A Guide to Organizing Writeshops

This paper, written by Julian F. Gonsalves and Ric Armonia, provides guidance on using writeshops to share field experiences. It outlines the the writeshop process and provides specific examples of producing case studies, policy briefs, source books and training materials through writeshops. It also includes a range of tips for writeshop organisers.

Excerpt

"Writeshops were originally used by IIRR and some its early partners, mainly to address the issue of poor engagement of field workers in the process of documentation, learning and sharing of knowledge. Successful field projects whose impacts remained localized were another issue to be addressed. Ways had to be found to increase their influences in the wider community. The challenges posed by the limited uptake of exemplary practices, and the reality that useful knowledge often remained in the mind of workers or in reports and unpublished documents, prompted the discovery and testing of writeshop approaches."

Contents

  • A Guide to Organizing Workshops 3
  • Purpose of the Guide and for Whom 4
  • About Writeshops 5
  • Designing Writeshops 9
  • Organizing Writeshops 14
  • Adaptations to the Writeshop Process 18
  • Writeshop Guidelines 26
  • Considerations for Using Writeshops in the IFAD Context 39
  • Appendices
    • A. Sample Templates and Checklist for the Management of Writeshops 48
    • B. Information Resources 61

Sources

Gonsalves, J.; R. Armonia (eds). 2010. Writeshops: A Tool for Packaging and Sharing Field- based Experiences (A Guide to Organizing Workshops). International Institute of Rural Reconstruction, International Potato Center - Users’ Perspective with Agricultural Research and Development. Manila, Philippines. Retrieved from: http://www.mamud.com/Docs/Writeshops_3_Guidelines.pdf

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