Things to think about while planning your workshop:
- How will you organize the workshop?
- Is this a “stand and deliver” experience where you stand at the front of the room and do a presentation?
- Is this a “circle experience” where participants will sit in a circle for dialogue/discussion?
- Will there be individual creative work?
- Will there be a group activity or project?
- Will you have a panel?
- Will it be a combination of some of the above?
- What are your strategies for generating discussion and energy in the room?
- Think about your opening: How will you help folks feel welcome and comfortable in the space? Will you do introductions? Will you have an icebreaker? Will you ask them what kind of energy they are bringing with them? How will you create a space for connection and sharing?
- Will you create time for movement/everyone getting out of their seats?
- Are there moments when you can ask participants to “turn and talk” to a neighbor?”
- Can you build in a combination of individual, partner, small group, and whole group activities?
- Think about your closing, even if it is going around the room and sharing just one word or idea.
- How can your workshop connect to this year’s theme, __________? Are there shared takeaways or goals or hopes that participants might walk away with?
A few more things to remember:
- Do you need technology? If so, you’ll need to bring a MacBook with your presentation on it. What happens if you plan for tech and it falls through? Be sure to have a backup plan if this happens.
- Will you need “materials” for participants? If so, plan for 2-5 more than expected if creating handouts or other takeaway material
- Be sure to check out your workshop space ahead of time.
- What if just a few voices are dominating the discussion? “We’d love to hear from some who haven’t had a chance to speak… Is there anyone we haven’t heard from today who’d like to share…?”
- Have a plan to fill the time if you finish early
When creating your working agenda, consider these parts:
- Objectives (what the facilitator hopes to accomplish)
- Learning Outcomes (what the facilitator hopes the participants will take away)
- Materials (what materials/supplies are needed for the workshop)
- Time (how much time is allotted for the workshop and for each part)
- Agenda (the plan for how to use the time)
Items to share with participants at the start:
- The Objectives (what’s the basic plan for the workshop)
- The Learning Outcomes (what you hope participants will learn or take away)
- The general plan for the workshop