How to structure a handout
Challenges
- how to provide sufficient detail while being open to participants finding their own ways of doing things.
- how to structure the booklet so it can be used in an agile way during CSAW while it also offers broader learning tools and resource
- easily distinguish the different types of material such as programme (esp. schedule), references and methods
- finding a suitable level of description that is clear and informative.
- how to make a distinction between instructions/directives and suggestions? e.g. instructions that must be known or followed for a specific session / optional methods, or suggestions for working together (when you introduce a tool, indicate if the tool is necessary, or is if it is a reference, suggestion or something that might be useful if the group can't find a better way?)
Suggested structure
One page schedule/overview on the inside of the cover or the first page, easy to see 'where' and 'when' things are happening at a glance, who is responsible and how to contact them.
- Part I: big picture: purpose, principles, values, theme, questions,
- Part 2: programme, timeline, breakdown per day and per session using a concise and consistent format (e.g. see this mock-up based on Christopher Alexander's Pattern Language
- Part 3: learning materials: content tools and concepts, tools to help with your teamwork, and any other tools that can be used throughout the week rather than for a specific session.
- Part 4: stay engaged: how to continue the relationship, contact details, etc.