Seminar

Tentative Schedule for Seminars

March 2nd – Troy, Mitch, Kyle
March 9th – Nancy, Didi, Joe
March 9th – Melissa, David, Greg
March 16th  – Kristie, Dana, Joelle

 

Seminars – Do’s and Don’ts
-L. Piper  

The focus of a seminar, unlike a standard presentation, is to encourage meaningful discussion and learning amongst participants. We have all been subjected to the tedious presentation format where the ‘audience’ simply sits back and lets the presenters perform. This does little to get the group involved and often learning is compromised. In contrast, the seminar process simulates a workplace meeting where all participants get involved in attempting to understand a problem or come up with solutions. Typically, the structure of a seminar is as follows:

  1. A seminar team is formed. This team becomes the “seminar leaders” and it is their responsibility to perform research on a topic of interest to the entire group. The leaders become the ‘experts’ on the topic.
     
  2. Once background research is completed, the seminar leaders then focus on ways to stimulate discussion and sharing of knowledge with the larger group. Some examples include a quiz, a game, a video clip, a puzzle, or simply a list of questions for all to contemplate. The purpose here is to share knowledge, keep it interesting, and get everyone involved in learning. The leaders do have a certain timeframe and should have a plan but need to keep the process flexible so that discussion on relevant aspects of the topics can occur without hampering the natural flow of ideas.
     
  3. Once the seminar is underway, the discussion can go in many different directions. It is a mistake to assume that the discussion will go specifically in the direction the leaders planned. Sometimes a great seminar takes the leaders a little by surprise. The leaders’ goal is to stimulate discussion and learning, not to control all aspects of the seminar.
     
  4. .A seminar is a success if the following conditions are met:
    • The leaders do their research and have a plan
    • The leaders are confident in their ability to shape discussion and are ready to answer questions
    • The leaders have found a way to keep the participants involved AND interested
    • The leaders tell the group in advance what the topic is and how to prepare for the seminar (i.e. a one-page handout with suggested readings or a video clip to watch)
    • The leaders are flexible but have a focus
    • The participants believe they know more than when they started