Planning the Workshop
Define the objective of the workshop. Your objective may be to teach a concrete skill, such as how to create and save documents in a word processing application. Or your aim may be to deliver general information or guidance about a specific topic, such as painting or creative writing. Regardless of the focus, it's important to define the objective first
Determine
the needs of workshop participants. When teaching a particular skill, for
example, understanding the participants' needs concerning skill level and
learning pace will assist you in delivering appropriate content. The more you
tailor the workshop to your audience, the more effective the workshop will beCreate
an outline for your workshop presentation
Create
an introduction. Decide how you will introduce yourself, the topic and the
participant members.
List
the skills and/or topics you will cover. Create a comprehensive bulleted list.
Include subtopics, as needed.
Decide
on the order of the topics. Move the most important skills or information to
the early part of the workshop. Depending on the subject of the workshop, it
may also be useful to introduce and build on each topic, beginning with the
simplest or most straight forward topic and concluding with the more difficult
or complex topic.
Determine
ground rules for the workshop. Rules or guidelines such as only one person
speaks at a time or raising a hand to speak, as well as shutting off any
cellphones or distracting devices are good to establish at the onset of the
workshop.
Decide
how you will wrap up the workshop. You might include a short review of learned
skills, announce the next level in a series of workshops and/or implement a
participant feedback form.
Assign an estimated length of time to each item on the outline. For
particularly complicated topics or skills, allot a sufficient amount of time in
case participants get stuck or have questions. It is also important to factor
in scheduled breaks during the workshop to give the participants a chance to go
to the bathroom or stretch their legs.
Practice giving your workshop presentation once you complete your outline. Rehearsal
is an important part of the workshop preparation process. Present your
information to colleagues, friends or relatives ahead of time, and ask them to
give you feedback on the clarity and effectiveness of your presentation.
Encouraging
Workshop Participation
Set
up the room or space to encourage discussion. Arrange the chairs in a
horseshoe shape or a semi-circle to facilitate conversation and post the ground
rules on a board or wall where all participants can see them. Ensure a blank
piece of paper on a board or wall, or a writing board, to brainstorm or
document ideas and notes from the participants.
Incorporate
interactive activities into your workshop. Activities or games can
increase engagement and participation. Activities may occur in small or large
groups.
Include
a question-and-answer portion. Depending on the ground rules of the
workshop, invite participants to ask questions either throughout the workshop
or in scheduled time slots.
