“Let's go round the circle:” How verbal facilitation can function as a means of direct instruction

Abstract

In this chapter, the term facilitation refers to the act of conducting a verbal discussion prior to, or after an activity, with the aim of encouraging students to reflect on what will, or has been, learned from experiences. An overview of the role of the leader/facilitator, as advocated in some widely available adventure education texts, is discussed. This is followed by an outline of the methodological approach that guided the research project. The analysis section highlights how the leader was observed directing and orchestrating the direction of talk through the "common sense" and everyday ways of conducting verbal facilitation sessions. The primary focus of analysis is on the structure of the interaction in these sessions (i.e., a leader-initiated topic for discussion, a student reply, and leader evaluation of this response). Short excerpts of data are used to support and illustrate the claims that are made in regard to the nature of the interaction that is observed in these settings.