Facilitation Slam Toolkit: Strategies that Work

This June, two members of our Faculty Development team – Woden Teachout and Zahra Ahmed – had the honor of presenting “Facilitation Slam: A Playful Session of Give and Take.” The session was part of the Virtual Gathering, a national convening of educational developers and faculty from across the United States and its goal was simple: build community by sharing our favorite facilitation strategies, swapping practical tools, and inspiring new ideas for the year ahead.

What happens when a room full of creative, committed instructors gather to share their favorite facilitation moves? You get an energetic, joyful, and idea-rich session packed with teaching strategies that range from rock-solid basics to bold experiments in pedagogical play.

Our aim was to create a space where everyone could contribute from seasoned instructors to those just building their teaching toolkit. From openers and discussion techniques to group dynamics and reflective closers, participants walked away with a crowd-sourced facilitation toolkit they could adapt and apply in their own classrooms.

Here are some of the highlights and takeaways from the session.

Openers that Build Connection

Impromptu Networking

Ask participants to pair up in breakout rooms or physically in the space for two minutes. First prompt: What is one teaching technique you’ve used that worked well? Second prompt: What facilitation technique would you love to try? Debrief together.

• I Am Poem
  Guide participants through a three-step reflective exercise. Step 1: Reflect on personality traits, cultural roots, or life experiences. Step 2: Choose vivid metaphors that represent those aspects. Step 3: Compose one sentence beginning with 'I am...' using the chosen metaphors. Have participants verbally share their one sentence in small groups or with the whole class. This exercise builds community and identity awareness.
• Favorite Type of Potato
  Pose a fun, low-stakes question like 'What’s your favorite type of potato and why?' Invite participants to share in pairs, in chat, or aloud. Use it as a bridge to cultural or personal connections. Participants pointed out that rice, in particular, is used in many cultures around the world.
• Where Are You a Local?
  Inspired by Taiye Selasi’s TED Talk, ask participants to reflect on the places that shape who they are. Rather than asking 'Where are you from?', ask 'Where are you a local?' to invite stories grounded in identity and experience.
• Turn Your Video On If…
  Begin a session by naming a series of low-stakes prompts like 'Turn your video on if you love coffee' or 'if you’ve taught a hybrid class.' Helps participants build a quick sense of community.
• Check-In Using a GIF
  Ask participants to drop a GIF in the chat that reflects their current mood. Provide example GIF sites or a template. Reflect on the emotional tone of the room as a group.

Main Discussion Moves that Deepen Engagement

• Worst Case Scenario
  Ask participants to brainstorm the worst possible way to teach a topic or run a session. Then, identify what makes it so ineffective. Use this analysis to surface best practices and design improvements.
• Turn Your Back Consulting
  Form groups of three. One person (the 'client') describes a facilitation challenge. Next, they turn their back or turn off their camera. The two 'consultants' brainstorm ideas and talk freely. The client listens, then rejoins and reflects on what they heard.
• Annotation of Quotes
  Share a Google Doc with 4–6 short quotes from the reading. Ask participants to choose one and add a brief comment, question, or reflection next to it. Optional: discuss in pairs or invite a few to share aloud.
• AI Image Interview
  Pair participants. Each person interviews the other, then uses AI image tools (e.g., Microsoft Designer, Red Panda) to generate a visual portrait based on what they learned. Follow with a discussion about representation, perception, and bias.

Closers That Stick

• Strategies Game
  Prepare cards or slides with common teaching challenges. Create two other decks with active learning strategies and technologies. Form small groups. Each group draws one challenge, two strategies, and two tools. They must combine what they’ve drawn into a workable solution.
• One Small Thing
  Before closing, ask everyone to write down one small, specific teaching change they will try within a week. Optionally, have them share aloud or post it in the chat.
• #How #Wow #Now
  Ask participants to reflect on three prompts in the chat or aloud: #Wow – one takeaway from the session, #How – one lingering question, #Now – one thing they’ll do next.
• What’s Next?
  Invite everyone to commit to a next step after the session. This can be shared in writing, spoken aloud, or kept privately. Consider a follow-up to check progress.
• What Is an Unintended Outcome?
  Ask: 'What did you learn today that wasn’t on the agenda?' This allows space for surprise insights and encourages meta-cognition.

Key Takeaways

• Play invites participation: Even simple, creative prompts can open the door to deeper conversations and inclusive classrooms.
• Structure enables creativity: Flexible formats like Worst Case Scenarios and Jigsaws thrive on strong scaffolding.
• Reflection turns activity into insight: Closers like 'One Small Thing' and '#How #Wow #Now' help participants synthesize what they’ve learned.
• Low stakes build trust: Low-pressure activities like 'Turn Your Video On If…' or GIF check-ins support comfort and connection.
• Faculty are eager for community: The Padlet showed just how many ideas instructors are ready to share when given the space.

Thanks to everyone who participated, shared, and inspired us. If you have a facilitation move you love, send it our way. We are always building the teaching toolkit.

Questions or ideas?

Reach out to Zahra Ahmed (zahraahmed@g.harvard.edu) or Woden Teachout (wteach@fas.harvard.edu)

With gratitude,
Faculty Development Team