Coaching Training

What Is a Facilitator?

There can be confusion within the training and development field about terminology used to denote persons or roles. Here are some useful distinctions:

• Facilitator. From the French word “facile,” or “easy,” facilitation is the art and science of assisting learners in experiencing content. Because the facilitator role is the subject of this chapter, this distinction will become more clear later. Facilitation typically occurs in organizational meetings and training sessions.

• Educator. This is a person who “teaches,” or disseminates knowledge and understanding to “students” or “pupils.” The educator, or teacher, operates in classroom and laboratory settings, leading students from a position of authority and superior knowledge. ...