6 Important Questions to Ask Your Next SHSM Workshop Provider

Are you looking for an awesome speaker for your SHSM program? Students have to complete workshops – some mandatory, some elective. Once you’ve found a potential presenter, you’ll want to check them out. The following 6 questions will start great conversation and will help ensure your presentation will be a winner!
​In general, a 10- or 15-minute phone call should be enough to get an idea of whether a presentation is a good fit for you and your school. Here’s what to ask and what to look for.

1. “What’s your experience with student workshops?

• Ask some specific questions about how many workshops they’ve done and how many years they’ve been presenting. Ask if they get repeat business.
• Consistent, frequent SHSM experience means that they have had time to adapt their presentations to all kinds of audiences and situations. Look for testimonials.

2.  “How do you make your workshops engaging?”

• Ask what they do to keep students engaged. How do they define a successful presentation? Ask about the experience of the specific presenter and if you can speak to that person ahead of the workshop.
• There are lots of ways to make a presentation engaging, including using interaction, activities, enthusiasm, demonstrations, humour, surveys or self-assessments, and storytelling. The message in the workshop should be simple, impactful, and memorable. There’s no “formula,” per se, but an experienced youth presenter will use lots of tools to win-over resistant participants and make sure students stay interested.

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3. "What are the logistics involved?"

• Ask about where the workshops take place. If it’s at your school, ask what sort of space is needed and what setup is required. Are the dates flexible or fixed?​
• The Beanstalk Project comes straight to your classroom, but some other programs host at their venues, while some even offer online certifications. Any way can work, but make sure the workshops are accessible for you. Some presentations may require lots of special setup, but others require nothing at all. You’re likely busy, so take convenience of booking and flexibility of dates into account.

4. "What is your pricing model?"

• Ask about whether it’s flat-rate or per-student pricing. Find out about when they need registration totals, minimum registrations, and any deposits or added fees. Ask if they can present for multiple SHSM majors at once.
• This is important. You want to get the best value for your budget, so look for groups that are forthcoming about fees. Take transportation and venue costs into account too. If they’ll combine SHSM majors, consider splitting the cost. Depending on your numbers, either flat-rate or per-student pricing can work, but make sure you ask in advance and avoid surprises.
  

5. "What is your organization all about?"

• Ask about organizational biases. Ask about how their mission shows up in their workshops. Find out how they handle questions when values conflict.
• Some workshop providers are affiliated with religious groups, community organizations, or other companies. This CAN be great, but it doesn't always mean you'll be a perfect match. Be sure that their activities outside of SHSM align with the mandate and values of your school. Ensure you’re satisfied with how they handle conflicts of values so your school can present a unified front.

6. "What other benefits can you offer?"

• Ask what else the workshop provider can offer. Ask what else they think you should know. Ask if there’s a way to partner to offer more opportunities to youth.
• In addition to doing what they need for workshops – like providing certificates and including an evaluation component, SHSM providers should have young people’s best interests in mind and consider them an important part of the community. Check to see if they help students in other ways - for example, through volunteer opportunities, conferences, co-op connections, or local initiatives. Perhaps there are unexpected benefits!

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