f Neville Longbottom (a fictional character in Harry Potter) was asked whether he prefers a one-hour session with Professor Lupin or a course with Professor Snape, he probably would've chosen the former one in a heartbeat. Workshops are similar to that choice. It is a small establishment where one gets to choose the topics they want to learn the most and from whom in a short time. Hence most of the time, even if workshops are for educational purposes, they end up being a gratifying experience.
Workshops introduce new ideas, boosting the attendees' practical skills on a particular topic. It is a safe space to fall and stand up albeit for an ephemeral period. Mehenaz Tisha, a student of English Literature at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, shared her experience of attending workshops since childhood. She attended any kind of workshops available that piqued her interest- from photography to basic programming skills. From Tisha's encounters with workshops, she received something worthwhile most of the time. "The pandemic has opened the opportunity to attend online workshops from foreign countries as well and in some cases, they are free of cost," added Tisha regarding the opportunity workshops are providing during the pandemic.
Workshops provide a space for intensive discussion as well as for networking. It is a space to meet people from all walks of life with the same interest. "I could not learn leadership strategy in a one-day workshop but I got to know many new people which definitely enhanced my social communication skills," says Salsabil Rashid, a third-year student of Zoology at Dhaka University.
The topics discussed in a workshop can vary from learning how to animate a 3D object to creating an actual object. Each workshop can be set up on different durations and several subjects at a time as well. Taqi Yasir, a current student of English Literature at Jahangirnagar University, shared his positive experience with workshops as well.
"I attended a workshop called 'Tech camp' where several topics were discussed from integrating content marketing with programme language to being a successful influencer. Professionals shared their experiences and we gave a presentation on our selected topics. The whole experience checked out the expectations I had in mind."
However, occasionally the attendees have to go through workshops like listening to a substandard Ted Talk. The experience can feel like a waste of time similar to watching a terrible third-grade movie. "Most of the workshops I attended didn't even bother to do anything practical. The organisers talked about various projects but couldn't even put together a small project in a year," says a disappointed Nafiur Ahmed, presently an English Literature student at Jahangirnagar University.
Attending a workshop is like choosing a movie or series plus the educational part.
The attendee can decide to attend one after knowing all the details of the workshop. Most of the time, this can prevent any sort of disappointment. According to Tisha, "It's better to attend a workshop after checking some details, like, particulars about the organisers or presence of the professionals on that topic." While attending a workshop picking out a topic on which the attendee has a prior knowledge can help a lot. Knowing the details about the instructors and his expertise on the particular topic might come in handy as well. If possible, gaining feedback from previous participants can aid in choosing the right workshop.
However, even after being thoroughly careful about the cast and the director and knowing everything beforehand, the audience can get disappointed. Similar to what Sadia Tasnuva, a second-year student of English Literature at Jahangirnagar University, had to face. She said, "I attended a workshop set up by a famous debating organisation which went on for several months. Even though the topic was 'public speaking' I hardly had to utter any word publicly throughout the workshop. It turned out to be only a theory-based one."
Harry Potter had to hold a workshop on defense against dark arts in 'Harry Potter and the Order of The Phoenix' as their school had stopped teaching it. This particular workshop proved to be more worthy than any other classes held at the time. With the right set of instructors and the right set of activities, a workshop can turn into a more effective, educational, and sometimes magical experience for those who want to learn beyond academics.
Jannatul Ferdous Anan is a student at Department of English at Jahangirnagar University.
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