AI and Facilitation CoP Blows Minds and Opens Doors

On a rainy Saturday morning, I was unprepared to be blown away by the Generative AI Community of Practice (CoP) experience sharing session hosted by the Facilitators Network Singapore (FNS) that took place on 12 October. As part of their 20th-anniversary celebrations, FNS once again took us on a learning journey underpinned by facilitation techniques but within a safe space and with plenty of laughter along the way.

As someone who embraces the use of ethical AI, I was excited to learn more. But with a plethora of AI tools now available, it is hard to know which are the best to use and how to escape the AI tool overwhelm.

AI and Facilitation CoP Blows Minds and Opens Doors

Image source: artsmart.ai

Going Beyond ChatGPT: A Whole New World of Applicability to Facilitation

Led by the inspiring Ng Hooi See, we discussed an ocean of possibilities to apply to our work that left us all buzzing with excitement and left the session with some new tools to explore and ideas on how to apply them to our daily work.

Our Discussion – The Starting Point

While standing in a group, we all openly shared about our own personal use of AI and use cases.

Our Discussion - The Starting Point

Some of the AI use cases we discussed in the group with Hooi See included:

  1. Summarising content
  2. Generating Excel files from data
  3. Creating presentations
  4. Training AI to write in our own personal style
  5. Brainstorming
  6. Help with children’s homework and tests
  7. Pulling text out of images
  8. Creating PDFs from images

Hooi See shared with the group how she uses AI in her daily life and work, which gave the group some new ideas. She also compared the AI tools she regularly uses.

Hooi See shared with the group how she uses AI in her daily life and work

Image credit: Ng Hooi See

The Application of Affinity Diagrams

Picture this: We were knee-deep in creating an affinity diagram on questions we have on AI:

The Application of Affinity Diagrams

Here is how the affinity diagram of questions on AI from our group discussions look like:

The Application of Affinity Diagrams

Suddenly, challenged by participant Sasi Kumar, Hooi See introduced us to a new AI-powered tool, that could transform our physical affinity diagram into digital magic.

The room erupted with amazement as we watched AI organise our ideas in the form of a 3-minute podcast generated from a single image of our affinity diagram in just a few minutes using Google’s NotebookLM tool. Hooi See demonstrated the tool, launched in September, live during our workshop, even though she had only discovered it the evening before.

From Prompts to Podcasts: AI Supercharges Our Toolkit

The discussions also explored a number of tips for using AI tools:

  1. Use sharper prompts to gain better outputs
  2. Ask ChatGPT what information it needs from you
  3. Break larger amounts of text down into sections
  4. Input your own style of writing to obtain output that sounds like you

AI Tools To Explore

The demonstration of Notebook LM had quite an impact on us and the energy in the room was increasing as we explored an arsenal of AI tools:

  1. Notebook LM: This Google gem creates timelines, FAQs, podcasts and more.
  2. Canva Magic Design: Create stunning graphics with just a few clicks!
  3. Mapify: Mind mapping tool that creates detailed mind maps from text.
  4. Render Forest: A game-changer for creating training content.

In-depth Discussions and Critical Debates

This workshop did not shy away from addressing the most significant and challenging questions. The atmosphere was charged with meaningful discussions that engaged every participant. We thoroughly examined topics such as data control and ethics in AI, carefully navigating the balance between innovation and privacy. The debates on potential threats and the broad range of AI applications across various sectors prompted us to reconsider our views.

From Scepticism to Innovation

At the start of the session, some questioned whether AI had a place in the human-focused field of facilitation. However, by the end, there was a palpable shift in perspective. We left the room brimming with ideas on incorporating AI into our personal and professional lives.

We explored innovative ways to transform complex content into accessible audio formats that would resonate with audiences. Our conversation on the potential transformation of education through AI also left us excited about the future of learning, which promises to be more interactive and engaging than ever before. Armed with a list of courses recommended by Hooi See, everyone in the room left with some next steps to learn more.

From Scepticism to Innovation

The Future is Now

The excitement was palpable as we wrapped up the session. Personally, I couldn’t wait to get home and start applying these tools. The outcome? By that evening, I had prepared a couple of podcasts, a report summary in minutes and signed up to an AI course using my Coursera subscription.

This workshop celebrated FNS’s 20 years of excellence and launched us into a future where AI and human creativity come together. We left with new ideas, new tools and a glimpse of what’s possible in our respective fields.

To Hooi See, FNS, and this incredible community of forward-thinking facilitators – thank you for opening our eyes to the limitless potential of AI in the context of facilitation.

Here’s to pushing boundaries, embracing innovation, and becoming better facilitators. The future is here, it’s AI-powered, and it’s exciting!

The Future is Now

About Ng Hooi See

Ng Hooi See is a vibrant mother of three, a proud cancer survivor, and a patient ambassador with the Singapore Cancer Society. Soon to be a certified life coach, Hooi See has embraced Generative AI since ChatGPT launched in 2022. She loves using AI to simplify life, from crafting nutrition plans and travel itineraries to finding clever ways to respond to clients or play games with her kids. With over 10 years of experience in market strategy, business research, and content creation, she blends professional expertise with playful curiosity to bring a spark to everyday life. Connect with Hooi See at hooiseeng@gmail.com.

By Line

This article was written by Holly Naylor, a British content writer specialising in sustainability content writing who has lived in Singapore for 15 years. Holly helps businesses of all sizes craft their sustainable message on their websites, in reports, and much more. Connect with Holly on LinkedIn or email holly@theinspireandcreate.com.

Wished you were at this CoP? Don’t miss our final CoP for this year: The 2030 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) Game  on 9 November 2024. Places are limited. Check our website at https://fns.sg/forums/ for details and register through admin@fns.sg.