Resources

The web provides a vast array of information on facilitation and related topics. The following are some resources that we thought might interest you.  They include a site where we are publishing some weekly articles for educators, sites of specialized forms of meeting design, which are mentioned in the book, and a few other sites of interest. 

Education World is publishing on its internet magazine a series of weekly articles on facilitation hints and ideas by Dee Kelsey and Pam Plumb.  Link: www.educationworld.com

Open Space Technology was developed by Harrison Owen in 1984 in response to a desire to capture in a meeting format the level of interest and engagement that people exhibited when they talked informally about subjects that were important to them.  It is a system which allows people to select and work on what is important to them within the context of a subject area rather than imposing an agenda.  You can find out more at www.openspaceworld.org

Future Search Conference is a structured, participatory planning process designed to enable the participants to direct their own future based on an understanding of their past and present, a confirmation of common values and a commitment to action.  It relies on bringing together a broad cross section of "stakeholders" to explore common ground.  For more information check www.futuresearch.net

Appreciative Inquiry is based on the principle that a company, organization or community can unleash its creativity and energy for positive change by focusing on the positive and envisioning the common, desired future.  For more information check http://ai.cwru.edu

Charrettes are community planning processes that help large, diverse groups undertake an urban design project rapidly and collaboratively.  You can find more information at www.charretteinstitute.org

For supplies, high quality markers, rolls of paper in larger widths and white tape try www.grove.com/store

SmartGroups: Our colleagues on the West Coast, Geoff Ball, Simon Pennington and Sandra Forstedt, have created SmartGroups™. Their approach, based on video clips and more, helps you grow SmartGroups™ within your organization or community.  Check them out at : www.geoffballfacilitator.com/smartgroups.html