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2009 Workshops

G5 Grumps, Gadflies, and Naysayers: Managing Challenging Participants in Professional Development Workshops
Level: All Levels

This 180-minute workshop addresses a problem familiar to many facilitators of professional development events, including training events carried out in workplace settings: how can reluctant, resistant, or even disruptive participants be guided toward cooperative and effective participation in group processes? Combining theory and field knowledge, this workshop considers the motivations and behavior—including possible underlying cultural factors—of challenging participants and offers practical suggestions for transforming disruptive behavior into a positive force. Key features of this workshop include small group examination of case studies, role play, and whole-group sharing of strategies for managing—and therefore more effectively serving—problem participants.

Presenter:

An educator for more than 25 years, Janette Edwards has extensive experience facilitating small- and large-group events, particularly those geared to teacher education and professional development. She holds a doctorate in education from the University of San Francisco’s Department of Organization & Leadership, where her studies concentrated on International Adult Learning. In her present position as Associate Professor/co-Program Manager in the Faculty Development Division of the Defense Language Institute, Dr. Edwards has honed her skills as a facilitator of multicultural teaching teams, effectively facilitating Team Building workshops that focus on strategies for conflict resolution, effective communication, action planning, and vision building for Israeli, Pakistani, Chinese, Korean, Persian, French, and Kurdish instructors.

 

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Thursday, April 23
8:30 am - 12:00 pm

Presented By:
Janette Edwards

Session Addresses These IAF Core Competencies:

Plan appropriate group processes

Create and sustain a participatory environment

Guide group to appropriate and useful outcomes

Build and maintain professional knowledge

Model positive professional attitude

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