Events Team Portal/FacilitationSeries

Facilitation Training Series Overview edit

Incorporating facilitation into your events for more connected and engaging experiences:

The WMF Community Events team are proposing a short training series for Wikimedia community event organizers (volunteers and affiliate staff) where we will bring in an expert facilitator and event producer both with international event experience to discuss the importance of incorporating quality facilitation into your events and how to do it. This will likely be a two part series of 75 - 90 minute sessions where each session will include training, active facilitation practice and modeling, and some discussion around how this fits specifically into the Wikimedia context and how this can help strengthen your community building efforts with diverse, multi-modal facilitation best practices.

Depending on the interests of the participants we will focus more heavily on in person or remote events - but both event types will be covered.

Why are facilitation considerations important for Wikimedia event organizers? edit

Facilitation helps... edit

with session effectiveness and decision making
allow more voices and communication styles to be heard
keep your sessions focused on their targeted goals
track topics that will benefit from follow up discussions
improve safe spaces
make the best use of limited time
reduce confusion

Understanding facilitation as an event organizer will help you... edit

understand what types of sessions are needed and design your program in an effective way
figure out how to adapt to different group sizes quickly
Increase session impact and outcomes
increase constancy between sessions
clearly define sessions and their purposes in advance
allow your speakers to focus on the content while facilitators can focus on the process
change tactics mid-event if things are not going smoothly

Express your interest here edit

We are looking for: event organizers, event program leads, or community members leading decision making processes within their communities. Paid affiliates staff and community volunteers are welcome.

Before you fill out the section below

Signing up below will not guarantee you a spot in the training series, for now we are trying to understand if there is interest in proceeding with building this training. If we proceed, there will be a secondary action required later in the process to confirm your space.
The more information you provide in response to the questions below, the more we can customize this training towards community needs / your interest areas
If you would like to express interest but do not want to do so publicly for any reason, please email rfarrand@wikimedia.org with responses to the same questions.
The detailed are not finalized but it is possible that we will be using google (forms, spreadsheets, docs and email) and Zoom for this training, please consider your comfort with these tools as you decide if you are interested in participating.
These sessions will have a participation limit so in case we need to choose between applicants we may prioritize those we are actively leading event organization efforts. If there is a much larger amount of interest than we expect we would consider running another round of training at a later date.

Please fill this out if you would be interested in participating in the training series!
Sign here	Events you have been (or will be) involved in organizing or facilitating?	What would be the best use of time for you during this facilitation training series?	Does your part of the Wikimedia Community have any specific needs around incorporating facilitation into your events?	Anything else you think we should consider as we build this training series?
♥Ainali ^talk_{contributions} 20:32, 25 March 2021 (UTC)[reply]	User group meetings	I am especially interested in becoming more inclusive and enable more of the participants in the meetings I facilitate to be active and contribute their perspectives.	Our user group is distributed all over the world so internet connectivity is highly varied.	I noticed your point on google and Zoom and like to be transparent with that I will not partake in activities with proprietary software (better give my spot to someone else if those are chosen).
EAzzellini (WMB) (talk) 21:59, 25 March 2021 (UTC)[reply]	WikidataCon 2021, Festa da Wiki-Lusofonia, user group meetings, edit-a-thons and trainings	Explore resources, tools and alternatives for organizing super engaging and one of a kind online events (or even hybrid events) due the pandemic situation	No
GoEThe (talk) 10:33, 26 March 2021 (UTC)[reply]	Chapter general assemblies and board meetings, WikiCon Portugal, Strategy Salon	I am interested in techniques to improve effectiveness of meetings, increase participation and engagement.	Our chapter is composed only of volunteers, and availability is quite varied.
CDG (WMAT staff) (talk) 11:02, 26 March 2021 (UTC)[reply]	Wikimedia Österreich board meetings, community events, international Wikimedia events as fiscal sponsor	Effectiveness of meetings, inclusion and friendly spaces, conflict resolution, challenges of online meetings (different facilitations skills are needed)
Islahaddow (talk) 16:28, 26 March 2021 (UTC)[reply]	Wiki Loves Africa, Wiki Loves Women, Wiki In Africa board meetings, advisory committee meetings, training programmes, community development, etc.	I am interested to find more effective and layered ways to ensure active, participative collaboration and engagement from all members, and not just passive acceptance or silence. We have many techniques that we have used over the past, but you cannot have too many techniques to choose from. ;)	Engagement strategies and inclusivity practices are essential to developing communities. Think this is a very important training series to develop and host.	More successful strategies will be incorporated into and passed on through the training programmes we are developing for our projects.
Chico Venancio (talk) 18:39, 26 March 2021 (UTC)[reply]	WikiCon Brasil (planned), user-group meetings, general assembly	Interested in creating welcoming environments and perhaps hybrid events.
AJurno (WMB) (talk) 20:29, 26 March 2021 (UTC)[reply]	WikidataCon 2021	Explore resources, tools and alternatives for organizing super engaging and one of a kind online events (or even hybrid events) due to the pandemic situation.	No	As I have just joined the team, and will be working in facilitation moments during WikidataCon 2021 context, I would be pleased if the language of the training could include new people as well.
Sakhalinio (talk) 11:37, 28 March 2021 (UTC)[reply]	User group meetings	I am organizing local meet-up with Wikipedians.	No
TaronjaSatsuma (talk) 08:05, 29 March 2021 (UTC)[reply]	Afiliate meetings, Strategy meetings, comunity meetings and events	To learn about experiences, tricks.	No
Lea Lacroix (WMDE)	WikidataCon 2021, other Wikidata events, Arctic/Celtic Knot, hackathons...	Learn new information, knowledge, tools and tips. Have discussions, practical experiments or exercises. I'm especially interested in the topics of accessibility and inclusiveness, inter-cultural communication, and how to make sure that everyone has space and feels safe to contribute during events.	No
- Darwin ^Ahoy! 16:20, 29 March 2021 (UTC)[reply]	Chapter general assemblies, WikiCon Portugal, Wikidata Days 2019, WikidataDays 2021 (planning, steering committee), Glam Days (2018), Public Policy event at the National Library (2018), Art & feminism related events, edit-a-tons, among others	Organization and event administration techniques, organization on the ground, increasing outreach, providing a safe and warm environment for all. Also interested in the organization of hybrid (presence + virtual) events.	Our chapter is composed only of volunteers, and availability is quite varied.
FULBERT (talk) 02:15, 31 March 2021 (UTC)[reply]	We are planning for the Queering Wikipedia 2021 User Group Working Days, and this is exactly the sort of training and support that would help us, as this is our first, internal, global gathering.	Learning about facilitation and event management best practices and tips + tricks on being effective given a global gathering.	Yes	This is a wonderful idea, and while our event is in mid-May of 2021, I believe this training session will be most valuable as we (the Movement) continue to explore how we can best lead ourselves forward.
`Em-mustapha` ^{User \| talk} 02:30, 31 March 2021 (UTC)[reply]	Group's coordination and projects	I am interested to learn new skills and techniques in bringing more positive impact, inclusivity and more participation in projects I facilitated or organized.	Our community is growing day by day and volunteers needed skills to help them edit better on wikimedia projects.	Better facilitation will lead to better understanding.
Smirkybec (talk) 11:54, 31 March 2021 (UTC)[reply]	I am the sole staff member of the user group Wikimedia Community Ireland, and we run a variety of campaigns, workshops and other events throughout the year.	I would like to learn more strategies to engage the global community on Irish topics, as well as finding those in Ireland we have yet to engage with!	No	I would like to reflect on how we can better support small language Wikipedias specifically as well.
Anthere	A variety of meetings, but most oftenly of limited size in terms of participants (eg. board meetings, advisory board brainstorming meetings, training sessions, get-together team meetings, strategy feedback meetings...). Curently lead in 3 groups, Wiki in Africa, les sans pagEs and offline UG	I am interesting in learning about facilitation and event management best practices and tips + tricks to be more effective. More specifically about time-management (to make the best use of limited time), online meetings effectiveness, how to allow more voices and communication styles to and last safe-spaces. Was always impressed by the effectiveness of professionals in wikimedia events.	Three points raise to my mind We usually deal with volunteers and we should be particularly careful with the time requirements Mostly online activities, with frequent situations of poor internet connectivity Gender gap related activities require a very strong attention given to safety and inclusivity
Ceslause (talk)	Wiki Loves Africa, Wiki Loves Women, Wiki In Africa, Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos, training programmes, community development, etc.	I am interested to find more effective and layered ways to ensure active, participative collaboration and engagement from all members, and not just passive acceptance or silence. We have many techniques that we have used over the past, but you cannot have too many techniques to choose from. ;)	Engagement strategies and inclusivity practices are essential to developing communities. Think this is a very important training series to develop and host.	More successful strategies will be incorporated into and passed on through the training programmes we are developing for our projects.
Valerio Bozzolan (talk) 08:41, 2 April 2021 (UTC)[reply]	Linux Day Torino 2016 conference (2017, 2018, 2019) · Italian wiki conference online 2020	Smart question. To be honest I don't have time to hear about how good is a proprietary tool without any alternative. I would like to invest lot of my time in learning how to help people feeling part of their event and actively participate ecc. :)	Cozy place also for minorities but no ananas on pizza. No way.	It may be useful to release these videos, so I'm allowed to record and spread, add subtitles ecc.
Ferdi2005 _[Mail] 13:00, 3 April 2021 (UTC)[reply]	itWikiCon 2020, all Wikimedia Italy events and meetings in Apulia.	I'd like to learn how to facilitate a meeting or a conference session being respectful of all the participants and providing the best experience for everyone, without losing anyone's time.	Now we don't have any kind of facilitation into our (local) events/meetings, so any facilitation competence would be really useful.	Perhaps you could use clear-written support material (such as slides) to include also people who don't know English so well.
Hillun Vilayl Napis (WMID) (talk) 10:59, 6 April 2021 (UTC)[reply]	Wiki Cinta Budaya 2018, Wiki Cinta Budaya 2020, Wiki Loves Earth 2019 in Indonesia, Wiki Loves Earth 2020 in Indonesia, Project GLOW/Project Saraswati	Find an effective way to increase participation and engagement.	No
Salvador (talk) 18:50, 19 April 2021 (UTC)[reply]	Organizer or co-organizer: Wikimania 2015 and Iberocoonf 2013. As participant: several Wikimedia Summits (former Wikimedia Conference), Wikimanias and Iberoconfs. I was member of AffCom where I facilitated many sessions, discussions and arbitrations among affiliates. As member of WMMX I helped and help in many discussions and sessions to get agreements.	I would like to learn specific tools and technics to facilitate agreements or product development, and to identify which is the most appropiate technic to every group, community or stage of the discussion.	I would like to incorporate this knowledge to Spanish-speaking communities, so there is a multicultural and non-English native speaking focus. Translation tools for non-English speakers it's also a necessity. Finally, I would consider the gender bias, it's needed to have some considerations about how to facilitate in a group with man or women majority.	Volunteer effort is based on free time, so a self-paced course or training would help, otherwise some schedule and assignements flexibility could work too.

Any questions for now? Please use the talkpage!