Work the Workshop

Work the Workshop
Name	Workshop Works
Location	De Bonte Zwaan
Date	2018/07/21
Time	13:00-16:30
PeopleOrganisations	Shailoh Phillips, Anja Groten
Type	HDSA2018
Web	Yes
Print	No

Schedule

Before the workshop
11.30 Welcome HDSA2018 by Juliette
11.45 Intervention by Selby
12.15 Lunch

The workshop
13.00 The Automatic Workshop
13.30 Phantasmatic Workshop Props
14.15 Re-group

14.30 Coffee break

14.45 Workshop Simulation
15.30 Re-group
15.45 Prepping and practicalities
16.30 Wrap-up

After the workshop
16.45/17.00 moving to Fanfare (dinner on your own)
18.00 doors open
18.30 program starts

ACT I = Non human

The Automated Workshop

Can a workshop be conducted ‘automatically’, that is, scripted in advance and executed without a human facilitator? The Automated Workshop is an experiment in developing rules, conditions, variables for a 'successful' workshop. Exercising the idea of a workshop being programmable, this experiment utilises technical concepts such as containers, wrapping, nesting, sequencing, if-then statements, debugging, as well as deliberate use of randomness and contingency. The premise of The Automated Workshop its applicability to a multiplicity of contexts.

Form groups of 3
Sketch out 1 workshop case (drawing from own experience)
Script 'pseudo-code' for an ultimate workshop.*

* Pseudocode is an informal illustration of the operating principle of a computer program or other algorithm. It uses the structural conventions of a normal programming language, but is intended for human reading rather than machine reading. See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudocode

Phantasmatic Workshop Props – Countering the sticky-note

During Workshop Props participants are invited to reimagine workshop props as mediators, agents and attendants of workshop situations. By questioning convenient means such as sticky-notes, markers, whiteboards, and also the projector, we will be speculating about material forms and their implication and how would they influence our imagination. The imaginary tools may be speculative or serve real functions. There will be materials available for prototyping. Prototypes can be also renderings or digital collages

In groups of 3
Gathering of materials to prototype with
Prototyping
Demonstration of usage + video capture

ACT II = humans automating the workshop

Exercise: The Workshop Simulation

As a group, we will go through all the motions of the workshop, but condensed to high speed. This is an experimental rapid prototyping method for workshopping. We would practice a 2 hour workshop by running through all the steps in only 2 minutes. A full day workshop would last about 8 minutes. The aim of this exercise is to get tangible feedback on the choreography, and experience how the composition of steps works. What is the balance between instruction and experimentation? If and how can people collaborate? It will hopefully also make people think about ways to arrange the space to invite optimal collaboration. It will possibly also generate some new ideas about how to tweak the design of the workshop.

Notes

How to make a workshop work?

This workshop is geared towards sharing knowledge and expertise on what makes a workshop work — without it becoming a cookie cutter formula.

Who is this for?

artists, designers, hackers and technology people who would like to give a workshop. Now there are a lot of things going on under the title “workshop” that have some, but not all of the characteristics of a working workshop. When does a workshop work? When do the participants learn something new. When do they learn not only ‘about’ it, but are actively involved with it.

What level do we assume?

A mixed group, where some people have lots of experience giving workshops, most people have a little, some people have none at all, and everybody knows what it’s like to participate in a workshop.

What is NOT a workshop?

a lecture or presentation (although it might include one)
an exhibition or show (although it might start in one or result in one)
a class or a course (although a workshop might be part of a class, for example a guest workshop)
a reading or discussion group (although it might be nice complement to it)
a group therapy session (although sensitivity to the group dynamics and emotional issues is important)

What is a workshop?

an arrangement of people, materials, tools and knowledge in spacetime in such a way that knowledge flows between them.
is repeatable, but not reproducible (the outcome is always a different, because it depends on the participants).
is usually lead by a human, but can also work as a video tutorial or instructable (with step by step instructions for everybody to follow - although it might include this).
offers a setting where people learn by doing (usually live action, with people in the same room - but can be distributed across time and space)
workshop is active (you do / make things)
a workshop participatory (everybody can do things)
a workshop is semi-structured (the workshop leader prepares materials in advance, but not every step is set in stone)
a workshop is interactive (there is room for initiative from participants to ask questions and engage in dialogue)
provides room for constructive feedback
takes place within a set timeframe

An inventory

a safe social environment without pressure to perform, where failure is accepted and where differences are acknowledged and taken into account.
the exercises are doable for the participants in the given time-
clear communication before during and after about what will happen
balance between constraints and freedom (there is a clear frame what is expected, but the frame is flexible enough to be modified)
the activities fit the level of skills and interest of the participants (it is interesting, but not too difficult, the zone of proximal development)
participants are challenged to do something new or in a way they have not done before
peer-to-peer learning (the workshop leader doesn’t have the sole authority) at the same time should ensure the workshop doesn’t get hijacked by the same people
room for experiment: people can try things for themselves, and practice at their own pace.
the workshop is well prepared (everything is available, if possible, figure out who will be in your workshop in advance so you can tweak the content to their needs, make sure there is a clear description so that people know what they are signing up for)

THE WORKSHOP ITSELF: A partial list of building blocks

Introduce yourself and your work/ First Impressions
The first 5 minutes of a workshop, most people are trying to figure out what they have gotten themselves into. Are the people okay? What will they we be doing? Why are we doing this? Can I trust it? Will I be able to keep up? Bear in mind that the first 5 minutes sets the tone and willingness to participate.
Ice breaker: if the group already knows each other, try an exercise that they are not familiar with. If the group starts trusting each other, they will learn more. This can also help people get in a mindset of experimentation, and discover things for themselves
ELEMENTS: Framing / Demo / Explanation / Presentation / Assignment
Make sure people know WHY you think this this is important.