General Workshop Outline:
Note: Each complete workshop consists of two, two and one half hour sessions with a ten to fifteen minute break half way through each session. The time frame of each sessions activities is left to the discretion of the presenters.
Prerequisite to any training workshop for teachers of adults is participants' awareness of the uniqueness of the adult learner.
Some thoughts on pre-workshop preparation:
-Workshop publicity should include concise description of workshop goals, objectives and targeted audience as well as day, date, time, location and travel instructions (if necessary).
-Registration form included in PR should contain the contact for additional information about workshop.
-Check out set up of room in which the workshop is to take place.
-Make arrangements for any equipment or materials that will be needed. This may include refreshments.
-Plan for things going wrong. (weather, equipment failure, timing, no shows or wrong shows, etc.) because they usually do.
-Relax. Have fun!
Handouts Should Include: ( By the way, color coding helps)
Workshop Rationale and/or Goal, and Objectives
Workshop Agenda
Workshop Evaluation (Based on Rationale/Goal and Objectives)
Handouts for Workshop Activities
Ice Breaker (Affective Opener)
Instructions and Handouts for Workshop Activities
Interim Assignment (Next Steps)
Additional Information and Resources (Including where to get in touch with presenters.)
Agenda Should Include:
1. Welcome, Introductions and Opening Activity (Affective Opener or Ice Breaker) We found it most effective if the Opening Activity is related to the objectives and to the activities of the workshop itself. Feedback from Opening Activity should include reflection on personal cognition, (metacognition) as well as relevance to objectives.
2. Session Overview and Negotiation We found it important to listen to the needs and concerns of the participants as they relate to the workshop goals and objectives and make a sincere effort to address them.
3. Activities: Each activity is related to one or more of the workshop objectives. Feedback from activities should include participant reaction to activities, demonstration of relationship of activities to workshop objectives, and participants reflections on personal cognitive processes. (Metacognition)
4. Closure and Evaluation of Session and Workshop. (For session one of each workshop, this may be informal)
5. Assignment (Next Step) Task for participants to complete and report on in session two and for follow-up after the workshop is completed