A facilitator can be a guide or a teacher.
The facilitator is a person who serves as a guide or instructor in an activity . In some countries , the term is used as a synonym for professor or teacher .
Before proceeding to analyze the term in depth, it is interesting that we first establish its etymological origin. In this sense, we can determine that it is found in Latin and more specifically in the word facilis , which can be translated as “easy” and which in turn emanates from the verb facere, which is synonymous with “do.”
The concept also makes it possible to appoint speakers at seminars or similar events. These are specialists and professionals with solid training in the topic addressed, who try to develop the potential of the attendees or listeners.
Facilitator in a team
In teamwork , the facilitator is the one who directs the flow of the discussions and who is responsible for promoting respectful dialogue. Therefore, your task is to remove obstacles, summarize the different points of view and encourage a positive and productive spirit.
It should be noted that the facilitator is not the leader or head of the group, but is responsible for directing the process so that all participants focus on the objectives. It is important that the facilitator remains neutral in the discussions.
A facilitator can serve as an instructor or mentor.
Your role
Within groups where the aim is to reach agreements between the parties involved, the role played by the facilitator becomes fundamental and necessary. And he himself will be in charge of making them understand the particular and general objectives that they want to achieve, the tools to achieve them and also the establishment of a plan for it.
To ensure that his action and performance are truly successful, this professional in question must, above all, respect all members of the group equally, be aware of the realities and needs that this group of people has and the necessary capacity to ensuring that the parties come to understand the rest. Only in this way will everyone benefit and be satisfied with the result of the work done as a team.
In Honduras , Cuba and Venezuela , the term facilitator is used to refer to the individual whose mission is to carry out guidance tasks in the development of a specific activity. However, in the last country mentioned it is also common for the term facilitator to be used as a synonym for teacher .
Education facilitator
In the field of education , there are those who establish a difference between the traditional teacher and the facilitator. While the pedagogical model usually places the teacher as the one who possesses the knowledge and imparts it to the students, the andragogical model prefers to consider the teacher as a facilitator, where the reciprocity of teaching is emphasized and the student 's experience is valued.
Therefore, the facilitator promotes an active attitude of the student and encourages their participation in the teaching-learning process. In this sense, the facilitator takes into account cultural diversity and different social realities, valuing the differences and enriching the instruction based on them.