Organizing Workshop: The facilitators guide

If you are repeating what you did two years ago, is something wrong?
1. Do something new
2. Fail forwards
3. Bounce Back
4. Celebrate Learning.

The facilitator should:
1. Establish rapport
2. Show respect
3. Abandon preconceptions
4. Hand over the stick
5. Watch, listen, learn
6. Learn from mistakes
7. Be self-critical and self aware
8. Be flexible
9. Support and share
10. Be honest

The facilitator should not:
1. Rush
2. Lecture
3. Criticize
4. Interrupt
5. Dominate
6. Sabotage

Preparing for workshop: A Checklist
1. Why?
2. How does it fit?
3. Who and how many?
4. What expectations?
5. How participatory?
6. What is your part?
7. Who else?
8. Where?
9. When?
10. Finance?
11. Programme
12. Languages
13. Logistics
14. Material and Equipment
15. Participants preparation
16. Local liaison
17. Outputs
18. Follow-up

Inaugurating the workshop
1. Welcome
Options include:
· Put up welcome notices
2. Administration and logistics
3. Expectations, hopes and fears
Options include:
· As they arrive, ask them to take post-it or cards, write down their expectations, and stick them on a wall or board
4. Background and purpose
5. Outline of the programme and/or process
6.. Information – on documents, stay, hotel arrangement, local site etc.
7. Introduction: Meet and greet
Options include:
· Mapping: A splendid ice-breaker, Draw and label, or imaging , a large map on the ground. Participant’s stand where they were born, and then move progressively to where they had education, and then where their careers have taken them, ending where they are now.
· Short self-introductions
· Mutual introductions.


Energizers/ Games
1. You move, all move
2. Form Groups
Options include:
· Not known to one another
· From different organizations
· From other disciplines
3. Games
Options include:
· Number Games: Five or seven clap hands instead of saying the numbers or multiple of numbers, turn around on seven etc.
· Mirrors: Pair off. Oneperson is the actor, the other the mirror.
· Anilbhai says…to jump up, to touch toes, to kneel down, to turn around, to stop. Participants only follow the instruction when you say Anilbhai says.. Those who make mistakes drop out.
· All move who.. are wearing blue, tie coin, language, traveled, etc..

Evaluation
Options include:
· Mood Meter: Post up a chart in a public place, perhaps near the door. Its column are workshops days, and its lines either three indication levels of morale or satisfaction.
· Verbal
· Questionnaire
· Evaluation Wheel
· Step forward or back

Group Photographs
Options include:
· The group photograph is mounted on paper with a margin for writing on. The photos are passed round. Everyone sign one photo. If there is time and space personal messages can be included.

Analysis and Learning

1. Johari’s window: A versatile framework to enhance awareness of the differences between professionals and local people’s knowledge. Show a 2-by-2 matrix.
They know They don’t know
We know
We don’t know

2. If I were you…: An exercise for imagining and appreciating the realities of others.
3. Contested chairs: Conflict resolution exercise.
4. Discussions and Analysis
5. Case study comparisons
6. Compile and Collate
7. Video Learning

Do not Lecture
· Use Wall charts
· When you have to talk, keep it to 10 minutes
· collect questions to discuss later
· Invite participants to answer their own question first.
· find and use experience and knowledge of the group
· Facilitate lateral learning
· Give yourself breathers


Workshop Materials
Flip chart paper
Colored marker pens
Wall charts
Masking tape
Post its
Glue/Gum
Scissors
Pen,Pencils
LCD, Laptops
Camera
Screen
Software's
Presentations
Papers
Coloured stickers
Pins

Source: participatory workshops by robert Chambers.