Presenter: Edwin Colyer
Theme: Creative Engagement Mediums and Practice
Reporter: Helen Featherstone
One sentence summary: A very short introduction to the MetaMosaics® workshop facilitation method for effective and inclusive discussions.
Description
Description
Edwin took us through MetaMosaics facilitation process. On each table was a tray with bits of tile that have been collected from beaches. The session was a very short introduction to the process so didn’t fully recreate the experience. MetaMosaics is used to answer a question and is best used with groups of approximately eight people, with the facilitator also sitting at the table. In this session people sat in groups of approximately four and Edwin facilitated the whole room, rather than one larger group. The process normally takes three to–four hours while this session was only 45 minutes. Through careful facilitation, the group used the bits of tile to create mosaics that represent the answer to the starting question. The facilitation gently moves people from the individual to a joined up, ective responses. At each stage, people were encouraged to record their answers using their phone camera.
The process has been evaluated thanks to Wellcome and there is a report to read. People who are interested in learning to facilitate the technique can join a wait list for training.
The discussions prompted by the tiles and questioning were joyful, happy, and respectful. The approach necessitates active listening which participants found particularly helpful.
Despite not going through the full process, the participants at the Interact session still had a question and participants were able to develop creative answers. The topic for discussion was how to make your engagement activity more inclusive. By the end of the workshop a handful of ideas were presented including using a snowball technique to amplify training, and having publics and scientists included in activities that used techniques to help the scientists show their personal selves.
Discussions in the session were had about:
- Getting the right mix of people around the table and the importance of diversity in the group
- Whether the resultant solutions are good / better than those developed using more conventional decision-making processes
- While most people find it easy to engage with, some people who struggle with metaphors find it harder to engage with
- The importance of the facilitator in keeping the discussion on topic and helping participants not get bogged down with the process
Key messages
- MetaMosaics is a creative facilitation method that takes participants through a process of divergent and convergent thinking to answer a question
- MetaMosaics works because participants have to actively listen to each other
- There is a lot of information on the website where you can book a session or sign up for the training
Resources
MetaMosaics website
Watch a video about the evaluation with Wellcome’s Policy Lab
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbfoBhzBLJ8
Join the facilitator training workshop (requires registration)
Read the method evaluation report (requires registration)
https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/documents/9-171
Contact: Info@metamosaics.co.uk
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