Setting the environment

• Important to set the workshop environment from the beginning.
• A well-planned introduction achieves this
• What does a good introduction look like?

Exercise: Your academic past

• Recall a course you really liked or didn’t like
• Think about how it started

Introductions

• Introductions set the tone for the workshop
• Learners should leave workshop feel excited and empowered
  • Positive and welcoming environment is important
  • A planned introduction helps get you started, and can help you reset after technical difficulties

Exercise: What’s in an introduction?

Goals for the introduction

• Want learners to:
  • believe in your competence
  • know the type of instruction
  • know what will be taught
  • what is required of them
• Instructor should:
  • understand who is taking the workshop, and their expectations

Components of the introduction

To meet these objectives, an introduction should:

• Set positive first impressions
  • Your attire
  • The physical environment
  • How you use the few minutes before the class
• Introduce yourself effectively (and have other workshop leaders do the same)
  • What characteristics do you want to convey about yourself?
  • What should you say to convey them?
  • Why are you teaching a Carpentries workshop?
  • What shouldn’t you say?

Components of the introduction

• Clarify learning objectives and your expectations
  • Describe prerequisites
  • Highlight main aspects of schedule
  • Communicate the workshop structure
  • Code of conduct
• Help learners learn about each other
• Set the tone for the workshop
  • Establish a culture of feedback
• Whet learners’ appetite for workshop content
• Inform Learners of Logistics

Exercise: practice your introduction

Key points

• A planned introduction is a helpful tool in setting the workshop environment.
• Introductions should both include practical information and start building relationships.