Online Design Thinking Facilitation

Discover the skills and techniques you need for effective online facilitation. With personal coaching and feedback throughout, you’ll be able to develop your online facilitation skills. 
 
Learn how to: 
1. Plan, design and facilitate a Design Thinking workshop online. 
2. Use techniques to energise and inspire the group online. 
3. Identify and manage different personality types. 
4. Bridge online facilitation skills to your work context. 

• You’ll be introduced to online facilitation of Design Thinking by directly experimenting with facilitating Design Thinking methods under the guidance of our leading coaches. You’ll also get immediate feedback and suggestions for improvement whilst also learning by observing other facilitation styles and approaches across the group of participants. 
• You will gain a foundational understanding of the principles that underpin online facilitation, and you will gain experience in facilitating key Design Thinking methods that you can immediately start applying at work.
• All Design Thinking templates covered will be made available to you, enabling you to bring your learnings back into your personal or work life. 
• You’ll leave with a clear understanding of your strengths as an online facilitator  

• Session 1:
  • Introduction to Design Thinking facilitation and its key principles. Key differences and considerations when facilitating online vs in-person.
  • Briefing for upcoming facilitation practice rounds and allocation of facilitation opportunities (each participant has 2 rounds of facilitation practice throughout the course, one in each week).
  • Facilitation choices when planning an agenda for online delivery.
• Session 2:
  • Personal facilitation style, knowing your comfort zone and when you may need to stretch your style.
  • Online Facilitation Practice & Feedback, rounds 1 & 2.
  • Energisers, what they are, when and how to use them.
• Session 3:
  • Key questioning techniques in facilitation.
  • Online Facilitation Practice & Feedback, round 3.
  • Identifying and handling online disturbances (difficult participants) using a facilitation intervention escalation ladder.
  • Online presence, being intentional about how you project yourself and how others see/hear you.
• Session 4:
  • Online Facilitation Practice & Feedback, rounds 4 & 5.
  • Planning for your next workshop after the course end
• Session 5:
  • Online Facilitation Practice & Feedback, round 6.
  • Implementation conversation: Reflections & debrief on personal plans for your next workshop.
  • Next actions & Wrap-up.

Q. What is Design Thinking Facilitation?

A.

A Design Thinking Facilitator helps, supports and enables teams in collaborating while applying Design Thinking to solve a challenge. A Design Thinking facilitator is responsible for guiding the group through a user-centred process and in applying Design Thinking methods, helping the group achieve the intended outcomes. At the same time, the facilitator needs to manage the group and their dynamics, keeping everyone inspired, engaged, and ensuring that everyone understands the people they’re designing for. Design Thinking facilitation requires not only knowledge and understanding of Design Thinking, but also the development of a set of soft skills. These soft skills are key to effectively manage the group and its individual participants in a way that enhances collaboration and co-creation towards successful project outcome. 

In this course we accelerate the development of these soft skills through the sharing of practical tips and best practices, immediately put in action through rounds of facilitation practice and feedback. 

Q. Is this course the same as the Design Thinking Facilitation offered in person?

A.

Yes, mostly, with a few variations. In this online edition you’ll be working on a web-based environment which will allow you to experience how these key tools can be adapted to work in a virtual setting, experiencing first-hand its possibilities and constraints. We will cover most content and tools from the in-person training with a few exceptions or adaptations. 

Q. What's the next course on from this?

A.

If you’d like to continue your facilitation journey, you can then progress on to our Online Facilitation Mastery course. For anyone taking part in this course, we also offer the opportunity to sign up for an extra course in advanced facilitation for a discount combo price.

The Online Facilitation Mastery course consists of 3 sessions, lasting 2.5hrs each, spread over a 6-week period. In these sessions you will work directly on your own personal workshops and sessions, getting targeted feedback and support from our expert coaches in your planning, whilst also learning from each other’s experiences. To find out more about this course, please get in touch. 

Q. When will the course take place?

A.

• Dates:  

• Next course:
  • 17 Jan
  • 19 Jan
  • 21 Jan
  • 25 Jan
  • 27 Jan

• Time Commitment: 12.5 hours of live sessions, spread over 5 bite-sized sessions of up to 2.5 hours, plus 3-6 hours of self-directed study*

(*To get the most out of this intense course, beyond the live sessions, you’ll need to commit 1-2 hours to work on your group assignments between sessions.) 

Q. How will the online sessions be taught?

A.

Different to many other online courses, this is a live course, meaning you will be directly taught in real time by our coaches. It is not a self-paced, online tutorial course, but is a high intensity live course, delivered by leading coaches in the field and will be individual to each delegate taking part. 

Q. How will I do the course online? What equipment do I need?

A.

• Equipment: The only equipment you’ll need is a computer with a fast and reliable connection to the internet (recommended minimum speed 1 Mbps, you can check your network speed here https://www.speedtest.net/), microphone, webcam and speakers or headphones. 
• Tools: Access is easy and universal, using industry standard web-based tools. Zoom is our primary tool for voice call, with exercises taking place within Mural and Google Docs. Note: both these tools are available and accessible through Chrome browser; we recommend using Chrome for the best experience. 

Q. I would like to speak to someone for more information. How can I contact you?

A.

We do offer concessions and a sliding scale of discounts on this course. Pay full price for the first space you book, 10% off the second and third, and 15% off every space you book after that. If you’re booking a lot of spaces, you may want to talk to us about tailoring a course especially for your business. Call us on +44 (0)20 8432 3222 or email shanna@designthinkersacademy.co.uk to find out how we can help you. 

 

Q. English isn’t my first language. Does that matter?

A.

People from all over the world will be taking part and this cultural mix is one of the real strengths of our training. However, it is important to have good basic spoken English to get the most out of our courses. 

Q. Do I need to pay VAT?

A.

• UK business
• UK non-business individual
• Individual from the EC (Europe)

• Businesses from the EC (reverse charge rule)
• Worldwide non EC businesses (out of the scope of UK VAT)
• Worldwide non EC individuals (out of the scope of UK VAT)