developing.qmd

# Developing or updating material

This section contains, for now, lessons learned on developing new or
existing material.

## Design shorter rather than longer sessions

Sessions within a workshop should aim to be around 50 minutes to 1.5
hrs.

The shorter the session, the more focused the content and the more
likely the learners will retain the information.

It also makes it easier to design the session and to create a natural
break in the material, both figuratively and literally. When the session
ends, have a 5-10 minute break for the learners to get up, rest their
mind, and do something else. This break helps learning.

A shorter session also makes it easier to have new instructors take on
less content but still have a space to learn. There needs to be a
balance between giving space for new instructors to learn but also
ensure that the learners get (on average) high-quality instruction
(given by more experienced instructors).

## End a session with a "recall" activity

One of the most effective ways to learn is through retrieval of items
stored in (working or long-term) memory. To help enable this during the
workshop, aim to end a session with a short think-pair-share activity,
where they try to go over in their minds what was covered and then share
and reinforce those ideas with a neighbour (when in person).

## If a session starts in the morning, include a "recall" activity

Just like with ending a session with some retrieval practice through a
think-pair-share, do one of these activities for sessions that start in
the morning.