Overview

Organizing successful workshops requires carefully designed activities and materials. Claude can help you plan complete workshop flows, design interactive activities, prepare handouts and templates, ensuring participants gain value.

Use Cases

Design thinking workshops
Team building activities
Skills training courses
Strategic planning sessions

Steps

Step 1: Workshop Design

Plan overall structure and learning objectives.

I'm organizing a user experience design workshop:
Topic: How to Conduct User Interviews
Duration: Half day (4 hours)
Participants: 15 people (Product Managers and Designers)
Goal: Master user interview methods and techniques

Please design:
- Learning objectives (measurable)
- Overall time arrangement
- Knowledge point breakdown
- Activity format combination (lecture + practice + sharing)
- Expected outputs

Step 2: Detailed Agenda Design

Plan activities for each section.

Please generate detailed agenda: ~/workshop/agenda.md

## 09:00-09:15 Icebreaker Activity
Activity: Pair up, do 3-minute "interviews" with each other
Purpose: Experience asking questions and listening
Materials needed: Question cards

## 09:15-09:45 Theory Lecture
Content: 5 Principles of User Interviews
Format: Presentation + case video
Handout: Pages 1-5

## 09:45-10:30 Group Exercise
Activity: Role-play user interviews (5 people per group)
Scenario: Design a food delivery app
Observer records feedback
Worksheet: Interview guide template

## 10:30-10:45 Break

[Continue designing afternoon session...]

For each section note:
- Time allocation
- Facilitator script
- Materials needed
- Expected outputs

Step 3: Prepare Activity Materials

Create various worksheets and templates.

Please generate the following materials:

**1. Interview Guide Template** (~/workshop/templates/interview_guide.md)
- Interview objectives
- Participant background
- Opening script
- Core question list
- Follow-up prompts
- Closing thanks

**2. Observation Sheet** (~/workshop/templates/observation_sheet.md)
Observation dimensions:
- Question quality
- Listening skills
- Atmosphere creation
- Time management
Rating: 1-5 scale + written feedback

**3. Reflection Worksheet**
- What did I learn?
- How will I apply it?
- What questions do I still have?

**4. Action Plan**
- 3 things to do next week

Step 4: Create Handouts and Slides

Design instructional content.

Please generate handout outline: ~/workshop/handout_outline.md

# User Interview Practical Guide

## Chapter 1: Why Do User Interviews
- Common misconceptions
- Interview vs Survey
- Success stories

## Chapter 2: Interview Preparation
- Setting research objectives
- Recruiting the right users
- Question design techniques
  - Open-ended questions
  - Avoiding leading questions
- Interview guide template

## Chapter 3: Conducting Interviews
- Building trust
- STAR follow-up method
- Observing non-verbal cues
- Common pitfalls

## Chapter 4: Data Analysis
- Affinity mapping
- Extracting insights
- Writing reports

Each chapter includes:
- Key points (boxed)
- Practical checklists
- Further reading links
- Practice exercises

Step 5: Facilitator Guide

Prepare detailed script for workshop facilitator.

Generate facilitator handbook: ~/workshop/facilitator_guide.md

# Workshop Facilitator Handbook

## Pre-workshop Checklist
- [ ] Print materials (15 handouts, 30 worksheets)
- [ ] Prepare supplies (sticky notes, markers, timer)
- [ ] Test equipment (projector, audio, video)
- [ ] Set up venue (group tables, whiteboards)
- [ ] Prepare refreshments

## Facilitator Script for Each Section
### 09:00 Icebreaker Activity
**Script**:
"Good morning everyone! Before we officially begin, let's do a small activity to relax. Please find your partner on the left..."

**Notes**:
- Control time, give 2-minute warning
- Watch participation, encourage quiet participants

**Contingency Plan**:
- If running over time: shorten sharing section
- If atmosphere is cold: facilitator demonstrates first

[Provide detailed script for each section]

## Handling Common Questions
Q: What if someone doesn't participate at all?
A: Ask privately about reasons, adjust groupings or activity format

## Time Management Tips
- Build buffer time into each section
- Identify sections that cannot be compressed
- Identify flexible sections

Warning: Workshops are not one-way lectures. Ensure at least 60% of time is for interaction and practice. If participants are passively listening throughout, learning effectiveness will suffer significantly.

Tip: Prepare backup activities. If a section finishes faster than expected, have extra activities to fill time. Test all equipment and materials in advance, prepare Plan B.

Common Questions

Q: How to handle large skill gaps among participants? A: Design tiered activities: basic group and advanced group use different cases. Encourage peer learning, have experts serve as group mentors. Provide extension materials for post-workshop study.

Q: How to maintain participant attention? A: Vary activity formats (lecture-discussion-hands-on-sharing), switch every 20 minutes. Use multimedia and gamification elements. Take appropriate breaks, provide refreshments.

Q: How to collect feedback to improve workshops? A: Distribute feedback surveys at the end. Have observers record participation and pain points. Interview a few participants afterwards. Track action plan execution.