The Importance of Facilitator Role Behaviors

Abstract

SUMMARY Shifting the emphasis from working alone to working together in the classroom or on the job is a relatively simple idea. However, implementing collaborative work and learning has not been so easy! This paper argues that critical meeting facilitation skills and the appropriate use of Group Support Systems' (GSS) tools support the collaborative meeting and learning paradigm. These skills and tools greatly enhance the teacher's and meeting leaders∗ ability to create effective collaborative situations. The use of GSS with the case study methodology is discussed as one example of blending facilitation and technology to teach people to work together more productively in multinational settings.