Registration Information

This two-day module in IAP2’s Certificate Program in Public Participation provides an introduction to a range of practical tools and techniques used at all five levels of IAP2’s Public Participation Spectrum. It gives course participants an opportunity to try out or observe a number of specific techniques including World Cafe, Interviews, Samoan Circle, Citizens Jury and Advisory Group.

It includes overviews of more than 20 tools and techniques tested and used by public participation practitioners around the globe. The course is designed as a primer and is suitable for beginning to intermediate level practitioners and those who want a review of basic group process techniques. Interactive exercises and practical tips are used to enliven the basic theory and reference materials presented throughout the two-day session and reinforce skills that participants can put to immediate use.

Students learn how to create effective forums for dialogue and how to avoid the many problems encountered in traditional public meetings. Students leave this module armed with a detailed student manual covering the course materials and a packet of IAP2 Tipsheets offering practical advice for selecting, using and evaluating a broad range of public participation activities.

Note: The Planning for Effective Public Participation module is a prerequisite for this course