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Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (AIFT) – UNCW

FACILITATE POSITIVE CHANGE USING APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is an energizing and inclusive process that fosters creativity through the art of positive inquiry. It builds new skills in individuals and groups, develops new leaders, encourages a culture of inquiry, and helps create shared vision and purpose by building on an organization’s core values and strengths.

HYBRID IN-PERSON AIFT PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

The Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (AIFT) is a foundational program designed to teach you how to facilitate the type of transformative change made possible through Appreciative Inquiry. In addition to introducing the basic tenets of Appreciative Inquiry (e.g., principles, 5-Ds, and theory), the AIFT delves deeper by providing experiential exercises that will teach you how to work with core teams, define a topic of inquiry, craft generative questions, field test interview protocols, establish action items, and more.

This hybrid AIFT certification program is comprised of synchronous and asynchronous learning. We will be using a learning management system (LMS) called LearnDash for the asynchronous portion and in-person synchronous sessions.

“This training has allowed me to reconnect with the facilitator, partner and guide I want to be for my clients. I am leaving armed with new skills and an important reminder that how I “show up” in any given moment significantly influences the destiny of my work, and that of my clients.”

– C. Brown

AIFT DATES AND TIMES:

The Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (AIFT) will be delivered over the course of 4 days. Each day begins with a 30-minute networking opportunity, followed immediately by the training which begins promptly at 9am. Training days include two 15-minute breaks and an hour for lunch.

DAY 1

MAY 20, 2024

DAY 2

MAY 21, 2024

DAY 3

MAY 22, 2024

DAY 4

MAY 23, 2024

Networking:

8:30am - 9:00am EDT

Networking:

8:30am - 9:00am EDT

Networking:

8:30am - 9:00am EDT

Networking:

8:30am - 9:00am EDT

Training:

9:00am - 4:30pm EDT

Training:

9:00am - 4:30pm EDT

Training:

9:00am - 4:30pm EDT

Training:

9:00am - 4:30pm EDT

ORIENTATION

To ensure that all participants are off to a strong start, your AIFT trainers will host a live orientation session via Zoom – Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 10:30 Pacific Time / 1:30pm Eastern Time. Your trainers will provide an overview of the course timelines and learning outcomes and ensure you have access to the LMS which contains your materials and readings.

Your interaction with your cohort and trainers within the LMS will enhance your learning and prepare you to begin your practicum. You will have time to become familiar with the LMS, read assignments and engage with trainers and other participants prior to the first synchronous (live) session on the campus of UNCW on May 20, 2024.

The Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training provided me with an essential framework and useful tools that I use on a regular basis. We are so pleased to bring this opportunity to UNCW.

– Carol McNulty, Interim Dean, UNCW Watson College of Education

TRAINING SEGMENTS:

The AIFT consists of eight (8) modules organized within four segments, with a new segment to be delivered each day. Each segment consists of exercises, readings, and discussions designed to guide you through the full range and depth of what it means to be an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator.

DEFINE AI AND BUILD COMMUNITY

Learning Outcomes:

  • Build community collaboratively in order to function in a strong learning community.
  • Reflect on how you will build community in the future as an AI facilitator.
  • Define appreciative inquiry.
  • Develop a common understanding what appreciative inquiry is and how it is applied.
EXPERIENCE APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY

Learning Outcomes:

  • Experience the five generic processes of appreciative inquiry as they apply to designing your learning within the AIFT.
UNCOVER THE POWER OF APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY

Learning Outcomes:

  • Identify and ingrate key theory components of appreciative inquiry to support your foundations as an AI facilitator.
CREATE TOPICS OF INQUIRY AND INTERVIEW GUIDES

Learning Outcomes:

  • Identify an affirmative topic for an inquiry and modify the generic interview guide.
  • Reflect on facilitator considerations.
KEY AI FACILITATION CONSIDERATIONS

Learning Outcomes:

  • Assess and integrate key appreciative inquiry facilitation considerations.
  • Learn about Core Teams and their role in the AI Process.
  • Learn various forms of AI engagement.
GROUND APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY IN EVIDENCE

Learning Outcomes:

  • Discover the research and evidence that underpins the work of appreciative inquiry and integrate these ideas into your facilitation toolkit.
LIVE AND FACILITATE APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY

Learning Outcomes:

  • Integrate facilitator skills and knowledge and seek to clarify how you will process as an AI facilitator.
  • Learn about the four clusters of competencies in developing emotional and social intelligence.
  • Create a personal action plan around the topic of “being your best as a facilitator”.
CELEBRATE AND PRACTICUM INFORMATION

Learning Outcomes:

  • Learn about the requirements needed to earn your Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Certification from The Center for Appreciative Inquiry.
  • Utilize a checklist for designing and facilitating systems change.

TRAINING DESIGNED FOR:

Leaders in businesses and corporations, community development, educational organizations, governmental organizations, and nonprofit organizations–in short, anyone who wants to learn how to facilitate Appreciative Inquiry.

ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION:

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK

The Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (person, virtual, or hybrid) utilizes the textbook, Appreciative Inquiry: Change at the Speed of Imagination (2nd Edition) by Jane Magruder Watkins, Bernard Mohr, and Ralph Kelly.

Your trainers will assign readings from this book throughout your training. You will need to purchase this textbook prior to the start of this course. This book is available in electronic or paperback versions. Please select the version that is in alignment with your learning style and preference. Click on the ‘Buy Textbook’ button located to the right to learn more about the book and order your copy.

LETTER OF COMPLETION

To obtain a letter of completion (and to be eligible for consideration for AI Facilitator Certification) each participant must actively participate and complete the AIFT (equating to 26 training hours). Letters of completion include your name, date of your training, and number of classroom hours earned and will be presented to participants after the training.

CERTIFICATION PROCESS:

What is Appreciative Inquiry Certification? Appreciative Inquiry certification indicates that you have met specific requirements designed to advance and deepen your knowledge and skills in theory, processes, and application of Appreciative Inquiry. It demonstrates to others that you use industry-respected best practices and possess the knowledge, experience and education to effectively help individuals, teams, organizations, and communities achieve their success.

AI FACILITATOR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

In order to qualify for certification as an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator with The Center for Appreciative Inquiry, each participant must:

  • Actively participate in an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (AIFT).
  • Design and facilitate an appreciative inquiry engagement for a team, organization, group, or community using the 5-D Appreciative Inquiry process. Your AIFT trainers serve as an advisor to you during your practicum – at no extra cost.
  • Complete and submit a practicum (narrative) for review. Practicums demonstrate your understanding and application of Appreciative Inquiry by sharing your facilitation experience, learnings, insights, and outcomes.
PRACTICUM REVIEW

All submitted practicums are reviewed by a panel of seasoned appreciative inquiry practitioners. At least one trainer from your AIFT will also be part of the panel that reviews your practicum. The Review Panel may contact you to engage in a conversation about your work once you have submitted your practicum. Typically, they will respond with questions, to deepen their and your shared understanding of AI. The practicum review is therefore a dialogical and interactive process.

CERTIFICATION BENEFITS & WHAT’S INCLUDED

Once certified, your Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Certification lasts for 2 years and includes:

  • An Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Certification document for your records;
  • Permission to use of the Center for Appreciative Inquiry Certification logo to embed on your website or include in your email signature;
  • Exclusive access to content and events reserved only for certified AI Community Members.
  • A free profile listing on our Appreciative Inquiry Directory for the duration of your certification. Learn more about the benefits of our AI Directory here.

VENUE & TRAVEL RESOURCES:

TRAINING VENUE

Watson College of Education Building, Room 232
University of North Carolina Wilmington
970 Reynolds Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403

PARKING INFORMATION

Participants are encouraged to park in the East Parking Deck. Parking permits will be provided to participants prior to the start of the training.

AIRPORT

Wilmington International Airport (ILM)

HOTELS AND LODGING

View a comprehensive list of nearby lodging.

THIS CERTIFICATION COURSE OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

Logo for the non-profit Women Honoring Other Women.

Logo for University of North Carolina Wilmington.

QUESTIONS?

Do you have questions about this training? Please email your questions to Kathy Becker at Kathy@CenterForAppreciativeInquiry.net.

WANT TO TRAIN YOUR TEAM?

Private AIFT sessions are available for groups and organizations who wish to train a large number of individuals in the art of appreciative inquiry facilitation. We encourage a minimum of eight (8) members from any organization, group, or community participate. Please complete the CONTACT US form to receive more information about hosting a private AI Facilitator Training for your group.

Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (AIFT) – Northern Essex Community College

The Center for Appreciative Inquiry is pleased to partner with Northern Essex Community College to host a hybrid Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (AIFT) on their Haverhill, MA campus on May 23, 24, 25 & 26, 2023. If your organization would like to host an AIFT please contact us.

What is Appreciative Inquiry

Appreciative Inquiry is a collaborative, strengths-based approach to both personal and organizational development that is proving to be highly effective in thousands of organizations and communities in hundreds of countries around the world. It is a way of bringing about change that shares leadership and learning, fully engaging everyone in the organization.

Hybrid In-Person AIFT Program Overview

Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training© (AIFT) engages participants to learn about the foundations of Appreciative Inquiry as well as the skills to facilitate inquiry sessions. At the end of this intensive Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (AIFT), participants will understand how to guide organizations, groups, and communities to consciously and deliberately shift their collective way of being and seeing to an appreciative approach, that will help them focus on what’s right in their organization, group or community, rather than on what’s wrong.

Training is designed for:

Leaders in businesses and corporations, community development, educational organizations, governmental organizations, and nonprofit organizations–in short, anyone who wants to learn how to facilitate Appreciative Inquiry.

Training Segments, Schedule and Hours

The Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training© – AIFT – is a foundations course. It includes mini-lectures, and experiential learning (individual, pairs, trios, small group, and large group) as well as auditory and visual materials to enhance the learning experience.

Each day has a morning and afternoon session; a morning and afternoon break; and one hour for lunch (a variety of options will be provided by the host.)

AIFT is divided into 4 ‘segments’. Each segment consists of modules containing exercises, readings, and discussions.

DAY 1 – EXPERIENCING APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY
Learn basic process and experience AI by participating in a facilitated Appreciative Inquiry led by the Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training Trainers

DAY 2 – UNDERSTANDING THE POWER OF APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY
Actively learn about the concepts, principles, theories and research.

DAY 3 – PLANNING AND DESIGNING AN APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY SESSION
Plan and practice how you will begin helping your organization, group, or community build upon their strengths.

DAY 4 – PRACTICING APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY APPLICATIONS

  • Practice exercises you can take home to use Appreciative Inquiry in your personal and professional life.
  • Practice choosing the best language, words for facilitating Appreciative Inquiry within a particular culture.
  • Begin developing your plan to become a certified Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator by completing a Practicum/Supervised Experience.

We start each day on time and work diligently to maintain the schedule, honoring the commitment to the learning experience. We have found full participation to be the most productive for the participants and the trainers.  To obtain a letter of completion (and to be eligible for consideration for certification) each participant must complete 26 training hours.

Days one through four begin at 8:30 a.m. for networking. The training sessions will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. each day.

AIFT Training Dates/Times:

ORIENTATION

To ensure that all participants are off to a strong start, your AIFT trainers will host a live orientation session via Zoom – Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time.   The trainers will provide an overview of the course timelines and learning outcomes and ensure you have access to the LMS which contains your materials and readings. Your interaction with your cohort and trainers within the LMS will enhance your learning and prepare you to begin your practicum.

You will have time to become familiar with the LMS, read assignments and engage with trainers and other participants prior to the first synchronous (live) session on the campus of NECC May 22, 2023

Date

Session & Time

May 23, 2023

Day 1 - Experiencing Appreciative Inquiry
Networking 8:30 am
Training: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm ET 

May 24, 2023

Day 2 - Understanding the Power of Appreciative Inquiry
Networking 8:30 am

Training: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm ET

May 25, 2023

Day 3 - Planning and Designing an Appreciative Inquiry Session
Networking 8:30 am

Training: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm ET

May 26, 2023

Day 4 - Practicing Appreciative Inquiry Applications
Networking 8:30 am

Training: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm ET

*Please note: all times listed above are Eastern Daylight Savings Time – EDT

Key Learning Outcomes

As a fully engaged participant in the Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (AIFT©), you will leave the workshop better able to:

  1. Create/enhance your personal way of being and doing in order to use an appreciative approach; focus on what’s right in your world, so that you can deeply inquire into what’s right and why, and then find ways of intentionally creating more of what’s right in your world.
  2. Facilitate individuals, groups, organizations, and communities to create collective ways of being and doing using an appreciative approach; that will help them focus on what’s right so that they can deeply inquire into what’s right and why, and then find ways of intentionally working with them to both create more of what’s right and envision innovation and new ways of being and doing – on any topic that focuses on human systems change, i.e. “the way we do things.”

Letter of Completion

To obtain a letter of completion (and to be eligible for consideration for AI Facilitator Certification) each participant must complete 26 training hours. Letters of completion include your name, date of your training, and number of classroom hours earned.

Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Certification

Each of our certification courses require a written practicum (‘narrative’) of your work. The purpose of your practicum is to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the principles of Appreciative Inquiry, its various applications, what you learned, etc. Participants will submit their practicum for review by our Practicum Review Committee which consists of 2-4 seasoned AI practitioners. It is standard practice for the panel to engage participants in a conversation (conducted virtually) about their practicum. Typically, they will respond with questions to deepen their and the participant’s mutual understanding of, and learning about, AI. The practicum review is therefore a dialogical and interactive process.

Participants have up to one year from the date of their training to submit their practicum for review. During this time, your trainers make themselves available to you for mentoring and support (at no additional cost) as you work through your first inquiry. Your mentoring/support can be done via telephone, skype, zoom, etc. You and your trainers can arrange a time and platform in which to conduct these sessions. Learn more about our Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Certification requirements here.

Once certified, your Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Certification lasts for 2 years. AI Certification with the Center for Appreciative Inquiry includes:

  • Appreciative Inquiry Certification document that will be emailed to you for your records;
  • Center for Appreciative Inquiry Certification logo that you are welcome to embed on your website or include in your email signature;
  • Listing on our Appreciative Inquiry Directory. Your AI Directory listing is an editable profile page that includes your photo and professional biography that highlights your specialties, articles, videos and testimonials. Directory profiles are easy to create and update and will make you locatable by our worldwide audience. All Directory profiles will remain visible on our website for the duration of your certification. Our Appreciative Inquiry certification is good for 2 years; after which you may renew your AI certification. You can learn more about the benefits of our AI Directory here.

Additional Training Information

Venue Information

Address:

Northern Essex Community College
100 Elliott St
Haverhill, MA 01830
Lunch is included.

Hotel Suggestions:

  • Located in Newburyport, Massachusetts a 15 min drive from campus: Essex Street Inn
  • Located in Haverhill, Massachusetts a 5 minute drive to campus: Hampton Inn

Airport Options:

  • Boston-Logan International Airport – BOS
  • Manchester-Boston Regional Airport – MHT
  • Portland, Maine Jetport – PWM 
Campus Map and Parking Information

Link to Campus Map and Directions: https://www.necc.mass.edu/directions-maps/

Campus Map PDF

Parking info:  Parking is free and requires no campus registration in the Technology Center parking lot. This lot is labelled VP in the map.

Online Learning Platform

Participants will receive login information to the Center for Appreciative Inquiry’s (CAI) online learning platform closer to the training date. We will open the online platform to participants prior to the start of the training. This allows participants time to navigate the software and become acquainted with the various features and tools it offers, introduce themselves to their trainers and other AIFT participants, and access all pre-workshop reading and materials.

Please plan to bring your laptop to the college as we engage in the asynchronous work in the online learning platform (learning management system). 

COVID-19 Information Provided by Northern Essex Community College

As visitors to the campus, proof of vaccination is not required, however, we will request campus registration via a QR code at the beginning of the AIFT training.  Information in the registration will only be used for contact tracing purposes if needed.   Please know the NECC campus is a fully vaccinated campus; all employees and students on campus are vaccinated.

Refund Policy

All fees are due upon registration. Please note that travel, accommodations and hotel/airport transportation are separate. 

Your full participation is very important to us and we know that from time to time, your plans to attend one of our workshops or programs may change.  Our refund policy reflects our interest in your continued growth and learning journey as well as our planning needs and expenses incurred based on your enrollment. For more information about our Refund Policy, please click here.

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