Running an Educational Session

Points to consider when planning an educational session

What are my aims for this session?

These might include - promoting Tzedek, educating about a particular development issue, educating about a Jewish value, recruiting for new volunteers, informing people of practical ways to help, and so on. Once you have decided on your aims, write them down. Check back on them at every stage of your planning and ask yourself - will this point/activity/discussion help me to achieve my aims.

Who is my audience?

When and where is this session taking place? Put yourself in your audience's shoes and ask yourself 'what type of session would most engage me?' For example, if you're speaking to students at a J-soc Friday night dinner, then your session should be interactive, not too serious, and not too long. On the other hand, if you're speaking to the social action committee at your local synagogue, then your session should be more serious and informative, maybe looking in-depth at a development issue or running a text study session on relevant Jewish values.

What type of session will I run?

Once you have decided on your aims, and identified your audience and environment, think about what type of session will be most effective. You can run a frontal lecture or an interactive workshop. You can run the session yourself, or bring in development experts, Jewish educators or other Tzedek volunteers. You can run team games and activities, a text study session, or a debate on a relevant issue. There are a huge number of options open to you - the challenge is to find the method that will best achieve your aims and will be most appropriate for your audience and environment.

How can I present my session?

Presentation is key to running a good session.

Think about how you can involve your audience. Ask them questions - What percentage of the world's population do you think is below the poverty line? What effect do your consumer choices have? Are development issues 'Jewish issues'? Share your personal stories and experiences with them - your unique experiences will give your session greater weight and resonance and will engage people on a personal and emotional level. Use triggers and multimedia to create interest and atmosphere - bring photographs from your trip, show a short film clip or bring a relevant newspaper article or Jewish text.

Think about how you can best communicate with your audience. Speak slowly and clearly, using notes but not reading your session from the page. Your body language should be relaxed and confident and you should make eye contact with your audience. It often helps to run through your session with a friend beforehand, so that you won't be too nervous.

Where can I get help with preparing my session?

There are a huge range of resources and support available to you, so make best use of them and you will be able to run a well-researched, well-run, engaging piece of education. Development charities and organisations will be able to provide information on development issues and will often also give guidance on ways to educate about these issues. There are also a number of Jewish organisations that offer guidance on the Jewish angle on development issues and the core Jewish values which inform our approach. Many of these organisations now have excellent websites and some may also be able to provide guest speakers for your session. The Tzedek EPG can provide lists of useful organisations and resources, and can put you in touch with experts and educators who can help you plan or run your session. Remember, its good to talk - talk your session through with a member of the EPG or another Tzedek volunteer, and together you can explore your ideas, see what's will be most effective, and come up with a well thought through plan.

Suggested outline for a short talk from a returning volunteer:

As a Tzedek volunteer, your experiences are your most valuable educational resource. Sharing your experiences with your synagogue, youth movement or J-soc is a great opportunity to educate people about key development issues, the Jewish values involved and the work of Tzedek. Here is a basic outline for a short talk through which you can turn your experiences into a piece of effective education.

1. Introduction:

Introduce yourself and give a brief background to your Tzedek trip. Include who you are, why you went on Tzedek, including a brief explanation of what Tzedek is, what you did when you were there and what you gained and learned from the experience.

2. Your Story:

Choose one experience from your trip that had a powerful effect on you or taught you something important. Tell this story, setting the scene and including enough description and detail to really convey the experience to your audience.

3. The corresponding development issue/Jewish value:

Either - think about the story you have chosen to tell. What development issue does the story relate to? For example, if your story took place in the slums, think about why are the slums there; what problems to the inhabitants face; is health, sanitation, education or food a major concern there? Or if your story took place while you were teaching in an orphanage think about what issues have resulted in the need for this orphanage, and what challenges it is facing? Issues to consider include - health, education, food and water provision, sanitation, child labour, third world debt, trade justice and many more. Once you have chosen the issue which you feel is most related to your story, do some research and give an introduction to the issue. Include some basic facts and statistics, some of the causes of this issue, and what can and is being done to help.

Or - think about the story you have chosen to tell. Which Jewish values does the story relate to? For example, if you worked to help set up a small sustainable business, than you were involved in the Jewish value that the highest form of giving is enabling somebody to be self-sufficient. Or if you volunteered in an HIV clinic, then you were engaging in the principles of bikkur cholim - caring for the sick, and pikuach nefesh - saving life. There are a number of key Jewish values that will apply to all the work you have done, including:

Tikkun Olam - Repairing the world, piece by piece.

Mipnei Darchei Shalom - Caring for non-Jews as well as Jews, so as to establish peace in the world.

Kiddush Hashem - Sanctifying the name of God, by doing good in the name of God.

Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof - Actively pursuing justice

Tzelem Elokim - Recognising and bringing out the image of God in every person.

Once you have chosen the value which you feel is most related to your story, do some research and give an introduction to this value. You may want to include a classic or modern text which explores this value, and some thoughts on how we can live out this value in our lives.

4. What you can do:

Finally, give your audience some practical suggestions on how each of us can get involved in this issue or live out this value. These can include fundraising, volunteering in the UK or in the developing world, educating others, campaigning, changing our consumer choices, and so on. Explain the work that Tzedek does, and how Tzedek offers opportunities for getting involved. Emphasise the fact that there are many different ways of giving and of helping, and that each of us can make a real difference.