Becca & Taylor Training Team

Executive Summary

 

            The group of Taylor Jackson and Becca Roithmayr are developing a training session titled, Facilitation of Small Group Discussions, for the student grader team of ISAT160. In ISAT160, or Problem Solving Applications in Science and Technology, approximately 200-300 first year students at James Madison University are involved in a dynamic class setting with a professor, a teaching assistant, and a fleet of twelve student graders. Each student grader is responsible for approximately 20 students, which includes grading their reflection papers as well as facilitating critical/thoughtful discussion. Through weekly correspondence both in person and via email, the professor of the course, Dr. Pappas, has reported that many of the student graders lack the skills and comfortability necessary to lead discussions, which fails to provide the students of those graders with an adequate learning experience. A training session on Leading and Facilitating small group discussions could enhance the quality of small group discussion and provide the student graders valuable skills applicable to many other aspects of their lives.

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            To better assess the specific needs of the student graders regarding their skills and current knowledge, we will be conducting a needs assessment regarding specific topics within leadership and facilitation of small group discussions. To make this training session effective and interesting, we plan to utilize space, technology, engaging activities, and role play. After conducting the needs assessment, we plan to provide a general, yet thorough, overview of information while also providing an in-depth examination of the specific problem topics.