Facilitator’s Outline
The Wave – Trend Analysis
2011 CE Forum, 8/31/2011
Prepared by Mary Ann Van Cura, Minnesota State Library Services, for the 2011 CE Forum
Design:
1. Decide what question will be posed to the group for the exercise.
[I used two questions. Best to pick one!]
What are the trends and practices in [fill-in blank] job descriptions elements for CE Coordinators?
What are the job description elements of the CE Coordinator of the future?
2. Identify the desired “Rational Outcome” and “Emotional Outcome” of the event. [The facilitator
defines outcomes in advance, often in consult with the leaders of the host organization.]
Rational Outcome: [one is enough. I generated several.]
We want to look to the future and prepare for what is to come.
We want to be productive and serve our public/end users, and so we want to anticipate the skills
and responsibilities needed to serve well.
We will educate one another about trends and practices for job descriptions for state library CE
Coordinators.
Emotional Outcome:
Collaboration, curiosity, inspiration, collegiality, intrigue, hope
3. Prepare participant handout, adding question for the event.
Process:
1. Context for process: The Wave is a group exercise that is inclusive, participative, intended to elicit
input from all in the room, and based on the belief that the “wisdom is in the group”.
2. Introduction: Facilitator begins with introduction: “In any given field, at any given time, there are
incoming and outgoing trends, ideas, and practices. As we consider the area of responsibilities for
state library agency Continuing Education Coordinators, what are the incoming and outgoing trends
and practices? What are the job description elements of the CE Coordinator of the future?”
3. Explain the image of the Wave and how it will be used in exercise.
a. Put up Board image of wave – a long wave, divided into 4 parts/columns, labeled: On the
Horizon/Boundary Ideas, Emerging, Established, and Disappearing/Dying.
b. Refer participants to the worksheet. Read the questions that go with each of the four parts
of the image.
c. Brainstorm a couple of examples of each part – facilitator or as a group.
4. Generate ideas.
a. Ask everyone to brainstorms alone on worksheet. [This gives each person time to think.]
b. Provide instructions on next steps.
1. Group members will share their ideas
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Facilitator’s Outline
The Wave – Trend Analysis
2011 CE Forum, 8/31/2011
2. Group decides which ideas to record on half sheets, with one idea per sheet.
3. Facilitator posts half sheets with these phrases on sticky wall:
Write Big
Landscape
One Idea Per Sheet
c. Ask attendees to break into groups with x people per table. [Based on number attending,
decide number of people before meeting starts. 5-8 is optimal.]
5. Facilitator calls for “Emerging Ideas” first. Groups turn in their half-sheet cards. Facilitator posts
ideas on wall, under column heading, reading each out loud. Team talks through their ideas or
clarifies intention as needed.
6. Repeat process for “Established”, “Horizon/Boundary” and “Disappearing/Dying”.
Facilitator may invite one person from each group to post the responses to the column. Facilitator
may ask person from group to read responses aloud.
7. Group Reflection [using the ORID method]
a. Objective – Ask, “Does anyone have something on their worksheet they do not see on
wall?” “What is missing and needs to be up there?”
b. Reflective – Have participants star (*) or check the ideas that are particularly powerful, need
to be pushed in or out, etc. [Participants walk to sticky wall and place a check mark on those
cards they consider to be most powerful. Set a number or let it up to the person.]
c. Interpretive – Ask, “If we had made this “wave” 10 years ago, what would be different?”
d. Interpretive – Ask, “If we make this “wave” 10 years in the future, what will change?”
e. Decisional - Ask, “What are the implications or opportunities for our work?” List all
responses on a flip chart. Use the words supplied by participants. [The facilitator will type
the responses to this question on report form that is provided to participants.]
8. Take photos of completed wall and flip charts.
9. Type notes immediately or Remove papers from wall, organized by topic. Be sure to keep all papers
from sticky wall until certain that notes are complete. (Use the words supplied by participants.)
10. Create report, using Wave report as template.
a. Record notes from four columns of wave on sticky wall, listing those checked “most
powerful” first. Optional: If you decide it’s important to indicate the number of people who
marked an item “most important, create a key. (Note that the number groups I assigned
were arbitrary. ]
b. Record implications from flip charts.
c. For an extra kick to the report, add photos to last page, creating a montage of people and
activities in room during exercise. [Since my cell phone battery died, I had no photos of
people during this session. Colleagues provided the photos attached below.]
11. Send report to participants. [A follow up discussion/reflection on the report can be productive.]
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Prepared by Mary Ann Van Cura, Minnesota State Library Services, for the 2011 CE Forum
Facilitator’s Outline
The Wave – Trend Analysis
2011 CE Forum, 8/31/2011
Tips
Advance Preparation on Day of Meeting:
Wall: Hang sticky wall, Post question on sticky wall, Have wave column heading labels ready
Participant Tables: On each table, place 4-6 markers, a stack of half sheets (an inch), toys.
Decide the number of people per table. 5-8 is optimal. Ask attendees to form tables of x later.
Photos – find someone to take photos of wall and participants at work during the exercise.
Supplies:
Sticky Wall (http://www.mntop.us/stickywall.html)
3M Adhesive Spray
3M Blue Painters Tape
Half Sheets (8-1/2 x 11 paper cut to 4x11) [consider using the unused side of recycled paper]
Markers (thick; in dark colors – e.g. black, green, brown, blue)
Flip chart paper
Participant Worksheet for Wave exercise
Toys [stimulates thinking and reduces stress to have manipulative objects on table]
Sticky Walls:
*With a sticky wall, the wall is sticky but the paper is not. Plain paper adheres to the wall. (In contrast,
with post-it notes, the paper is sticky but the wall is not.)
*They are made of rip-stop nylon and sprayed with adhesive spray.
*They can be purchased for $50-60--Technology of Participation, http://www.mntop.us/stickywall.html.
*3M adhesive spray costs $10-15/can. To avoid fumes in room, spray the fabric elsewhere prior to the
session date. Spot touch on site if needed.
*3M blue painters tape will tape the sticky wall to wall without damaging wall surface or paint job.
Contact: Mary Ann Van Cura, Library Development & Continuing Education Coordinator, State Library
Services, 1500 Highway 36 West, Roseville, MN 55113, 651-582-8632, maryann.vancura@state.mn.us
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Prepared by Mary Ann Van Cura, Minnesota State Library Services, for the 2011 CE Forum
Facilitator’s Outline
The Wave – Trend Analysis
2011 CE Forum, 8/31/2011
Photos courtesy of Karen Mellor, Rhode Island and Mara Siegel, Vermont
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Prepared by Mary Ann Van Cura, Minnesota State Library Services, for the 2011 CE Forum