Make It Shorter

From Peacebuilding

Content Processing Activity – Make It Shorter

Contents 1 Aims: 2 Time: 3 Materials: 4 Procedure: 5 Source:

Aims:

• To reflect on content introduced by identifying key points

• To restructure the content introduced through short summaries

Time:

At least 30 minutes, depending on the content and size of the group

Materials:

• Visual aids illustrating the specific content being introduced, such as flip charts, PowerPoint presentations or overhead slides

• Flip chart paper

• Masking tape

• Markers

• Blank index cards – you can prepare four index cards by folding a sheet of A4 paper twice and cutting along the edges (it’s better to use thick/heavy paper)

• Pencils for participants

Procedure:

I) Before the training session, prepare a presentation on the content you’d like to introduce to participants. Prepare visual aids to help participants follow the presentation. Try and make it short (maximum 10 minutes).

II) Divide the plenary into teams of 5-6 people. Explain that you’re going to introduce new content and will ask teams to prepare a summary. Summaries will then be exchanged between teams. The best summary will be identified and presented to the plenary.

III) Make your presentation.

IV) Ask teams to prepare their summary of the presentation and write it down on an index card. Allow 5-10 minutes for this.

V) Ask teams to pass their summary to the team sitting next to them. Ask each team to read the summary and put a mark on the back of the index card – they can grade each summary on a scale from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent).

VI) Allow time for each team to read and mark each summary. Then collect the index cards, check the scores and name a winner, with hearty congratulations.

VII) Ask the winning team to present their summary to the plenary.

Source:

This activity was inspired by and adapted from a method for interactive lectures developed by Sivasailam Thiagarajan (Thiagi), called “Best Summary”. See http://www.thiagi.com.