Choosing a Direction: Brainstorming a Topic for Your Program
- Be sure the topic is one you already know something about and can be researched further.
- Determine the extent of the required research.
- Talk to your Rabbi, Cantor, TYG Advisor, Temple Educator and/or NFTY – they are great resources for topics!
- Ask yourself the following questions:
o Has the group already done too much programming regarding this topic?
o Are people interested in spending time on this topic?
o Is this topic suitable for the participants?
o Is there enough substance to this topic for a full program?
Setting your Goals: Writing the Big Ideas and Finding the Focus.
Once you have brainstormed and defined your direction, create a first draft of the program including the long term goals. Using the NFTY Program Format Sheet as a guide, you will be able to keep your research focused and can ensure that the program is clear, understandable, and to the point in its final form.
Going Deeper: Investigating the Different Aspects of Your Topic In Order To Create a Holistic Program
- Prepare a bibliography while keeping your drafted goals in mind. Look on the web, and ask your advisor, rabbi, cantor, or educator for help. Using these resources, learn as much about the topic as possible.
- Strive to represent as many approaches as possible within your program. Ask yourself the following questions:
o How many approaches can be taken?
o Which aspects will most interest the group?
o Which aspects can be programmed effectively?
o What does Reform Judaism have to say about the topic?
o How can it relate or adapt to NFTY’s Study and/or Action Themes?
o Can the topic be broken into smaller sub-topics for a series of programs (i.e. over the course of a Conclave or Kallah as an event theme)?
Creating the Program
Using your research and ideas, fill in the NFTY Program Format sheet:
- TOUCHSTONE TEXT: A text that you want to bring into the program. This may come from your research and should work with your program.
- GOALS: These should be big, untestable ideas. Go back over your previous goals and see if they relate to the specific ideas you want to cover from your research.
- OBJECTIVES: These are the concrete and testable skills and information you want people to take from the program. These are necessary to achieve your goals, and every part of your program should directly relate to at least one of your objectives.
Choosing an Effective Method
Before choosing your method, ask yourself the following questions:
- Are you aware of the group’s dynamics?
- Does the group know each other well?
- Will participants respond better to a program that is more discussion based or activity based?
- Have you used this method too many times in previous programs?
The Seven Main Program Vehicles:
o Carousel (participants rotate to different stations so that everyone experiences the same things regardless of the order)
o Hike Through History (participants visit different stations in a specific order)
o Carnival (participants choose which stations they wish to visit)
o Skits
o Speakers
o Puppet shows
o Films
- Trial/Town Meeting/Debate
- Values Clarification
o Four Cornersexercise (participants choose one of four answers to a series of questions)
o Role playing
o Examples: Entering Ellis Island, Jewish Wedding
o IMPORTANT– If you plan to do a simulation program, work out all of the details with your advisor. You must be careful not to play with people’s emotions.
o Game Show
o Giant board games
- Using the Five Senses (seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, smelling)
o Art, music, cooking, drama, meditation
Pace and Timing
- Define the speed of each aspect of your program.
- Make sure that you allow enough time for introduction and wrap-up.
- Don’t rush! You don’t want to lose the participants’ attention.
- Don’t feel the need to draw out the end of the program to fill left over time; rather, plan something else in case the program runs short.
Before the Program Takes Place
- Organize your program using the NFTY Program Format Sheet. Write out every instruction so anyone who looks at the program in the future can run it without asking questions.
- Make sure your discussion guides and background materials are complete and detailed.
- Make sure that everyone involved understands the program.
- Run through the program with your group leaders so all questions are answered and everyone is on the same page.
- Be open to comments from anyone looking over the program. Their ideas can improve the program and ensure the program reflects your original goals.
- Go over the Guide to Group Leading with your group leaders to help improve their skills.
- Obtain and organize all materials before the program begins, including program packets for group leaders.
- If necessary, decide on a method for breaking into small groups.
- Make sure the location is suitable for all of your needs.
- Make sure all locations are clearly marked.
- Create a system to communicate to the group leaders how much time is left without disrupting the activity or discussion (I.e. hand signals, note passing, etc.).
Executing the Program
- If necessary, alert rovers of any time changes so they can inform group leaders.
- Keep a cool head; be flexible enough to handle whatever happens.
- Don’t forget – only the leaders are aware of what is supposed to happen, so it’s OK if things don’t go exactly as planned. The participants won’t know if you don’t tell them!
Once the Program is Done: Evaluation
This step is crucial for a group that will be working together all year long.
(See Evaluation Format Sheet)
- What worked especially well?
- What was the general reaction of the program leaders?
- What was the general reaction of the program participants?
- How well did you estimate locations? Times? People? Materials?
- What could you have changed about your program as a whole that would have made it better?
- Do you feel like you successfully addressed all of your objectives? Why or why not?
- Do you feel like you accomplished all of your goals? Why or why not?
- Was it a successful program? Explain…
- Any other comments or suggestions?
