b. Starting a session
A start or restart after a long break should be structured.
Benefits: to be mentally in the room, promote critical thinking about learning, review what has
been learned/accomplished, reach agreements and summarize issues, clarify questions, connect
with what has occurred before in the activity with the new one, obtain more feedback on what is
valuable, get feedback on what they find the best and what has to be done/adapted in the rest of
the activity.
A restart checklist should guide us to define the aspects that should be covered when starting:
1. Learning review: to summarize information given during previous sessions and review
what they have learned.
2. Accomplishments to this point: brainstorming what has been accomplished till then.
3. Outstanding issues: find out what questions there may be, what has to be made clear.
4. Agree on adjustments: based on the end of the session evaluation. Discuss adjustments to
be made.
5. Bridge into the new session: Make connections between new material and the previously
presented; explain the benefits of what is coming.
The end of the line—wrapping up and ending a workshop
An effective wrap up: looks into raised issues, what has taken place, the purpose and the value,
what will happen next, how new learning will be applied, what support will be given when applying
new learning on the job, and how that learning will continue and be reinforced.
Steps for wrapping up
a.
b.
c.
d.
The “what”: summary of what was
completed and achieved in the workshop as
related to the outcomes.
The “so what”: having participants review
by themselves what they have
learned/accomplished.
The “now what”: having participants come
up with a plan to apply new knowledge.
The “what next”: scheduling follow ups to
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
5
discuss progress/support in the application
of new knowledge.
Loose ends: dealing with the issues that
were “parked”.
Workshop evaluation: some sort of
evaluation at the reaction (1) level. Written
or discussed, formal or informal.
Celebrate: with kind words, celebrate
achievements.
Saying your good-byes: after this, it is a time
to rest, relax, and get a reward. Then get
feedback from others on how the workshop
was handled.
Reflecting on the workshop and on what
you have learned: after resting, it is time to
get feedback from others and see what has
been learned to improve a workshop.