Empowerment is the process of supporting people to:

construct new meanings;

exercise their freedom to choose new ways to responding to the world.

Both components are assisted by:

being listened to

talking and expressing emotion about experiences

Dyad : What are your thoughts about the definition of empowerment? When have you felt powerful? When have you not?

Goals of the Support Group

• Increase communication among teachers;
• Help teachers function more effectively, cooperatively and enthusiastically;
• Allow expression of feelings about successes and problems;
• Assist teachers in dealing with the stress, tension and frustration inherent in change;
• Enable them to have more attention for their own learning;

Reflections on Educational Change Support Group: Read pages 1-12.

What were you own experiences leading a support group and how does this compare to the reading?

Qualities of a Good Question

• There is no bias built into it;
• There isn’t an answer built into it;
• It isn’t answered by just yes or no;
• Will cause the person to look deep;
• Deals with a real issue — isn’t superficial;
• Does not always have to deal with the issue or theme of the seminar;
• Should deal with issues that would hinder them or their clear thinking;
• Think about it for yourself. Is it hard to answer? How do you respond to it?
• Support group sessions help generate your next support group question;