Empowering family physicians in cutting-edge facilitation techniques to foster adult learning principles in counselling and education
Aliki TRAIANOU, Khairat AL HABBAL and Reina ALAMEDDINE
Family physicians educate their patients, peers, residents, students and other health professionals. Research reveals that teaching does not imply recipients have acquired the necessary knowledge. In order for family physicians to enhance the impact of their education, they need to be equipped with the knowledge and skills related to adult learning where facilitation methods are used instead of the standard techniques.Building on our extensive experience in both developed and developing countries, this workshop aims to equip the audience with the knowledge and skills needed to apply facilitation methods to foster adult learning.Using facilitation techniques, we will take the participants on an adult learning journey to discover adult learning and its importance, understand the difference between facilitation and traditional techniques, devise learning outcomes rather than objectives, apply their knowledge to a few facilitation techniques including plenary discussions, small working groups, and role play. Using the principles of facilitation, we will invite the group to a debate session regarding whether facilitation should be adopted as an educational technique instead of traditional teaching methods.By the end of the workshop, the participants will be able to explain the concept of adult learning, differentiate between facilitation and traditional education, apply facilitation techniques to common scenarios in family practice.Globalisation and access to technology have changed how we learn and acquire knowledge. Adapting to those new changes are essential for family physicians who are keen to make a difference through education.
