Q&As

From Peacebuilding

Content Processing Activity: Q&A

Contents 1 Aims: 2 Time: 3 Participants: 4 Materials: 5 Procedure: 6 Note:

Aims:

• To explore the content to be introduced interactively

• To have participants prepare questions on the content introduced and answer them

Time:

Around 40 minutes, depending on the size of the group, the complexity of the content and how well the discussion flows

Participants:

At least two participants

Materials:

• Handouts with a presentation on the content to be introduced

• Flip chart paper and markers

• Paper and pencils for participants

Procedure:

I) Before the workshop, prepare a handout with a presentation on the content you want to introduce.

II) Divide the plenary into two teams: one team is called “Questions” and the other one “Answers”. Get them to sit on opposite sides of the room.

III) Distribute the handout to all participants in the teams. Allow sufficient time for reading.

IV) Assign the tasks. The “Questions” team has to prepare a list of questions on the content introduced in the handout. These may be questions to seek clarification, explore dilemmas and problems, ask for examples, or simply check that the content presented in the handout has been learnt. The “Answers” team’s task is to learn and digest the content in the handout, and get ready to answer questions on it. Allow sufficient time for both teams to prepare.

V) Stop the preparation and tell the “Questions” team to ask their questions, which the other team has to answer. Intervene, when necessary, to keep the discussion moving.

Note:

Alternatives to the procedure include:

• Repeat the same procedure with other content during the workshop. This time reverse the teams’ roles.

• Both teams learn and digest the handout and prepare a list of questions. The first team asks a question, and the second answers. Then the second team asks a question and the first answers. Repeat the procedure. In this alternative you can act as a referee and assign points for each correct answer (be careful with the concept of “correct” answer). Declare the winning team at the end.

• If possible, distribute the handout before the training course and get participants to learn and digest it beforehand. This means you can skip steps III and IV.