This presentation on Designing Successful
Workshops will introduce you to the design and
implementation of successful workshops in your
own setting/s.
 The goal of this presentation is to describe a
number of principles and strategies that can be
used to make workshops more effective.
What is a ‘Workshop’?
“a usually brief, intensive educational
program for a relatively small group of people
in a given field that emphasizes participation
in problem solving efforts”.
 Workshops are popular because of their
inherent flexibility and promotion of
principles of experiential and adult
learning.
Task ( 1)
How to design your workshop?
It is recommend that you complete the entire
workshop as integrated steps.
1- Defining a Topic & Identifying the Target Audience
2- Conducting a Needs Assessment
3- Defining Workshop Goals and Objectives
4- Deciding on Time Frame and Number of Participants
5- Defining and Designing Workshop Content
6- Matching Teaching Methods to Content and Objectives
ASK YOURSELF:
· Why
are the participants attending the workshop?
· What can I do to make it a positive experience for them?
· Why am I giving this workshop? What are my goals?
Quick Tips:
* Pre-workshop planning
1. Define your objectives for the teaching session.
2. Find out who your audience will be.
3. Determine your teaching method and design the
appropriate workshop activities.
* The Workshop itself
4. Introduce the group members to you and to each other
5. Outline your objectives for the teaching session
6. Create a relaxed atmosphere for learning
7. Encourage active participation and allow for problem
solving and/or skill acquisition
8. Provide relevant and practical information
9. Remember principles of adult learning
10. Vary your activities and your style
11. Summarize your session and request feedback
12. Enjoy yourself and have fun!
Task (2)
Presentation Skills " The human Element"
 Presentation is a process or event in which we convey
the message or the information to the people.
 Presentation is not a normal way of conveying the
information but it is an organized way of expressing the
concept or thoughts which are pre-planned.
 A presentation is created in the same manner as a report;
however, it adds one additional element
The Human Element.
A good presentation has:
1. Content:
It contains information that people need. But unlike
reports, which are read at the reader's own pace,
presentations must account for how much information the
audience can absorb in one sitting.
2. Structure :
It has a logical beginning, middle, and end. It must be
sequenced and paced so that the audience can understand it.
3. Packaging :
It must be well prepared. A report can be reread and
portions skipped over, but with a presentation, the
audience is at the mercy of a presenter.
4. Human Element :
A good presentation will be remembered much more
than a good report because it has a person attached to it.
However, you must still analyze the audience's needs to
determine if they would be better met if a report was sent
instead.
Facilitating and running the workshop
 Starting the Workshop:
The way you start the workshop depends on its function and
participants. Here are some activities you could select:
Pre-tests
You may want a base line of what participants know
or think or can do.
Introductions and icebreakers
These may be needed if people do not already know
each other. Introductions are important to help the
group link together fast.
Running the Workshop
 Keeping groups working well
When groups are put together and given a task, they need
to be left alone to get to know each other and build trust
etc. But the facilitator must also observe to make sure that
people know what is expected of them.
 Tackling participants who are dominating or silent
Every facilitator dreads the participant who dominates
every discussion and volunteers an answer to every
question put to the plenary group. At the other extreme
are those who sit at the back, silent throughout the
discussions.
Monitoring during the workshop, Strategies
and exercises for different stages:
a) Ice breakers
*Activities at the start of each day: there is value in starting
each day with a review of the previous day’s work.
b) Energizing exercises
*The same activity continued for more than about
twenty minutes can become boring, especially in the
post-lunch period – the “early afternoon malaise”.
*So, an activity is needed that is short enough not to
disrupt the flow of the programme, push blood up to the
head, and restore brain function to active
Closing the Workshop
How you close the workshop depends on the culture you
are working in but you could think about:
* feedback to participants on the results of any attitudes or
skills that were being monitored during the workshop;
comments and (if possible) praise of work done during the
workshop – problem analyses, plans of action or working
tools like checklists.
* a presentation of a Certificate of Attendance or
Certificate that skills have been learnt
* a speech thanking participants for attending and thanking
other people who made the workshop possible.
References
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Gwinn, A. (2007). Business Reports - Investigation and Presentation.
Philadelphia: Saunders Press.
Grant-Williams, R. (2002). Voice Power: Using Your Voice to Captivate,
Persuade, and Command Attention. New York: AMACOM.
Rogers, C. R. (1957). The necessary and sufficient conditions of therapeutic
personality change. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 2A,95-103.
Smith, F. C., Bace, R. G. (2002). A Guide to Forensic Testimony:
The Art and Practice of Presenting Testimony As An Expert Technical Witness.
Boston, MA: Addison-Wesley