Brief summary of activity
The participants are asked to formulate their expectations of the workshop, the workshop organization, the trainers, the other participants and themselves. Depending on the time and number of the group, you can use different methods.
Aim of the activity
- To make the workshop process transparent
- To underline the co-responsibility of the participants regarding the workshop
- To clarify wishes and expectations
Expected Outcomes
This activity will inform the trainer of:
- expectations on the workshop-content
- expectations on the workshop-settings
- expectations on the participants
- expectations of the participants on oneself
- expectations on the trainers
Experience and skills required
This activity is very helpful at the beginning of a workshop, because it gives all participants the possibility to express their expectations and needs. If some participants have misleading information about the workshop or unrealistic expectations, this is a good opportunity for the trainer to clarify this. It also creates an atmosphere of co-responsibility and ownership. During the workshop, especially in feedback-phases, you always can come back to the expectations.
Beyond it, the expectation inquiry helps to find and decide on common rules.
Infrastructure, setting, resources
Flip chart,
Markers and index cards in different colours (different shapes for vision impaired, blind people use their computers)
Length
30 minutes
How the activity should take place
Explain the activity to the participants.
Ask each participant to take index cards in different colours (each colour stands for a theme) and to write their expectations on them – one card per expectation; they have 10 minutes time to fill out.
The themes are:
- expectations on the workshop-content
- expectations on the workshop-settings
- expectations on the participants
- expectations on oneself
- expectations on the trainers
Get back into the circle and ask participants to present their cards and pin them to the flip chart
Cluster and comment expectations (what will be fulfilled, what may be fulfilled, what is impossible to fulfil).
This could be a good moment to present the workshop programme.
Recommended max. number of participants and trainees to trainers ratio
10 (for visually impaired and learning difficulties, 4 per trainer)
Risk and possible adaptation
For participants with vision impairment /blindness, use different card shapes or objects to identify each question (e.g. a square or a pen for content expectations, a circle or a cup for workshop setting, etc ). Trainer needs to take note of answers.
Tips for Trainers
Be honest about what expectations can be achieved
Analysis and evaluation
Are trainers and learners clear on
- expectations on the workshop-content
- expectations on the workshop-settings
- expectations on the participants
- expectations on oneself
- expectations on the trainers
Scheduling
On the first day of the training