The Session Design Lab


Improve your training and facilitation skills.

The Session Design Lab is a two-day workshop lasting three hours per day. We will be offering it again in Q2 of 2024 – to get notified, subscribe to the FabUpdate

During this workshop, you will get a grounding in designing and facilitating participatory and interactive sessions that support learning and knowledge sharing in face-to-face and online environments. On the first day, we will dive deeply into adult learning and explore a session format known as ADIDS (Activity, Discussion, Input, Deepening and Synthesis). On the second day, you will design a session based on ADIDS, focus on your participants, and have an opportunity to review your design with other participants.

We will cover best practices for facilitating face-to-face and virtual sessions, considerations to be made when bridging online and offline participants (hybrids) and tactics for engaging participants pre and post-session.

By the end of the lab, you will have the following:

  • A peer-reviewed session design, ready for implementation.
  • Increased expertise in facilitating practical workshops and convenings.
  • Improved ability to determine whether an event will work better in virtual or face-to-face (IRL) environments.

You will also get to work with The Session Design Canvas and connect with others on a similar journey who can support your growth as a facilitator.

This lab is designed for people working with NGOs, non-profits, civil society organisations and charities.

Really great session that gave me some practical tools and more confidance to facilitate workshops in my work.

Session Design Lab Participant

The Session Design Lab is facilitated by Dirk Slater, who has spent the last quarter of a century finetuning his training and facilitation techniques. He is the Facilitation Support Coach for MozFest & RightsCon.

Dirk is very attentive and helpful in giving me the resources and insight I needed to make my campaigning session a reality. He taught me some things that seem so obvious but things I never considered before. Incredibly beneficial!

Session Design Lab Participant

Apply for a scholarship for The Session Design Lab.

Planning an event? Check out The Event Design Lab.