Role of Moderator & Notetaker
Moderator:
Working with the notetaker, the moderator opens the forum and facilitates the discussion. The moderator remains objective and does not offer evaluative comments, nor contribute ideas. The moderator may refocus the group if it gets off-task, and may probe deeper to encourage participants to reflect more on a thought; as a way of encouraging deeper reflection, the moderator may suggest alternative methods and procedures. The moderator encourages all participants to engage in the deliberation and protects individuals and their ideas from attack. The moderator's ultimate goal is to help the group identify common ground find solutions all participants can live with.
Notetaker:
A forum moderator may assign one or more notetakers to record the ideas that evolve in a forum. The notetaker makes a social contract with the group at the beginning of the meeting by introducing himself and defining his role in the meeting. The notetaker assures the group that his role is, like the moderator, to remain neutral. The notetaker must attempt to capture not only the positive and negative repercussions of any given approach, but also the tradeoffs, tensions and common ground - all in a succinct, synthesized manner. Listening for key words and phrases from each person, an effective notetaker will transcribe the basic ideas and the essence of what each speaker is saying.
Tips for effective notetaking include:
- Highlight key ideas, statements, and decisions
- Don’t be afraid to misspell or to abbreviate words in shorthand that makes sense to you
- Discipline your self to tune out other phenomena. Facing your writing and not facing your group during discussion will help you listen better. People will also feel less intimidated than if you watch them.
- Try to use the words of the speaker rather than editing or paraphrasing. Do not record names.
- Do not try to capture everything; if you fall behind, have the moderator ask the group to slow down until you are caught up
- Don’t try to help the group out (if they are stuck) by putting words into their mouths. Be quiet; talk as little as possible. If nothing is being said, just wait quietly facing the flip chart until the silence is broken.
- Partner with the moderator to help with time-keeping and indicating participants who wish their voices to be heard
- Allow the group to challenge your record, and be acceptant of modifications and corrections
- Be ready to post flip chart notes for participants to review as the forum progresses
- Be responsible for the materials - flip charts(s), masking tape, and magic markers
- Write up the flip chart notes and report them back to the group, or find someone who will do this task