- Your group has decided that they want to begin a collaborative inquiry. Two people in your group are having a disagreement about the value of the collaborative inquiry process. Both have said that the other’s idea is a “waste of time”. It is getting quite ideological and heated. There are seven other members of the group, including one for whom it is their first meeting. None of them have said anything and one member looks like he is ready to leave. How might you eliminate this conflict?
- Your group had a very positive meeting last month, when you decided to focus on the identified student need as determined from examining the data. At this meeting, teachers are bringing student work to the table for a moderated marking session and identification of next steps. However, a department head has asked to sit in on the meeting. She keeps asking questions for clarification and making lengthy points not relevant to the task. Other members are getting visibly frustrated. The participants have a designated period of time. How might you focus the group on the task?
- Your group has been given a full day of release from the principal to use for their Professional Learning. How are you going to structure the discussion to ensure that a decision gets made that is satisfactory for all participants in the group?
- The principal has mandated that a group of teachers engage in a Professional Learning Cycle. The group is divided regarding the usefulness and relevance of the process. How can you bring the group together to make this a positive learning experience for everyone involved?
Scenario / Facilitator Actions
- Your group meets for an hour once a month. One member of your group is very long winded and frequently takes up a lot of meeting time talking about vaguely related issues. The participants are always very interested in her thoughts and she is a well respected member of the group. How can you take back control of the meeting?
- Your group meetings are usually energetic and enthusiastic with lots of participation. However, nothing ever seems to be identified as an action. At the next meeting, the group decides to make a plan of action. It is an energetic discussion, but the group cannot agree on what the action should be taken before the next meeting. How can you help the group make a decision?