MTS Facilitation Skills & Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The 'fishbowl' facilitation technique is best used when the goal is to:
- Generate a large volume of ideas in a short time
- Have a small group model a discussion while others observe (Correct answer)
- Divide participants into equal teams for competitive exercises
- Provide one-on-one coaching feedback to individual participants
Correct answer: Have a small group model a discussion while others observe
In a fishbowl, a small inner circle discusses while the outer circle observes, enabling modeling of dialogue, perspective-taking, or structured debate for the full group.
Question 2: Two participants in a training session are in direct conflict over a topic. The most effective facilitation response is to:
- Declare one participant correct based on the training content
- Acknowledge both perspectives and redirect to shared goals or ground rules (Correct answer)
- Remove the disruptive participant from the session
- Change the subject immediately to relieve the tension
Correct answer: Acknowledge both perspectives and redirect to shared goals or ground rules
Acknowledging both perspectives validates each participant while redirecting to shared purpose maintains group safety and moves the session forward constructively.
Question 3: What is the key distinction between facilitation and instruction?
- Facilitation requires a subject-matter expert; instruction does not
- Instruction transfers knowledge from expert to learner; facilitation draws out knowledge from participants (Correct answer)
- Facilitation is only used in online learning; instruction is for in-person delivery
- Instruction uses questions; facilitation uses lectures and demonstrations
Correct answer: Instruction transfers knowledge from expert to learner; facilitation draws out knowledge from participants
Instruction is primarily expert-to-learner knowledge transfer, while facilitation is a process of drawing out, structuring, and synthesizing the group's own knowledge and experience.
Question 4: A participant raises an interesting topic that is outside the session's scope. Using a parking lot, the facilitator should:
- Ignore the comment to avoid encouraging off-topic discussion
- Record the topic visibly and commit to addressing it at an appropriate time (Correct answer)
- Immediately discuss it because participant interest signals relevance
- Ask the participant to raise it during a break privately
Correct answer: Record the topic visibly and commit to addressing it at an appropriate time
Recording the item on a visible parking lot honors the participant's contribution and signals it will be revisited without letting it derail the current agenda.
Question 5: In the 'Think-Pair-Share' technique, what is the purpose of the 'think' phase?
- To allow the facilitator to prepare the correct answer before discussion
- To give each participant individual processing time before social pressure influences their response (Correct answer)
- To silently read background material provided in the handout
- To rank answers in order of personal preference before comparing with a partner
Correct answer: To give each participant individual processing time before social pressure influences their response
The individual 'think' phase allows participants to form their own ideas before peer influence, resulting in richer and more diverse contributions during the sharing phase.
Question 6: When a facilitator asks a question and is met with prolonged silence, the most appropriate response is to:
- Rephrase the question or break it into smaller parts after waiting briefly (Correct answer)
- Immediately answer the question to relieve the group's discomfort
- Call on the highest-ranking participant to set an example
- Abandon the question and move on to avoid embarrassing participants
Correct answer: Rephrase the question or break it into smaller parts after waiting briefly
Brief silence often means participants are thinking; if it extends, rephrasing or chunking the question into simpler parts helps without removing the cognitive challenge.
Question 7: Establishing ground rules at the beginning of a training session primarily serves to:
- Give the facilitator authority to remove disruptive participants
- Create shared behavioral agreements that support a safe learning environment (Correct answer)
- Document compliance with organizational training policies
- Reduce the need for the facilitator to intervene during activities
Correct answer: Create shared behavioral agreements that support a safe learning environment
Ground rules are co-created or reviewed norms that set mutual expectations for respectful, engaged participation and form the foundation of psychological safety.
MTS Facilitation Skills & Techniques 2
The 'fishbowl' facilitation technique is best used when the goal is to: