VIPP_Unicef

Field visits
Field trips or excursions offer a particular chance to link the workshop
process with concrete situations in rural or urban communities or
institutions, getting an outside input and offering a means of exercising
some participatory techniques and dialogue. If timed and organized
correctly, a field visit can be an outstanding moment of a workshop.
The plenary divides into several groups. The field visits are introduced
carefully, the task of analyzing, getting into dialogue, searching for
solutions is distributed to everyone. The groups then prepare the field
trip, establishing their clear tasks and a division of labour: interviewing,
observation, group discussion, facilitation, etc. The relationship between
visitors and local people or institutional contacts has to be defined
beforehand. The identity and objective of the group should become
clear during an initial presentation.
After the visit the groups must have enough time to work out findings
in visual form. Often a competition of creativity develops between
groups, which enriches the workshop.
Remarks: A field visit should only be included if the event is long enough
and if it takes place close to a problem or project area. It should offer a
complementary element to the workshop programme or topic. But such visits
require excellent briefings, preparation of transport, arrangements with local
people and clarification of objectives with them. Groups should be small. If
the visits are not well prepared, or the group is too large, or the task is not
clear, the participants may become demotivated. However, if properly
executed, field visits are an excellent technique for learning.
VIPP TECHNIQUES
Use of
group and
plenary
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