How to make your own course - organizational part

Logistics

• Select an appropriate location:

• best if barrierfree acessible and and free of distraction.

• It would be nice if it allows people to come early or stay afterwards.

• make sure that there will be enough space(s) for people to gather, preferably different rooms for eating, sleeping and the program itself (consider how much space you need according to planned activities)

• organise things so that we take care of a few basic coherence with degrowth like organising a compost spot, get bicycles, recycling bins, local organic vegetables, bulk organic cereals or other seeds (see Wojtek dictionnary)

• Check the materials that is needed: flipcharts, moderation cards, pens
  

• General logistics (food, accommodation, transportation, etc.)

• Get everything, what you need beforehand, also think about alcohol and sweets, to avoid unnessary drive arounds with cars.

• What can we avoid buying/paying (asking around the network, to the participants, renting bus VS sharing cars, etc.)

• collect the donations from participants right at the beginning, during registration

• Press release: Send in beforehand to the local and national press  something about your GROWL course. For national press you have to send  it more in advance. Use the press contacts of your organisation. Dont  minimize the importance of the GROWL course „This isn't anyway  interesting for the press, too small...“ Send it to every contact and  one might come back to you. We  are building a european network on degrowth Trainers. This has not  happenend before and might have a big impact in a few years. So let's  celebrate it and communicate it to the outside!

Participants:

• • set up a registration form for all course atenders, including locals (incl. specific fields for TTT part).

  • Ask the participants to write a few things about them, their interests in the topic and in degrowth.

  • Communicate with the participants about general information on tthe meeting venue, the program... ask for suggestions/contributions (Nikola has a template, will post the basis)

  • Adapt the form of recruitment, advertising and communication to different target audiences.

  Make sure there is a gender balance within the course, as well there is space for "newcomers" and already very active networking people who can serve as multipliers in their networks.
• if possible, bring participants and locals together, not just for exchange but also for challenging discussions and contradictions. Let participants know, what local struggles are about and how people deal with then
• start the day with morning circle to discuss oganisational practicalities, so they don't get in the way of course content

Course Structure

• Have an overview about modules: core module, optional thematic module, TTT-module.

• Create a schedule with the different modules.

Program

• plan at least half day (better one full day) for Train the Trainer and Network day

• leave 1,5 hour to explain who GROWL works as well how the plattform work to make sure people are technically able to stay in touch

• make sure that in the beginning there is a short but clear explanation, with some visuals, what GROWL is about

• plan 1-2 hours (best in the evening) for future trainers home assignment presentation (Check beforehand how many future trainers will be there (important for registration form!))

• leave longer breaks ( 2 hours) on midday and leave the evening program quite open to allow participants to interact more or contribute on their own to the program

• leave a space in the program, where things from "fridge" ( question coming up during the discussions, which cannot be answered within the course) can be talked and more deepened. Suggestion: 3 hs open space on the last day or evening

Network

• criteria to become a future trainer

• how to register and keep in contact

• access to resources (modules, methodologies, other experiences)

• user support (partners, other trainers, both global and local communities)

• feedback, collaboration, peer review

Documentation

• have a camera for videoa and fotos each available plus min. 1 person to deal with it
• have a battery extra
• bring a microphone to capture audio on discussions
• set up a computer during the course where people can directly upload fotos and minutes
• get the extracts from external speakers already beforehand, Power point, texts etc.
• upload the documentation as a course reader during the following 4 weeks after the course on the platform
• try to include feedback already in the documentation, extract methodologies and load the up extra in the trainers area under "methodolgies"