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Workshop Resource Center

Page history last edited by Ariane Hoy 13 years, 11 months ago

Below are some helpful ideas to consider when designing your workshop session.

In our experience, workshops that engage people - whether through conversation and sharing, are most highly rated.

Here's a bit more about why and how to make your session successful.

 

Principles of Adult Learning


Did you know that adults prefer self-directed and self-designed learning projects 7 to 1 over group learning experiences led by a professional?  They tend to prefer single-concept, single-theory courses that focus heavily on application of the concept to relevant problems.  How-to is the preferred content orientation. Moreover, adults expect to be treated with respect and look for commitment to equal opportunities in the trainer’s behaviors.  Keep this in mind as you design your sessions (content and process!) for Bonner Meetings, which are attended by adult staff and student leaders.

 

This information is expanded on in the attached handout (slides) that are part of the COOL Train-the-Trainers Program formerly implemented in the Bonner Network with staff and student leaders. 

TTTAdultLearningSlides.pdf

 

Facilitation Ideas to Consider


There are lots of creative ways to engage people in learning in a workshop setting.  Think about these techniques.

If you need more help or to talk it through, contact Ariane Hoy (ahoy@bonner.org)

 

What

How

Artistic Games/Metaphors - Think Jeopardy Family Feud, Poetry Writing, Sculpture, etc.

Emphasizes creative, open-ended activities

Case Studies - Bringing in a real or simulated example to illustrate a concept or process

Emphasizes way of bringing real-life experience into a structured learning setting and opportunities for processing information

Concentric Circles - A facilitation strategy like "speed dating" where you structure conversations on various questions

Emphasizes structured, paired sharing

Fishbowl Conversation - Think of the old fashioned glass fishbowl.  This has a moving center of conversation and observation, which you switch up at times.

Emphasizes fluid dialogue and gradual integration of participants

Open-ended Exploration, built around key experiences - May start with 'what do you want to learn' or narrating a process or concept through a strategic set of guided open questions

Emphasizes opportunity for active learning, engagement with presenters, speakers, but requires very experienced guide

Illustrate/Practice or Guide/Do  - Can be done creatively with case studies or stories (even from participants) - varies from learn to try to critique

Emphasizes dialectic process of knowledge and practice, thinking and doing, and opportunities to apply information

Role Plays/Freeze - Similar to the one above, but with planned role plays and scenarios to engage individuals and small groups in practicing and applying a new skill or idea (e.g., facilitation, interviewing, making a pitch, asking for money, etc.)

Emphasizes opportunity for rapid practice and application of concepts/knowledge, as well as opportunity for feedback

Skits - Using drama and dramatic play to engage participants in presenting their experiences and ideas - Skits can be prepared in advance or a focus of the session.

Emphasizes active participation of participants with a focus on drama

Four Corners - Uses a structured dialogue. See the training module we have! 

Emphasizes articulation of points of view and active listening skills

Switch Swatch - Uses a structured debate or asking participants to adopt/try out a point-of-view.   

Emphasizes how to articulate a point-of-view and listen to another one; how to better argue or explain while considering both sides

 

Download this handout here:  TTT10TrainingActivities.pdf

 

See other training modules (which have lots of adaptable ideas and activities) at:  

http://bonnernetwork.pbworks.com/Bonner-Training-Modules-(with-Descriptions)

 

For additional train-the-trainers materials, contact Ariane.  

We have a set of workshop design steps and other techniques to share.

 

Tips for Enhancing Participant Learning


In addition, during the sessions, there are lots of communication strategies and ways that you, as workshop leader(s) and facilitator(s) can employ to enhance the learning in the session.  Some of these include:

 

  • Listen to, acknowledge and praise participants’ ideas.
  • Write down ideas and comments on a flip chart.
  • Refer back to comments by using speaker’s name (which is why name tags are helpful!)
  • Turn questions back to the group.
  • Point out positive behaviors and their effect.      
  • If the group compliments an individual, reinforce and elaborate.
  • Ask for examples from the group’s own experiences.
  • Share your own experiences and ideas.
  • Admit to being wrong or not knowing the only/right way.
  • Avoid arguments and making right and wrong judgments.

 

Find others on this handout:   TTT.Increasing Motivation.pdf

 

Sample Titles and Descriptions


Attendees choose workshops based on their title and descriptions - as well as how these allude to who is presenting or a bit about how.  Concise and pithy work well.  This means using catchy phrasing, citing a familiar issue or problem, or grounding the description in a short but intriguing example. Here are some great examples of ways to catch people's attention and interest.

 

 

Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself - and the Communities You Serve

  • Are you a tutor and do you work with racially, culturally, and socially diverse populations?  Then this is the workshop for you!  We will discuss the dangers of going into communities with preconceived notions and acting upon stereotypes.  No matter what communities we work with and no matter what kind of work we are doing, we must unpack these assumptions.  This dialogue-rich workshop will help you learn an anti-racist approach to service and the importance of not just doing service, but stretching to reflection and service learning.

 

Facilitating Dialogues on Campus: From Food to Framing to Facilitation

  • We’ve all been in discussions where one of the following has happened: it seemed to have no point and the conversation was all over the place, or one or two people dominated the conversation. This workshop is all about helping participants think about the role that dialogues can play in forwarding your work on campus AND engaging more students. Oh yeah, and we’ll also talk about how to how to organize and facilitate a dynamic dialogue that no one will leave early.

 

Binders and Beyond: Strategies for Planning a Year with Bonner

  • Type A people will be in heaven and others might become Type A after seeing these fabulous planning tools! We'll discuss creating a master checklist for the year, developing curriculum using the student development model, planning Cornerstone activities and more.  Learn how to communicate effectively with your Bonners to create a comprehensive, fun year of training and enrichment.  Samples will be provided but this is an interactive workshop - so bring your own ideas and plans to share!

 

Invisible Children:  Don't Sleep Through a Revolution

  • There has been a war raging on in Northern Uganda for the past 23 years with little or no western media coverage. The non-profit 'Invisible Children' has created documentaries and established programs to aid the effected in the region and put an end to the longest running war in Africa's history. In this workshop we will watch some of the social media used to empower this youth led movement of activism, discuss some formative actions being taken to resolving the war, and discuss what students can do to psych up their school to becoming involved with Invisible Children. 

 

Leading and Measuring Social Impact

  • Bonners serve because they have a passion for making a difference. It starts with the heart. But what counts as impact? How do we measure and convince others of our outcomes? How can we design programs with the best chance of changing lives and communities? This skill-building discussion breaks down the mysteries of impact evaluation. Participants get exposed to tools and techniques for strengthening the evidence behind the important work they do. The conversation draws from the presenter's current work in social development and evaluation with the European Union, the Centre for Evidence-Based Intervention (University of Oxford), and a grassroots organization in the Middle East.

 

Need more help or ideas?  Contact us!

Ready to submit your session? Use the link on this page:   

http://bonnernetwork.pbworks.com/Bonner-Summer-Leadership-Institute-Workshops

 

 

 

 

 

 

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