Setting Ground Rules

Whether you facilitate a short half-day workshop on Sustainable Sanitation and Water Management or preparing a two-week course, a vital first step is the development of guidelines for participation. These guidelines, often referred to as "ground rules" or "community norms", should provide the community within a workshop or class a framework to ensure open, respectful dialogue and maximum participation.

(Adapted from HARPER-WHALEN and MORRIS 2007)

Ground rules are best shaped by group discussion and consensus resulting in a mutually agreed upon list of guidelines unique to each community of learners. While this list of shared expectations provides a powerful guide for shaping the teaching/learning experience, the process of collaboration to create these rules is just as powerful. When learners are given a voice and engaged as active participants from the onset, their ownership of the learning process throughout the training session is inaugurated and promoted.

There are several effective ways to create ground rules or norms.

• If time is an issue, as it tends to be in short workshops, it may be necessary for you to list the ground rules for the group. Be sure to inquire whether the ground rules are agreeable and mention that if you had more time together, you would have preferred the group to generate the list.
• A second way to create ground rules is to list those rules you commonly use, and then ask for additional ground rules from the participants. When somebody proposes a ground rule, ask the other participants if they agree to it. If most do, add it to the list.
• The best way to create ground rules, if you have the time, is to allow the participants to generate the entire list. Ask them to think about what they, as individuals, need to ensure a safe environment to discuss difficult and controversial issues. If the participants are having difficulty coming up with ground rules, or if they do not come up with a particular ground rule you feel is important to the success of your facilitation, try to prompt them toward it. If they still do not mention it, you can add it to the list.

Planning for the development of ground rules begins with reflection on the training context. First, consider the length of the session. When a training session is two hours or less, come prepared with a short list of important ground rules and briefly introduce them to the group. To help build participant engagement, you can ask: “Are there other ground rules you would like to add?” To seek consensus for implementing the ground rules, you can say: “Give me a “thumbs up” if you agree to use these guidelines during our session today.” You can also include feedback regarding the effectiveness of the ground rules on the session evaluation form.

In longer training sessions, it is still helpful to set the process of generating ground rules in motion by introducing a few commonly used ground rules. These are more easily remembered when they are listed in categories such as comfort, safety, and productivity. Within each category, encourage a brief discussion inviting participants to contribute their own ideas. When somebody proposes an idea/ground rule, ask the other participants if they agree to it. If most do, add it to the list in the proper category (BENS 2005).

In all cases, ground rules should be posted – on the wall or at each table– and referred to throughout the session. Once developed, ground rules should be posted each time the same group meets together. Be ready to call attention to the ground rules when the opportunity presents itself to congratulate or remind the group of the guidelines they agreed to follow.

If a particular ground rule is routinely broken, offer participants a chance to discuss why they are not following that guideline and make changes if needed. If there is time, occasionally revisit the ground rules list and encourage participants to add new items when issues or challenges arise.

(Adapted from GORSKI 2009)

Ground rules should be developed and adapted for every unique context. Appropriate ground rules may depend partially on age, region, and other contextual factors. The following list of common ground rules from equity, diversity, and social justice related classes and workshops should serve only as a starting point for your process of creating a similar list suitable to your own situation:

• You will have a full and equal opportunity to speak up on every issue presented for discussion - there is no need to rush or interrupt.
• You are encouraged to ask genuine "questions of clarification." Please avoid asking "questions of attack."
• Use each other's first names, not the pronouns "he" or "she."
• Speak for yourself only.
• You agree to work for your perceived most constructive and fairest agreement.
• Appeals and attempts to convince should be made to each other and not to the mediator.
• If something is not working for you, speak up.
• Speak from your own experience instead of generalising ("I" instead of "they," "we," and "you").
• Please keep your mobiles on silent mode.
• Be on time every time!
• Respect other's cultural and religious traditions, beliefs, values and languages.
• Etc….