PL
HU
ENChapter 6 · A handbook for practitioners
How to prepare a workshop
Group size, space, materials, duration, and five things you should never do. This begins Part II of the methodology — a practical, step-by-step manual for anyone running an ODYSSEY workshop.
Group size
The optimal group size is eight to twelve people. This offers the best balance between diversity of experience and the chance for every participant to actively engage.
With a smaller group (5–7 people), you can run simulations involving everyone. The interaction is deeper, but a single dominant or withdrawn person can change the entire dynamic.
With a larger group (15–20 people), run simulations in subgroups of 4–5, organise exercises in pairs, and moderate discussions more directively. A co-facilitator is worth having, since participants' needs become too diverse for one person to hold both the group's dynamics and its safety.
With groups over twenty, a workshop usually loses its interactive character and becomes a presentation. If you have thirty people, split them into two groups and run the workshop twice.
In practice
5–7 people
Individual simulations, deep connection, risk of one person dominating.
8–12 people
Full dynamics, a manageable group size.
15–20 people
Work in subgroups and pairs; a co-facilitator is necessary.
More than 20 people
Split into two groups and run the workshop twice.
Space
Chairs in a semicircle or U-shape. Never in rows. A well-lit room, 21–23°C, closed doors, restroom access without stairs, space for coffee.
Check the room the day before, not on the day of the workshop. A senior who can't sit comfortably, or can't hear what you're saying, won't come back for the next session.
Room checklist
- Chairs in a semicircle with armrests
- At least 90cm between seats
- Lighting of at least 500 lux
- Door closed (to keep out noise)
- A flip chart or large screen
- An electrical outlet
- Restroom without stairs
- A table for coffee and materials
Materials
Print everything before the workshop. For many seniors, a piece of paper in hand is the only source of knowledge they take with them.
Minimum for one workshop
- Z-Z-Z card: one per participant plus a 20% buffer
- Escalation Card: one per participant
- Printed scam examples: fake texts, screenshots, call scripts
- A pre-test survey, if you're evaluating
- Pens
Printing guidelines
- Font size: minimum 14pt, preferably 16pt
- Typeface: sans-serif (Arial, Calibri, Verdana)
- Contrast: black or dark navy text on white or light cream
- Line spacing: minimum 1.5
- Alignment: left (never justified)
- Paper: matte (glossy causes glare)
- Format: A5 or A4, one page, one message
Duration
A standard ODYSSEY session runs ninety minutes with a ten-minute break halfway through. But it's not set in stone — adapt to the context.
One thing is non-negotiable: if you have less time, cut the content, not the pace. Better to cover one type of fraud thoroughly than three superficially.
In practice
UTA
90 minutes
Senior club / community centre
60–90 minutes
Library
60–90 minutes
Parish meeting / women's club
30–45 minutes
Nursing home
20–30 minutes
Morning sessions are ideal. If you have a choice between 10am and 3pm, choose 10am.
Five things not to do
Don't prepare a workshop without getting to know the group
A single conversation with someone who knows the participants changes everything.
Don't show up without a supply of handouts
Always print 20% more.
Don't plan a workshop without a co-facilitator
If you don't have a second person, ask a staff member to be present in the room.
Don't start without checking the acoustics
Stand at the farthest point in the room and say a sentence in a normal voice. If you can't hear yourself clearly, participants with hearing loss won't hear anything.
Don't skip the coffee break
The break is part of the workshop. It's when things happen that you didn't plan for.
Full methodology
This was Chapter 6, the first chapter of Part II — the Instructor's Manual. The full methodology covers 19 chapters. Released under a Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.