Homework

From Peacebuilding

Content Processing Activity: Homework

Contents 1 Aims: 2 Time: 3 Participants: 4 Materials: 5 Procedure: 5.1 1st set 5.2 2nd set 5.3 3rd set 5.4 4th set 6 Note:

Aims:

• To get participants to research content

• To get participants to introduce the content to the plenary

Time:

Depends on the content to be processed

Participants:

Any number, although with more than 30-40 participants it might be difficult to make presentations to the plenary

Materials:

• Handouts prepared in advance by the facilitator, with questions on the topic to be researched by the participants

• Any visual aids the participants might require to prepare their presentations

• Flip chart paper

• Markers

Procedure:

I) Before the workshop, draw up basic questions on the topic you wish to introduce. Develop sets of questions for the various areas of the content you would like participants to explore. Write a handout with questions for each set.

II) Divide the list of participants into the same number of groups as the sets of questions you’ve prepared.

III) Get in touch with the participants and tell them about their task: each person is assigned some questions to answer; the handouts with questions are sent to them. Their task is to study the questions and do some research in order to come up with answers. Tell each participant that other participants will be working on the same questions and provide contact details in case they wish to get in touch with each other ahead of the workshop. Tell them that – together with other participants who’ll have worked on the same questions – they’ll be asked to develop a presentation during the workshop.

Example: You are designing a workshop on “Introducing nonviolence”. You’ve prepared these sets of questions:

1st set

• What are the nature and origins of nonviolence?

• What constitutes nonviolence, and what doesn’t?

• Can you give a few examples of nonviolence?

2nd set

• Where do political authorities get their power from?

• Where does power come from?

• What does Gene Sharp have to say about power?

3rd set

• 1st task: Can you give 10 examples of violent struggles from history?

• 2nd task: Can you give 5 examples of nonviolent struggles from history?

• Which of these tasks is easier? Why?

4th set

• What are the methods of nonviolent action?

• How important is strategy for nonviolent action?

• …

IV) During the workshop, divide the plenary in groups, making sure you put people who’ve worked on the same set of questions together. Ask them to prepare a presentation to make to the plenary, based on their findings. Make flip charts or other visual aids available to each group. Allow sufficient time.

V) Have each group make their presentation at different times on the agenda. Encourage discussion after the presentations.

Note:

This activity should be used with care, bearing in mind its risks and limitations.

• As a facilitator, you have little control over the participants’ research and the group presentations, and you have little control over the content. You may end up with confusing information that won’t help participants to understand and learn. Therefore, it’s advisable to use this activity when you are reasonably sure the participants are suited to the task.

• In order for participants to answer the questions, they should have the opportunity to do research. This means having an internet connection, or access to a library where they can find the resources they need. Don’t leave participants in the dark, and give them clues about where to find information.

• Alternatively, you may choose to prepare handouts with sections of content where they can find answers to their questions. In this case, they’d have to study the content you give them and answer the questions.

• Another limitation arises from whether or not you are able to get in touch and exchange with participants before the training course. If this is impossible, this activity is not feasible.