ERIC Number: EJ1055582
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Nov
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1443-2110
EISSN: N/A
Evaluation of a Large Group Method in an Educational Institution: The World Café versus Large Group Facilitation
Fullarton, Christie; Palermo, Josephine
Journal of Institutional Research, v14 n1 p109-117 Nov 2008
This article reports on the use of a large group method, the World Café, compared to large group facilitation in an educational institutional setting in Oman. Change is central to many educational institutions as they aspire to ensure quality procedures and processes are implemented and maintained. One of the difficulties of introducing change within this context is the number of stakeholders involved, as well as the inherent hierarchical nature of these settings. Large group methods (LGM) are one such intervention for change that seeks to involve a maximum number of stakeholders and minimise hierarchies, while at the same time encouraging participation and creating engagement. To evaluate LGM within this setting, the study compared two different workshop techniques: one workshop was run using the LGM the World Café, while the other was conducted using large group facilitation (LGF). Results indicated that the World Café was superior to LGF in terms of increases in participant knowledge and understanding. Participants who took part in the LGM were also significantly more likely to indicate that the technique was beneficial to their learning, compared to those who took part in the LGF. Qualitative data in the form of comments also provide support for LGM. Further research is needed to assess the applicability of the findings in educational settings in other countries. Moreover, more stringent research is required to assess over time, changes in behaviours occurring following LGM, to provide further evidence as to their value in facilitating change in institutional settings.
Descriptors: Educational Change, Educational Policy, Intervention, Workshops, Foreign Countries, Educational Quality, Comparative Analysis, Qualitative Research, Behavior Change, Knowledge Level, Management Systems, Total Quality Management, Strategic Planning, Tourism, Scores, Group Discussion, Administrator Education
Australasian Association for Institutional Research. 546 Gallymont Road, Mandurama, NSW 2792, Australia. +61-2-6367-5347; e-mail: secretary@aair.org.au; Web site: http://www.aair.org.au
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Oman
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A