A facilitator is a professional who works within a group to help individuals communicate with one another and to assist a group in achieving set goals. Facilitators normally are objective mediators, meaning that they do not choose sides and can help disputing parties to reach agreements that are beneficial for all. Professionals who act as training facilitators normally practice in adult education contexts. Training facilitators are often responsible for helping individuals to apply their skills and knowledge to job and classroom education. They also might communicate with educators to determine effective methods for learning.
In most cases, training facilitators are not experts in particular fields of study. For example, a facilitator who works with a student who is struggling in a history course does not need to have a strong background in history. Instead, training facilitators help students to apply skills and bodies of knowledge that they already have acquired.
The role of facilitators is especially important for many adults who return to school after spending years in a work force. Adult students can find that adjusting to student life is difficult. Training facilitators might assist adult students in transitioning by helping them to apply practices they have developed to their studies.
Individuals who suffer from learning disabilities also may benefit from the assistance of training facilitators. These professionals often are trained experts in using and prescribing special software for individuals who may experience difficulties processing certain modes of communication. For example, individuals who have difficulty reading or learning from verbal communication can work with a facilitator to generate charts and graphs that present information in a visual mode.
It also may be the job of a training facilitator to discuss teaching methods with an educator. A facilitator may suggest alternative methods of communication when models favored by an educator prove ineffective. Facilitators may also discuss the progress of individual students with educators.
Many businesses hire training facilitators to assist in the training of new employees. These professionals may be contracted when managers introduce new projects or business processes. A facilitator might help staff to transition to new practices and technology. He or she might also apply business motivation techniques.
Training facilitators who are interested in working in educational institutions tend to have backgrounds in fields such as adult and special education. Professionals who focus on business and organizational training may have backgrounds in management and leadership. Many have certifications from programs that provide training in negotiation and mediation.
