Getting to know each other and creating a group dynamic is fundamental for the success of your workshop
When starting a workshop, it is fundamental to create group dynamics, especially if the participants do not know each other. For this reason, after briefly introducing yourself and explaining the goal of the workshop, it is useful to carry out icebreakers that will help you make the participants at ease.
In the video, you can see an activity used for participants to get to know each other and to create a relaxed environment, which can be done both online and offline. In the online version, the movement must be contained in the framing of the camera, and in order to pass the turn, participants need to call somebody’s else name, while in the offline version it can be done by indicating the other person with a gesture. The exercise should last 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the group size (1 minute per participant approx.).
Step by step description: Ask participants to stand in front of the camera (in the offline version, participants stand in a circle). The facilitator plays a music and asks the participants to focus on her movements. The participants imitate them, until the facilitator passes the turn to one of the participants, saying her/his name. Now everybody follows the participant’s movements. The activity goes on until all participants have had the possibility to guide the group.
This is just one of the many activities that can be done with the purpose of getting to know each other and creating group dynamic. You will find many more in our “Radio Workshop Guide”.
It’s time for participants to grab the microphones and start learning how to make their own programs.
In order for them to feel more comfortable, you can split the group into smaller ones and ask them to talk about something of their interest or some topics you suggested. The objective is to create a small spontaneous program.
After a few minutes of working in groups, ask the participants to come around a table with microphones. Now they can start their program, feeling more comfortable since they have already rehearsed it within the group.
As a facilitator, it is particularly important to give feedback to the participants, underlying their qualities and giving them practical advices on how to improve their performance.
Now that participants have practiced, it is time they start running their own podcast.
Before starting the live radio show, participants should
- Name their show
- Create the jingle (small music at the beginning of the show)
- Choose a topic
In order to help choose the topic of their show, you can ask them to write ideas on a piece of paper. As a facilitator, your role is to link and group their suggestions in a couple of key topics.
Each show can have between 1 and 5 key topics; decide with participants the order in which the topics will be discussed during the podcast.
Another option is to share an image, video or press article and ask questions to foster an open discussion which can inspire the content of the program.
Find the one that suits the group you are working with the best.