Comments on: My workshop dilemma http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/my-workshop-dilemma Information architecture, interaction design and much more Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:18:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Andrew Boyd http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/my-workshop-dilemma#comment-734 Andrew Boyd Sun, 22 Apr 2007 08:32:22 +0000 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/my-workshop-dilemma#comment-734 Hi Donna, I think that all you can do is be up front about expectations - yours and the students' - such that no-one is under any illusion going into the workshop that you will do their thinking for them. I know that sounds harsh, but if you make it part of your synopsis, then you'll get fewer disappointees. Maybe even using the "give a non-gender-specific person a fish, feed them for a day, teach them how to fish, and they'll feed themselves" and link "fishing" to "thinking in a certain way". Cheers, Andrew Hi Donna,

I think that all you can do is be up front about expectations - yours and the students’ - such that no-one is under any illusion going into the workshop that you will do their thinking for them. I know that sounds harsh, but if you make it part of your synopsis, then you’ll get fewer disappointees. Maybe even using the “give a non-gender-specific person a fish, feed them for a day, teach them how to fish, and they’ll feed themselves” and link “fishing” to “thinking in a certain way”.

Cheers, Andrew

]]> By: Caronne http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/my-workshop-dilemma#comment-733 Caronne Sat, 21 Apr 2007 00:53:23 +0000 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/my-workshop-dilemma#comment-733 Context-free ... that is really not possible or appropriate for your domain. The whole point of IA and UCD is context, and that's the most important thing that participants can gain from your workshops is that understanding. Even if they don't think that they want it. Providing 'answers' could be an outcome if participants can workshop their individual issues and problems - no, wait, that's context. Hmmm. You can get them to more personalised answers if you do a part workshop/forum, then part (hands-on) online tutorial with PCs allowing them to attempt to apply some concepts and circulate amongst them as they complete them. Each module would have tools and reading list. Post-workshop, they could access a secure URL to continue to work on their modules / tutorial(s). Context-free … that is really not possible or appropriate for your domain. The whole point of IA and UCD is context, and that’s the most important thing that participants can gain from your workshops is that understanding. Even if they don’t think that they want it.

Providing ‘answers’ could be an outcome if participants can workshop their individual issues and problems - no, wait, that’s context. Hmmm. You can get them to more personalised answers if you do a part workshop/forum, then part (hands-on) online tutorial with PCs allowing them to attempt to apply some concepts and circulate amongst them as they complete them. Each module would have tools and reading list. Post-workshop, they could access a secure URL to continue to work on their modules / tutorial(s).

]]> By: Steve Baty http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/my-workshop-dilemma#comment-732 Steve Baty Thu, 19 Apr 2007 14:51:00 +0000 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/my-workshop-dilemma#comment-732 Donna, You don't need my advice on this, but one thing I would say is that there are very few context-free rules in our domain. So we have to rely on our experience, and getting our brains working if we want to reach a good solution. If 10-20% of your attendees start exercising their brains instead of reaching for the IA for Dummies check-list, then I think you're doing a great job and should keep it up. Cheers Steve Donna,

You don’t need my advice on this, but one thing I would say is that there are very few context-free rules in our domain. So we have to rely on our experience, and getting our brains working if we want to reach a good solution.

If 10-20% of your attendees start exercising their brains instead of reaching for the IA for Dummies check-list, then I think you’re doing a great job and should keep it up.

Cheers

Steve

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