Workshops, Short Courses, and Panel Discussions
90-minute paper session
- moderator briefly introduces session and presenters (or each presenter before his/her talk)
- four 15-minute oral presentations with 5 minutes each for quick Question and Answer (Q&A)
- ends with a few minutes of discussion and additional Q&A
Workshop (90 minutes – 3 hours)
- emphasizes interaction and exchange of information. Interactive techniques include:
- brainstorming solutions
- working from participants’ questions or issues raised
- having participants work on problems or answer questions in small groups, sharing solutions with the entire group
- having participants get involved physically, if only to move into and out of groups
- leader plays more of a facilitator role and guides participants as they learn the content rather than giving them all the answers
- usually involves a small number of participants
- should provide participants with a set of tools to take home and use to apply the new information
- at the least, provide a handout or materials that summarize main points and describe useful techniques well enough for someone to make sense of them sometime in the future
- REMEMBER: A “workshop” by definition gives participants something they can use. Experience and research show that people generally learn more and remember better when they think about new material, figure out solutions, and apply new knowledge to their own lives and needs.
- Download application form here (Must be received NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 23, 2011)
Short course/seminar (90 minutes – 3 hours)
- often consists of a single or multiple presenter(s) who use an instructor-centered approach, such as a lecture, to deliver material
- combination of lecture and discussion educating participants about a particular topic
- less interactive than a workshop, but the session should include some time for discussion and participant feedback
- participants should receive take home materials
- Download application form here (Must be received NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 23, 2011)
Panel presentation/discussion (90 minutes)
- starts with an introduction of the issue and panel members by the session moderator
- each panel member is given a few minutes (5 – 10 max) for a brief presentation or a summary of his or her experience or viewpoint
- ends with Q&A from the audience and general discussion of the topic
- Download application form here (Must be received NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 23, 2011)
