The Facilitator is a Whole Person, Too

During this chapter I have spoken often of the participants in the VALTA Project. As co-facilitators, Judy, Mary and I also saw ourselves as participants, and participated in the course and workshops as fully as we could. We believe it is extremely important to ask not only participants to bring their whole selves to learning. If we are inviting others to risk and experiment with new approaches, as facilitators we need to take the same risks and be part of the same exploration. We need to take a reflective stance if we are to bring our whole selves to facilitating and to teaching.

The Value of Co-Facilitation

The value of working in a team of co-facilitators was evident as we tried to bring out whole selves to facilitating. Frequently, we were each aware of different nuances and had paid attention to different aspects of the way holistic exercises were working and received. We had different experiences ourselves in exercises and were able to draw on this variety to help us shape the next activities. For example, when Mary introduced a singing round that many participants found hard, Judy and I were able to share how bad it felt to feel that we had "failed." Mary could see the importance of coming back to the song later, which allowed us all to enjoy the experience of successfully completing the song.

Extending the Invitation to Experience and Create

As described in the first chapter, we set up a VALTA resource room at the Provincial Literacy Conference (PLC). We were fortunate to have been given a spectacular light-filled suite for this purpose, and invitations to drop by were included in the conference program and packages.

The room provided the opportunity to sample the kinds of approaches we had explored to support learning, to visit with Project participants and facilitators, and to check out reading materials and a broad range of other resources. It was also a chance for visitors to nurture body, mind, emotions and spirit. In the room there were healthy snacks, a kettle to make tea, a yoga mat and bolster and an invitation to feed and relax the body. Crayons and modeling clay provided an opportunity for simple creativity to rest the mind, while a wonderful array of books, resources and people to talk with stimulated and fed the mind. The beautiful and relaxing environment with music, flowers and comfy chairs nurtured spirit and provided a calm and pleasing resting place for those who wanted a break from the intensity of the rest of the conference.

We were delighted with the way the space was used as people shed their jackets, belts and shoes and lay down on the floor to stretch out their backs, poured herbal tea and sipped while they browsed through reading materials, or simply sat quietly to gather themselves before returning to the conference. Many talked to participants and us about their own, their students' or their friends' difficulties with learning. While one or two told us that the issue of violence and learning should not be opened up, or that opening it up wouldn't help, many came to talk about the importance of drawing attention to the issue. We were excited by the response to the availability of this resource room and hope that a similar place will be available in future conferences.