I’ve recently co-facilitated this as a 2-day cluster workshop, and I’d like to share my experiences and offer some resources to help others.
What Went Well:
- Participant Engagement with Practical Activities: Participants became much more engaged when we moved away from passive video-watching and focused on interactive, hands-on & discussion activities.
- Collaborative Discussions: Facilitating discussions around real-world examples and allowing for peer-to-peer learning was very effective.
- Visual Aids and Graphics: Using clear and visually appealing graphics to represent concepts, especially the Inquiry Icons, helped participants grasp the material more easily.
Adjustments Needed:
- Pacing and Order of Sessions: The workshop’s pacing needs refinement. We found that some sections required more time than allotted, while others could be condensed. I have added more slides to those engagements that require more time
- Reliance on Videos: The heavy reliance on videos, while intended to be informative, proved challenging in a face-to-face setting. Participants were sometimes reluctant to regroup due to device charging needs, and the videos limited collaborative discussion.
- Text-Heavy Slides: The original slides were often text-heavy, resembling handouts rather than engaging presentation material.
- More Readings: Adding more readings and moving away from video reliance creates a more collaborative environment.
Resources I’m Sharing:
To address these challenges, I’ve created and adjusted the following resources:
- Google Slide Decks: I’ve redesigned the slides to be more visually engaging, moving away from text-heavy formats. These decks include:
- Inquiry Icons for visual representation.
- Embedded videos (use judiciously) and links to all necessary materials.
- Adjusted session flow and pacing.
- Printable Graphics and Information: I’ve included graphics and information that can be printed and used as tangible materials, facilitating hands-on activities.
Key Adjustments Made in the Slides:
- Reduced text on slides and increased visual representation.
- Reorganized the order of sessions for better flow. (2 Day version)
- Incorporated more interactive activities and discussion prompts.
- Replaced some videos with readings and discussion points.
I believe these adjustments and resources will help future facilitators create a more engaging and effective “Building Your IB Programme: Primary Years” workshop.
I hope this information is helpful. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.
Building_your_IB_programme_PYP_Presentation_Cat_1_Cluster_2_Day Template
Building_your_IB_programme_PYP_Presentation_Cat_1_Regional Template
Use File –> Make a Copy if you are a Google Workspace user /Or
Download –> Microsoft Powerpoint .pptx If you prefer that instead.
