the workshop workshop
How to design workshops that are easier to facilitate and more fun for the participants
Jelle Huisman
Why (some)
workshops go wrong?
- how people feel
- what people learn
How to design for success with ABC
A udience - who
B reaks - when
C ontent - what
Audience
Know your audience
Ask: who is in the room? what are their experiences? hopes? fears? what would make this a great session?
Audience
[ TRY IT OUT ]
Ask: who is in the room? what are their experiences? hopes? fears? what would make this a great session?
Breaks
Plan the coffee breaks first
Well-planned breaks keep your audience awake (and help you with content chunking.)
Breaks
[ TRY IT OUT ]
Well-planned breaks keep your audience awake (and help you with content chunking.)
Content
Learning Outcomes need to be clear
- define sharp Learning Outcomes
- collect Supporting Ideas
Content
Define sharp Learning Outcomes
- not: "Homepage design"
- but: "How to write good homepage copy"
- not: "Website security"
- but: "How to setup Wordfence"
Content
collect Supporting Ideas
- "Tell me you solve my problem"
- "Make text scannable"
- "Why you need a firewall"
- "How to stay up to date"
Learning Outcomes
[ TRY IT OUT ]
Learning Outcomes need to be clear
- define sharp Learning Outcomes
- collect Supporting Ideas
5 Teaching Formats that work
- lecture
- small group/pair discussion
- try-it-now practise
- scenario challenge
- Q&A
1 is it a fit?
2 switch
lecture - deliver knowledge
- focus on Learning Outcomes
- introducing and debriefing exercises
1 is it a fit?
2 switch
small group/pair discussion - making it personal
- good prompt important
- question: clear and specific
- answer: ambiguous / personal
1 is it a fit?
2 switch
Q&A - for flexibility
- Q&A is not really "interactive" but a great schedule spring
- polling: Dot Votes
- alternative: the Post-Up
1 is it a fit?
2 switch
"Try it now" - for building hands-on skills
- Make the task clear
- Beware of hidden sub-steps which are obvious for you, but stumbling blocks for your audience
1 is it a fit?
2 switch
Scenario challenges - for evaluation and decision-making
- Scenario: "What would you do if....?"
- Challenge 1: Evaluate
- Challenge 2: Decide
1 is it a fit?
2 switch
Suggested reading

(the basis of this workshop)
workshopsurvival.com
Thank You!
Questions?
Contact: jelleproject@gmail.com
slides.com/jellehuisman
the Workshop workshop
By Jelle Huisman
the Workshop workshop
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