Debriefing

Experiential Learning

Debriefing and post-crisis analysis are used in experiential learning. Debriefing individuals involved in a crisis event, whether as victim, respondent, or nonparticipating witness, leads to information that helps in the development of training and education for future events. In this type of debriefing, the questions center on words like who, what, where, when, why, and how. The purpose is to collect experiences within the framework of understanding what happened, what things could have been done to lessen the impact of the event, and how to avoid or prepare for future events.

Post-crisis analysis may go beyond debriefing to include a review of archival information, such as newspaper reports of the event, photographs of the event and of the affected area before and after the event occurred, post-event maps, weather and geological data from the time of the event, official reports, and even the diaries of persons involved. Depending on the age of the event, there may also be an attempt to collect archaeological and anthropological information, such as has been done in the study of early and prehistorical events.

The findings are used to assist planners in developing more informed responses to future crises of a similar kind, if not in the same location. Trainers use the information to revise or design new programs or to develop practical exercises and drills, to inform the public about protective measures, and to help responders prepare for future crises. Educators use the information to develop course curricula for developing emergency managers.

Experiential learning can also occur immediately, using a debriefing session following the critical incident. Generally, because of the need for expediency, the session is a very basic discussion between those involved about what happened, what caused the event, how the crisis played out, and who did what during the event. As participants tell their stories, the facilitation can develop a discussion about how the response could have been improved; the purpose in these sessions is not to belittle or ridicule but to collectively learn a better approach to future incidents, or even how to avoid a similar event altogether.

Event Reconstruction and Investigation

Debriefing for event reconstruction and investigation has been done since before recorded history; investigators seek to put the stages of an event into an order that can be understood and give meaning to the specifics being reviewed. The desire to investigate and determine what happened in the [Page 237]process and cause of an event (post-crisis analysis) is a natural human instinct.

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