The minicourse is a part of the schedule of many events, whether national or international, in-person or online.
Short courses are planned for few people and with a small duration.
But they make a big difference in how the subject is approached.
So, make sure to have at least one minicourse in your event schedule.
Learn here how to prepare short courses, in order to have a more interactive event and that the attendees feel more comfortable learning about the overall topic of your event.
What is a minicourse?
The minicourse a short-term event that seeks to introduce and start a discussion on a specific topic. Leading students to learn more about an area of interest and thus having an overview of the subject covered.
The minicourse can take place as a single event or involved in a larger schedule, such as from a congress for example.
Having, sometimes, a theoretical-practical proposal, which leads the attendees to reflect on the addressed topic and also to place themselves in a place of activity in relation to the subject.
Short courses can be taught in person or online, which makes student’s lives easier.
How to choose the topic?
There are events that allow teachers or even students to submit proposals for short courses. Requiring some prior information, such as the topic of the short course.
But how do you know which topic to address?
First, you should take a broad view of your research area and know what topics are possible according to the event you intend to submit.
After that, you can locate what are the most timely and relevant subjects in the area you have chosen.
In this way, know the target audience, so you can adjust the planning, from where it will be carried out to which speaker you should invite.
You may intend to speak to teenagers and commit the slip of organizing the talk focused on the topic ‘health of the elderly’. I assure you this is an important subject, but not for this target audience.
What is the format of the minicourse?
Since the minicourse is an event with a reduced workload, you can already prepare a proposal that does not exceed the period of 8 hours and has a minimum of 2 hours.
Also think about how this short course will be presented, if you will need some technological support, such as slides and laptop; if you will need inserts or guides for attendees.
All this must be planned in advance and, if necessary, informed to the coordination of the event.
É importante também se informar sobre o seu público em relação à acessibilidade.
For if deaf attendees are interested, a sign language interpreter should be sought, so that they also follow the information that will be presented.
How to choose the speaker?
Who will teach the short course is an important choice, since this researcher must have mastery of the subject and be accessible to students.
There is no point in just contacting the most accessible professional, you should look at the area of expertise.
Also worry about the speaker, know what their needs are, if they need to travel to attend your event will they have accommodation? What about food? Is it going to be out of their pocket or the organization’s?
All of these questions should be answered and evaluated before contacting someone from another university or another state.
And in case you are holding an online event, it is also important to check that the speaker has all the necessary infrastructure to make the presentation.
Can I issue a certificate?
You can and you should! The attendees of your short course will need some proof, since most of them will be university students who need extra hours to fulfill the course workload.
Also prepare for the speaker, as each participation in events has a scientific validity, both for the researcher and for the University in which they research.
The issuance of the certificates also makes your event more meaningful, your attendees become interested, thus generating greater interest in your event.
Did you like the tips? Now that you know how to design a minicourse, implement this practice in your events.
You will notice a greater interaction between the attendees and the addressed topic, in addition to transmitting knowledge in an easy and practical way.
Oh, and don’t forget to tell us how your minicourse was planned!