By Jim Campbell

For several years now I have taught a one-week intensive ToP (Technology of Participation) training course at All Hallows College in Dublin, Ireland. During the academic year (September to June), I teach the same material in four two-day modules doing one a month for four months. Both versions of the course are part of the college’s Continuing Education program and the ALBA (Adult Learning Bachelor of Arts for Personal and Professional Development program. For the ALBA program, the course is accredited as part of the facilitation stream.

This year, the one-week intensive was held from 11 to 16 July. There were eight ALBA students and 7 Continuing Education participants in the course. All of the participants were old with a wide variety of work experience, ranging from team leadership in a corporation to leading school retreats for youth to enabling volunteers working in support groups. There were four men and eleven women.

The week was divided into 2 parts—Monday to Wednesday noon and Thursday to Saturday noon. The first half involved the Focused Discussion Method, The Basic Workshop Method and the Action Planning Method. Wednesday afternoon was free, giving the participants a much needed break. Thursday and Friday, we did Participatory Strategic Planning. Saturday morning was working on group dynamics and the hallmarks of an effective meeting. The detailed agenda is as follows:

Monday morning—introduction to the Focused Discussion Method. We do a demonstration conversation, review the process and the participants are all assigned to create and lead a conversation. We do these practice conversations during the week at the beginning and/or end of each session until all participants have led a conversation.

Monday afternoon—introduction to the Basic Workshop Method. We do a demonstration workshop, review the process and divide the participants into groups to prepare a practice workshop which they do on Tuesday morning.

Tuesday morning—we do the practice workshops with a brief critique following each one. The participants learn a great deal about the process through preparing and leading their workshop and also through participating in their colleagues’ practice workshops.

Tuesday afternoon—introduction to the Action Planning Method. We do a demonstration Action Planning up to the implementation stage, review the process and organize small groups to prepare an action planning practice session for Wednesday morning.

Wednesday morning—we do the practice action planning events which enables every participant to get up in front of the group.
Wednesday afternoon—the mid-week break.

Thursday morning—introduce the Participatory Strategic Planning Process and do the Vision Workshop. Review the vision workshop with the participants.

Thursday afternoon—do the Contradictions Workshop and review it with the participants.
Friday morning—do the Strategic Directions Workshop and review it with the participants.

Friday afternoon—walk the participants through the implementation workshop and the quarterly and yearly evaluation/planning processes which occur as the strategic plan is implemented. I share with them the quarterly and yearly evaluation/planning processes which I developed a few years ago when working at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

Saturday morning—the first half of the morning focuses on group dynamics, especially when groups are struggling to make decisions or the facilitator encounters difficult situations in the group. The second half of the morning deals with the five hallmarks of an effective meeting. While not part of the ToP system, this session is designed to answer many of the general questions that participants have about working with groups.

We have created a 176-page manual which every participant receives. It has all of the ToP procedures spelt out in detail in terms of both delivery and preparation and also a lot of back-up material. I also include all of the detailed procedures which I use to deliver the course (for example: the constructs for the demonstration focus conversations etc.).

All participants receive a Certificate of Completion and a letter detailing the content of the course. In addition, to receive credit for the course, ALBA students have to write a brief paper on how they have used or intend to use one of the methods from the course.

While this is a very demanding week both for the participants and the trainer, it does work very well. Generally the response is very positive and the course has an excellent reputation which through word-of-mouth keeps people signing up for future sessions. It should be noted that the College recruits the course and manages all of the practical details (including the finances). I simply show up with the appropriate materials and deliver the course. The college pays me a fee for teaching the course and covers all of my expenses (supplies, travel, and room and board).

Jim Campbell is a member of ICA Brussels