March 08, 2005
Creative Debate Sessions:
The making of the Policy Proposals
Fresh insights are discovered and refined through the brainstorming and challenging generally accepted assumptions. The goal of the Atocha Workshop is to bring together diverse opinions and backgrounds to develop viable policy initiatives. The Atocha Workshop is not about consensus as each participant is asked to shape and strengthen their own policy opinions. All ideas will be published, in real time, on this weblog you are reading now.
Overview
Participants will be asked to shape creative policy ideas in the context of topic questions that will be posed to everyone in two Creative Debate Sessions.
Each participant will participate in 2 Creative Debate Sessions, each dealing with a different topic. A policy is a plan or course of action by a government, political party, institution, organization, or business, intended to influence and determine decisions, actions, and other matters.
120 participants will engage in two Creative Debate sessions, each in roundtable groups of 10-11 people. Each roundtable group will be presented with a question relating to global terrorism and your charge is to create innovative policy initiatives that deal with the issue. The Agenda during and after the Creative Debates is as follows:
Lunch. At the end of the Opening Session all Creative Debate Participants will exit the conference hall and enter the restaurant for a 30 minute lunch.
14:30 – 15:00 Lunch
Creative Debates. After lunch each participant will head to one of 12 tables associated with a specific question to begin the first session. (During introductions participants will elect a moderator for each table). Each session will last one hour and 15 minutes.
- 15:00 – 16:15 Creative Debate Session # 1
- 16:15 – 16:30 Break
- 16:30 – 17:45 Creative Debate Session # 2
Pre-Selecting Ideas for the Policy Forum: During each Creative Debate session, the objective is that creative and innovative policy proposals will be devised. Towards the end of each session, the moderator must compile a list of members from their group that would like to present their idea to the public in the Policy Forum to follow. This list will be collected at the end of each Creative Debate session by a Safe Democracy representative. (NOTE: You will only be able to present your idea for ONE of the Creative debate sessions in which you have participated.)
- 18:00 – 19:30 Policy Forum
Policy Forum. From 18:00 on, the Creative Debate participants will be presenting their ideas to the public in the conference room.
Structure of the Creative Debates:
At each table there will be 9-10 participants (including a moderator) and one blogger. Once seated, the session will begin with a simple 1 minute introduction. After introductions, members will select a moderator from within the group. The structure and components within each group will include the following:
- One Moderator who will share insights but also moderate the
discussion flow by seeking to identify different viewpoints and perspectives.
Role During Creative Debate: Ensure that each conversation is structured, dynamic and outcome driven; Lead participants through brainstorm so that creative, achievable polices are developed; Help foster diversity of opinion and not just consensus; Offer their own ideas and conclusions.
Role After Each Creative Debate Session: At the end of each session, identify individuals that want to present their policy idea in the Policy Forum to follow, and give their name and a brief summary of their idea to a Safe Democracy Foundation representative.
- Creative Debate Participants who will share their insights and engage their peers in discussion and debate. (Partipants will change tables/topics at the conclusion of the first session)
Role During Creative Debate: Communicate original ideas and views into actionable policy proposals; Seek to avoid ‘group think’ by defining and expanding on individual perspectives.
- One Blogger who will aggregate and document creative insights and post them on the Atocha Workshop Blog (Each blogger takes care of only one topic, and thus does not move tables when the participants do).
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