Difference between revisions of "Writeshops"

Difference between revisions of "Writeshops"

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{{Term|WRITESHOPS|actively envolved workshops to consolidate information and put it in writing. These become useful when there is an urgency to produce material quickly and in an efficient manner. The goal is to create a draft, revise and finalize the material rapidly using the knowledge of the writeshop participants.
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{{Term|WRITESHOPS|Workshops that require active participation of experts to consolidate information and produce a pamphlet to be distributed. These become useful when there is an urgency to produce informative materials quickly with the help of several subject matter experts. The goal is to create a draft, revise and finalize the material rapidly using the knowledge of all writeshop participants with the help of an organizational committee. The final product is a publication that is practical and relevant and that can provide technological options to the reader. Writeshops were first held by the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction in the Philippines. Up until now, more than 50 writeshops were organized to deliver publications on topics such as environment, health and agriculture.<ref> [http://www.mamud.com/writeshop.htm www.mamud.com] (2 June 2009), [http://www.washcost.info/page/387 www.washcost.info] (3 August 2009), [http://maidon.pcarrd.dost.gov.ph/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=197 http://maidon.pcarrd.dost.gov.ph] (3 August 2009), [http://caraga.dost.gov.ph/?p=459 http://caraga.dost.gov.ph] (3 August 2009), [http://www.leisa.info/index.php?url=show-blob-html.tpl&p%5Bo_id%5D=80638&p%5Ba_id%5D=211&p%5Ba_seq%5D=1 www.leisa.info] (3 August 2009)</ref>  
'''Advantages of Writeshops'''
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<br>
Writeshop participants may include scientists, researchers, government personnel, teachers, NGO staff, extension agents, farmers and other local people. The diversity of skills, organizations and backgrounds of participants is key to ensuring that numerous ideas are represented in the materials produced. Members of the intended audience (e.g., teachers, farmers and extension personnel) can help pre-test the text and illustrations during the writeshop.
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'''Benefits of conducting Writeshops:'''
The writeshop process is very different from the scientific conferences familiar to many participants. It is an extremely flexible process. The repeated presentations, critiquing and revision of drafts allow for papers to be reviewed and revised substantially, new topics to be developed during the writeshop and topics to be combined, dropped or split into parts.
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*Immediate Result: An informative pamphlet can be written within hours/days depending on the length and the progress of the writeshops
Early in the writeshop, the participants brainstorm ideas for new topics (other than those already prepared) that should be part of the publication. These new topics are assigned to knowledgeable participants for development and presentation during the writeshop.  
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*Input from Experts: Participants with personal experiences are invited to the writeshops and become important contributors to the final document
The writeshop allows inputs from all participants to be incorporated, taking advantage of the diverse experience and expertise of all present. It allows ideas to be validated by a range of experts in the field. The concentration of resource persons, editors, artists and desktop-publishing resources at one time and place enables materials to be produced far more quickly than is typical for similar publications. And the sharing of experiences among participants develops networks that continue to be fruitful long after the writeshop itself.
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*Constructive Feedback: Facilitators and participants actively comment on the proposed material and suggest changes if necessary
<ref> [http://www.mamud.com/writeshop.htm www.mamud.com] (2 June 2009) </ref>}}
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*Availability of Support Team: Editors and illustrators assist the experts in rewriting the information material and adding visual graphics wherever appropriate
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*Flexibility: The content of the pamphlet can be modified according to the feedback from the facilitators and participants
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*Quality Output: Participants verify the finalized material for its accuracy and clarity at the end of the writeshops
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*Networking Opportunities: Participants have the opportunity to establish new contacts that may lead to collaboration in future projects}}
  
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{{Tool|ORGANIZING A WRITESHOP|
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'''Preparation (by the organizational committee)'''
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*Clarify the purpose of holding the writeshop
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*Define the target audience (who will read the final publication?)
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*Contact subject matter experts (who will contribute to the publication?)
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*Decide when the participants need to be present (which date/time they are expected?)
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*Raise funds
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*Identify and assign topics
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*Ask participants to prepare a draft paper on the assigned topic before the writeshop
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*Prepare logistics and make sure to create a motivating and relaxing atmosphere
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*Invite Participants
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<br>
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'''Writeshop'''
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*Assign a person to track the time lines and progress
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*Draft 1
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**Each participant (author) reads the draft previously prepared
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**The other participants (audience) receive a copy of the draft, make comments and suggest changes
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**Some topics may need to be improved, added or removed
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**An editor assists the author to make the suggested revisions and produce the second draft
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**In the meantime, other participants present their first draft, make revisions with an editor and produce the second draft
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*Draft 2
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**Each participant presents the second draft
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**The audience gives a constructive feedback
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**The editor helps create a third draft and adds illustrations
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*Draft 3: The participants can make final comments and revisions until a final version is agreed upon
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<br>
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'''Publication '''
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*Revise the final version
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*Print
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*Distribute
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*Evaluate<ref> [http://www.mamud.com/writeshoplist.htm www.mamud.com] (3 August 2009)</ref>}}
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=='''Job Aid'''==
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[[Image:pdf.png]] [[Media:Toolkit_Template_Writeshops.pdf‎|Organizing a Writeshop]]
  
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references>
 
<references>

Latest revision as of 15:58, 2 February 2012

Term2.png WRITESHOPS
Workshops that require active participation of experts to consolidate information and produce a pamphlet to be distributed. These become useful when there is an urgency to produce informative materials quickly with the help of several subject matter experts. The goal is to create a draft, revise and finalize the material rapidly using the knowledge of all writeshop participants with the help of an organizational committee. The final product is a publication that is practical and relevant and that can provide technological options to the reader. Writeshops were first held by the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction in the Philippines. Up until now, more than 50 writeshops were organized to deliver publications on topics such as environment, health and agriculture.[1]


Benefits of conducting Writeshops:

  • Immediate Result: An informative pamphlet can be written within hours/days depending on the length and the progress of the writeshops
  • Input from Experts: Participants with personal experiences are invited to the writeshops and become important contributors to the final document
  • Constructive Feedback: Facilitators and participants actively comment on the proposed material and suggest changes if necessary
  • Availability of Support Team: Editors and illustrators assist the experts in rewriting the information material and adding visual graphics wherever appropriate
  • Flexibility: The content of the pamphlet can be modified according to the feedback from the facilitators and participants
  • Quality Output: Participants verify the finalized material for its accuracy and clarity at the end of the writeshops
  • Networking Opportunities: Participants have the opportunity to establish new contacts that may lead to collaboration in future projects


Toolkit.png ORGANIZING A WRITESHOP

Preparation (by the organizational committee)

  • Clarify the purpose of holding the writeshop
  • Define the target audience (who will read the final publication?)
  • Contact subject matter experts (who will contribute to the publication?)
  • Decide when the participants need to be present (which date/time they are expected?)
  • Raise funds
  • Identify and assign topics
  • Ask participants to prepare a draft paper on the assigned topic before the writeshop
  • Prepare logistics and make sure to create a motivating and relaxing atmosphere
  • Invite Participants


Writeshop

  • Assign a person to track the time lines and progress
  • Draft 1
    • Each participant (author) reads the draft previously prepared
    • The other participants (audience) receive a copy of the draft, make comments and suggest changes
    • Some topics may need to be improved, added or removed
    • An editor assists the author to make the suggested revisions and produce the second draft
    • In the meantime, other participants present their first draft, make revisions with an editor and produce the second draft
  • Draft 2
    • Each participant presents the second draft
    • The audience gives a constructive feedback
    • The editor helps create a third draft and adds illustrations
  • Draft 3: The participants can make final comments and revisions until a final version is agreed upon


Publication

  • Revise the final version
  • Print
  • Distribute
  • Evaluate[2]


Job Aid

Pdf.png Organizing a Writeshop


References

  1. www.mamud.com (2 June 2009), www.washcost.info (3 August 2009), http://maidon.pcarrd.dost.gov.ph (3 August 2009), http://caraga.dost.gov.ph (3 August 2009), www.leisa.info (3 August 2009)
  2. www.mamud.com (3 August 2009)