How to Train Graphic Facilitators
Graphic facilitators record meeting proceedings by drawing pictures of concepts and ideas discussed during the meeting. Using mural-sized paper, colored markers and pastels, the facilitator uses lines to connect words and symbols. The emerging picture documents the work completed by the group and also serves as the basis for future meetings or conversations. Training students to facilitate meetings using graphic recording techniques includes developing both meeting management and visual recording skills.
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Instructions
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Provide instruction to future graphic facilitators on how to plan for a meeting, keep meetings on schedule, diffuse any conflicts or problems that arise, and follow up after the meeting is over. Practice by role-playing with different scenarios.
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Demonstrate how to encourage participation, prevent interruptions, encourage courtesy and respect, stay focused on achieving the meeting's goals and objectives, and assign action items by using the resources at the International Association of Facilitators website (see Resources).
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Show how to use active listening by confirming understanding through the use of paraphrasing and summarizing discussions.
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Prepare students for facilitating decision-making. Ensure that everyone knows how a decision will be made, such as through group consensus, majority vote or by the leader choosing the best course of action. Role-playing and case-study exercises allow graphic facilitation students the opportunity to select the right course of action as part of their skill development.
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Help students develop artistic skills by running a game to see who can identify visual metaphors such as a lightbulb for the word "idea" the fastest. Remember that all meeting participants may not share a common language, particularly in multicultural settings.
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Provide opportunities for students to practice using a core set of shapes and symbols, such as circles, squares and arrows. Encourage people training to become graphic facilitators to develop their own style and conventions by using the resources at the International Forum of Visual Practitioners website (see Resources). For example, an exercise to demonstrate developing an action plan might include drawing boxes to reflect the calendar of upcoming events.
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Show how to develop visual agenda charts. Include a summary of any preplanning done by the group. A visual agenda helps set expectations about what the visual scribing activity produces during the course of the meeting.
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Run role-playing exercises and contests to help students develop expertise in responding to topic discussions by visually representing common concepts such as questions, ideas and conclusions.
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