Principles Underlying Facilitation of Learning

Professional, ethical, learner-centered, expert facilitation is critical to learners, organizations, and facilitators. The following principles are presented for your consideration. You are invited to make them your own.

1. Facilitated learning is learner-centered, not facilitator-centered.

2. The facilitator is in the learning experience with the learners; he or she is not merely an observer.

3. The facilitator’s goal is to make learning happen.

4. Learners get first crack at the learning as much as possible.

5. Adult learners have specific needs that facilitators must fulfill for learning to occur.

6. Facilitators create opportunities for learners to share their own experiences and expertise.

7. In a learning event, all participants are sources for learning; the facilitator is not the only source of expertise.

8. Facilitators protect and affirm ideas.

9. Facilitators are not performers. The facilitator’s job is to be interested, not interesting.

10. Facilitators encourage and support balanced participation in the learning group.

11. Facilitators create a comfortable and supportive environment in which learners can take risks.

12. Facilitators remove obstacles from the learning process.