming in. Here's what counts:
- Arrange the room to support interaction among the participants. Small group settings-tables seating 4-6 each that allow them to face each other and see the screen -- encourage dialogue, relationship building, and a team learning environment. Traditional rows spell "S.O.S."
- Asking questions is a great first step:Can you tell me where the cafeteria is?"I'm parked in lot #2. Is that the best place to park?"I'm staying at the Holiday Inn. Where's the closest place to get a decent dinner?"When I head home this afternoon, what's the best way to get to Route 83?"Asking open questions elevates trust, candor, and equity. So their perception of you is not "S/he's the teacher," but "S/he's interested in working with us."
- Surprises are good. Have a slide on the screen that bears no apparent relationship to the topic, but is visually interesting -- a beach, kids playing soccer, an orchestra tuning up. Have some music playing (I've found that Bach, Mozart and Strauss work best --something familiar but not too familiar). But there are no wrong choices. I've used everything from New Orleans street jazz to a cappella, but not grunge rock.
- Move around, avoid podiums (or is it podia?) and microphones like the plague.We all make important judgments in the first few moments of any situation. As learning facilitators, we can pull out all the stops to establish three critical impressions -- without being phony. Don't act a certain way, BE a certain way. The three critical impressions:
1. I have no problem asking you for help (I'm accessible, and we're in this together).
2. This is going to be different than you may have expected, BETTER than you expected.
3. I'm going to have fun. You can too.
