Next Tuesday, I’m teaching an International Studies Association pre-conference workshop on designing political science classroom games (there’s still room in the workshop if you read this post by 29 March!). My objective: deliver a 4-hour course that includes a block of instruction and hands-on ideation for no more than 30 participants.
I’ve taught numerous classroom game design courses and have developed a stock list of questions to ask before each, as well as a packing list containing dice, playing cards, poker chips, a bag of glow-in-the-dark zombie figures, and other useful game ideation tools. There are few things worse than that clammy, pit-in-the-stomach feeling that haunts the unrehearsed and ill-prepared.
- What is the maximum number of participants?
- Who is my point of contact?
- Am I allowed to email them ahead of time?
- Where is the room located?
- How will the tables be arranged?
- Can I adjust the room arrangement if necessary?
- Will I have a podium and A/V access?
- Do I use my own laptop, or is a laptop provided?
- Can I request locally sourced office supplies, within reason and with my best imploring smile?
- Did I account for and check off each packing list item?
- No, seriously… did I account for and check off each packing list item?
- How early can I access the room before class starts?
- Who do I contact on-site if I need technical support (if different than the point of contact)?
The better I plan for what I want my workshop to look like, the better I can handle contingencies while still looking cool and collected doing so. 🙂