Training for staff and student leaders in the Bonner Network about how to design interactive workshops using best practices for learning

1. Cone of Experience
People generally remember:
Read
Hear Words
Watch Still Picture
Watch Moving Picture
View Exhibit
Watch Demonstration
Do a Workshop Exercise
Role Play a Situation
Simulate a Real Experience
Go through the Real Experience
10% of what they read
20% of what they hear
30% of what they see
50% of what they see and hear
70% of what they say and write
90% of what they say as
they do a task
For more information on Dole’s cone of Experience, see Raymond T. Wimon. Educational Media, Charles Merril Co, 1969

2. Demonstration
 The presenter actually performs or simulates
the process, instead of only talking about a
concept, procedure, or set of facts.
Advantages:
• Excellent way to learn skills for
using equipment, instructional
materials, procedures, etc.
• Participants can immediately try
out what they learn
• Involves auditory, visual, and
often kinesthetic (movement)
sessions with a maximum
involvement
Disadvantages:
• Demonstration must be limited to
amounts of information at one
time
• Breaking demonstration into
learnable chunks can be difficult
• May be difficult to set up space for
viewing
• Not good for large groups unless all
can experience
• Need follow up opportunities to
apply
Pointers:
• Include a verbal
summary either
before or after demo
• Provide opportunity
to practice skills on
real problem
• Make sure in
advance all
materials are
available and
working
• Practice beforehand
to establish
timelines, possible
difficulties, and
anticipate

3. Group Discussion
 The presenter must first build interest before
starting a discussion. Open-ended questions can
guide participants into learning through dialogue.
Advantages:
• Permits maximum interchange of
ideas
• Permits clarification, sharing of
understanding, and review of main
points
• Allows participants to acquire and
practice interpersonal
competencies
• Participants choose level of
involvement based on own degree
of comfort
Disadvantages:
• Participants must have basic
information on which to build
discussion; trainer must lay out
content foundation
• Without focusing, discussions
can wander and not contain
much content
• May not be as inclusive (have to
facilitate)
• Can become very time
consuming
Pointers:
• Time limits and
goals should be
explicitly set
• Open-ended
questions trigger
better discussions
than close-ended
questions
• Use facilitation
techniques to
prevent domination
by one or few
viewpoints

4. Group Inquiry
 The presenter challenges participants to generate
their own questions or poses a problem for group to
solve. May need to provide prior knowledge first.
Advantages:
• Allows presenter to gear
teaching to participant needs
• Allows for group to apply own
knowledge or experience
• Encourages group interpersonal
skills
Disadvantages:
• Participants must have prior
knowledge of material or first
be presented with relevant
instructional materials and
information
• May require high level of
experience of presenter to guide
group towards intended
learning
Pointers:
• Present needed
frameworks and
information
beforehand
• Allow sufficient
time for the group to
form questions or
solve problem
• You can field
questions one at a
time or from the
entire group

5. Guided Learning
 Instead of presenting a lecture, or obtain
participants questions, the presenter asks a series
of questions. Ideas are recorded and then
discussed in light of intended learning content.
Advantages:
• Taps knowledge of group or
gets their beliefs and ideas
about questions
• Allows presenter to learn what
participants already know
before making instructional
points
• Encourages self discovery
• Nice break from
presentation
Disadvantages:
• Presenter must have extensive
knowledge of subject (built in)
• Presenter should be skilled at
encouraging and controlling
verbal input
• Presenter must establish safe
environment
• Verbal participants may
monopolize discussion or present
inappropriate views
Pointers:
• Maintain balance
between participant
and trainer input
• Record ideas and
compare to lecture
points presenter has
in mind
• If done in small
groups, reconvene
groups and share
learning
• Have examples to
use

6. Lecture / Talk
 The presenter verbally presents intended learning
in a thoughtfully designed manner. Lecturing can be
useful for large group settings, is low-cost, and can
include participation.
Advantages:
• Most efficient and low-cost
method for conveying information
in classroom setting
• Can convey basic info to large
group rapidly
• Can be used regardless of group
size
Disadvantages:
• Presenter needs to be dynamic,
knowledgeable, and energetic
• Can put participants into a position
of sustained, passive learning
• Too much information at one time
is “lost” unless supported by
experience, handouts
• Used by itself, does not lead to
learning
Pointers:
• Design carefully and
intentionally
• Work to involve
participants and
maximize retention
through participative
techniques
• Plan strategies to get
attention
• Outline key ideas at
outset to help
listeners recognize
relevant details
• Use visual backup
• Recap major points
• Time for debrief/
apply

7. Mental Imagery
 Uses the ability to visualize an object, person,
place or action not present. Can replace scenarios
such as role playing and stimulate discussion.
Advantages:
• Valuable way to help participants
mentally rehearse putting skills
into action and bring feelings and
events into focus
• Help participants work through
anxiety in safe setting
• Through visualization,
participants can be activated into
lively discussion
Disadvantages:
• Still requires a minimum
amount of role playing
• Participants may not have
enough experience to be able to
respond as directed by
facilitator
• Facilitator may not have
participated in imagery
exercises enough to feel
comfortable leading others
Pointers:
• Use to replace role
playing
• Held participants
clear mind first
with relaxation
exercises
• Give imagery
instructions slowly
and with enough
pauses
• Write out a script
and practice
• Invite participants to
share imagery in
voluntary manner
• Use journals

8. Observation
 Watching others without directly participating can
be an effective learning experience. This can be
reinforced through use of notes, checklists, and
questions.
Advantages:
• Can be a very effective way to
experience learning, especially
when combined with situations
• Observers can have strong feelings
if what they are observing has
personal impact
• Can use with groups of varying
sizes
Disadvantages:
• It may be difficult to make
observation session an
active experience
• There may not be enough
trust among participants to
provide meaningful
feedback
Pointers:
• Try to provide aids to
help participants
retain pertinent
aspects
• May want to provide
an overview of
important content
before observation
• Provide forms with
suggestions,
checklists,
questions, etc.
• Repeat or vary with
other methods and
rotations

9. Discussion w/ Reading
 Participants are asked to read a short, pertinent
handout covering main points and then continue
with small group discussion or other activities to
apply reading.
Advantages:
• Excellent way to cover new material
without lecturing
• Material in journals and articles can be
covered
• Works well for people who learn best
through reading
• Exposes participants to work of experts
• Good way to introduce vocabulary
• Participants can revisit later at own
pace
Disadvantages:
• Some participants may not
be able or feel comfortable
with reading on the spot
and digesting quickly
• Need to have adequate time
• Need to develop application
opportunities
Pointers:
• Choose materials
carefully to be
pertinent
• Allow sufficient
time for most
participants to
complete reading
before signaling
start of discussion
• Combine with brief
lecture or
presentation of main
points using visuals
or role plays or other
activities

10. Scenario / Case Study
 Uses a type of written or scripted demonstration
which is an account of a fictitious or real situation
with sufficient detail to allow participants to act out,
discuss, or analyze situation.
Advantages:
• Helps participants to experience feelings
and practice skills
• Helps participants identify with
viewpoints and roles other than their
own
• Encourages problem solving
• Time saving, allowing for learners to
grapple with complexity
• Feedback opportunities
• Embeds information
Disadvantages:
• Participants must be willing to
be involved
• Not all participants may get
opportunity to practice
• Takes time to plan and execute
• Follow-up activity is important
to summarizing experience and
make key points
• Can be difficult to provide
enough information or write
Pointers:
• At outset, clarify
purpose or issues to
be addressed
• Provide sufficient
information about
roles or
characteristics
• Encourage
observation across
roles or situations
• Include time for
processing and
debriefing
• Include relevant
information
• Presenter can model
role play

11. Small Group Activity
 Activities designed for small groups, including
creative dimensions, can create a more lively,
comfortable environment with opportunities for
interaction and exchange of ideas.
Advantages:
• Same advantages as large group
discussions, plus can be more
comfortable
• Provides participants with
opportunity to utilize own expertise
• Involves participants in active
communication
• Presenter can circulate among
groups and provide help
Disadvantages:
• Participants must have basic
information or approach;
trainer must lay out content
• Participants may not stay on
task
• Time consuming
• Must rely on participants to
facilitate and record own
activities
Pointers:
• Set out goals and
time limits
• Have a specific
approach or format
for all to follow
• Appoint facilitators,
time keepers, or
other roles
• Have prearranged
spaces and cueing
system for coming
together
• Try to limit groups
to 8 persons to
maximize
interaction and
reduce fears

12. Spot Challenge
 The presenter interrupts presentation or weaves in
the opportunity for participants to give examples of the
concepts or apply knowledge through role play.
Advantages:
• Can assess participants’
understanding of material before
proceeding
• Can include coaching
• Provides participants with
opportunity to test out or apply their
own learning
• Can be very effective for groups that
like high interaction and risks
(e.g., young people)
Disadvantages:
• If group is large or have
differing levels of
experience, not all will
participate
• If a person doesn’t
understand a concept or
know how to perform, can
hurt their self esteem
Pointers:
• Concepts or
questions may be
planned or
spontaneous; make
sure they support or
clarify what’s been
covered (through
lectures, readings,
role plays, etc.)
• Interweave with
situation studies and
other formats to
make interaction
more comfortable

13. Other Ideas
 Switch-Swatch
 Concentric Circles
 Skits
 Stand and Declare
 Fishbowl Discussions
 Artistic Metaphors
 Games (Jeopardy)
 Role Plays/”Freeze”
Pointers:
• Include a verbal summary
either before or after demo
• Provide opportunity to
practice skills on real problem
• Make sure in advance all
materials are available and
working
• Practice beforehand to
establish timelines, possible
difficulties, and anticipate
questions