FSD1-WF75 Workshop Facilitation
FSD1-WF75 Workshop Facilitation
- Course description
- Course CodeFSD1-WF75
- Level of Study5.1
- Program of StudyService Design
- Credits7.5
- Study Plan CoordinatorMarna Haskins
Designing and leading effective workshops is vital in any collaborative work environment. The course aims to give students a practical and methodological introduction to creating, leading, and evaluating workshops. Different methods and techniques for optimal workshop facilitation are introduced in each double/triple diamond process phase.
This course will teach workshop design and explore various workshop formats, from ideation to decision-making. Students will be introduced to the role of the facilitator, learn how to guide sessions, practice how to foster a collaborative environment and ensure participant engagement. Students will learn to facilitate processes involving stakeholders, clients, experts, and users and how to conduct participant recruiting. Planning, execution, ensuring that relevant information is produced during a workshop, and extracting key learnings are practises taught in the course.
Students will apply interactive techniques, icebreakers, and activities that enhance participation and creativity. Visual facilitation and how to leverage digital tools and platforms to enhance workshop experiences to be part of the workshops that students create during the course. Follow-up and getting feedback after workshops are important for the continuous improvement of workshops, and students will be required to reflect on their own facilitating performance at the end of the course.
At the start of the second semester, students will be given this thorough introduction to workshops to learn how to conduct research and go in-depth into problems and user needs through efficient interaction and facilitation. Service design is centred around the involvement of various parties and actors. Practising becoming a capable facilitator in a safe learning environment is key to success in the service design industry. Courses later in the programme will draw on the skills students obtain in this course.
The candidate:
- has knowledge of central workshop design principles, including the importance of setting clear objectives, audience analysis, and content structuring.
- has knowledge of what creates a collaborative and productive workshop environment and of relevant facilitation and guiding techniques which ensure productive and relevant discussions.
- has an understanding of principles for fostering engaging group interactions and dynamics.
- has knowledge of the fundamentals of visual facilitation, including using visual aids, sketching, and graphic elements to enhance communication and engagement.
- has knowledge of central problem-solving frameworks that can be applied within workshops to address complex challenges and tailor solutions.
- has knowledge of up-to-date digital tools and platforms available for workshop facilitation.
- has knowledge about how to expand their toolbox and find up-to-date information about how to tailor workshops for service design projects.
The candidate:
- can apply practical skills to design and plan workshops that align with specific goals, objectives, and target audiences.
- can apply knowledge to organise, facilitate and document workshops.
- can apply hands-on facilitation skills, including active listening, effective communication, and guiding discussions and decision-making processes.
- can engage workshop participants through interactive methods, icebreakers, and activities that promote creativity and collaboration.
- can apply the techniques of visual thinking and graphic facilitation to make workshops visually engaging and effective.
- can collect feedback and evaluate workshop effectiveness, using qualitative and quantitative insights and facts to improve.
The candidate:
- masters the use of workshops as a platform for creative problem-solving, encouraging innovative thinking among participants.
- has knowledge about how to adapt workshops to various contexts, including virtual, hybrid, or in-person settings, and adjust facilitation techniques as needed.
- can cultivate teamwork and collaboration skills and guide groups toward consensus and a common understanding.
- can create an inclusive and cooperative workshop environment.
- has developed an ethical attitude in relation to facilitating service design workshops.
- understands the ethical principles that apply to user, client, and stakeholder relations in a service design workshop.
Digital Learning Resources
The learning management system (LMS) is the primary learning platform where students access most of their course materials. The content is presented in various formats, such as text, images, models, videos or podcasts. Each course follows a progression plan, designed to lead students through weekly modules at their own pace. Exercises and assignments (individual or in groups) are embedded throughout the courses to support continuous practice and assessment of the learning outcomes.
Campus Resources
In addition to the digital learning resources, campus students participate in physical learning activities led by teachers as part of the overall delivery.
Guidance
Guidance and feedback from teachers support students' learning journeys, and may be provided synchronously or asynchronously, individually or in groups, via text, video or in-person feedback.
| Form of assessment | Grading scale | Grouping | Duration of assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
Course Assignment | Pass / Fail |