Discussion Boards

Here is a list, off the top of my head, of what I've found true as a teacher who has participated in many inservice workshops/programs from K-12 to college-level. I see that no one else has commented on your questions that you've posed. So I'll list a few thoughts. You know all of this stuff already. But I offer it to you here, from my perspective, in hopes that this list will spark good ideas that will fit your program:

- Design an excellent workshop or program: This is obviously numero uno. No matter how much of the other things you have going on this list, it won't matter unless what you're saying and doing in the workshop or program is good and professional. Be sure to design it so that it's teacher-friendly, easy, and doesn't require a lot of work/effort/talking from them if possible--though there are exceptions depending on the type of program. But in general, teachers want/need to conserve their energies for their daily, big "show"--their classroom teaching. Keep your program as short and concise as possible. Let them leave as early as possible. Establish group norms in some form at the beginning, and then allow for teachers to evaluate/give feedback at the end. These are some things that come to mind. But you are, of course, doing all of this already! So no worries.

- Offer Pay/Credit: States/school districts/schools offer incentives for teachers to attend workshops. These incentives range from, for example, paying for you to attend and paying for your sub, to offering educator credits or other incentives.

- Use Good Marketing: Send out 8 1/2" x 11" well-designed flyers to county education offices, school districts, schools, college education departments, and so on. Most of them will eventually be put into teacher mailboxes and summarily thrown out. Sorry, but this is true. Many teachers get a ton of junky ads in their mailboxes that they have to sort in less than a minute. Your ad has to catch their interest in just seconds, or it will usually end up in the trash. Use email advertisements through these avenues when available. Make your ad smart, and visually-appealing with not too much unnecessary verbiage. Be sure to include good quality visuals. Please don't use the typical clip art found on Microsoft Word or other such applications--that is a big turn off. Instead, perhaps include a unique photograph or good drawing that is relevant. Do not make the ad too long, or teachers will usually not read it. Short, professional, to-the-point, and not condescending, but grade-level appropriate--I hate to receive elementary-level ads when I am a middle school teacher. Network with other teachers and administrators. Seek out existing, successful inservice workshops, find out what they do, and have them advertise for your workshop if possible/appropriate. Network with the local community where appropriate, like with museums and teacher supply stores. Radio, at least in my area (Southern California), would not usually be the medium of choice for a typical workshop ad. But if you have a radio station that many teachers listen to, like a local NPR station perhaps, and if your workshop was appropriate for a wide audience (like good speakers/panelists, or video screening), THEN radio would be fine. I listen to radio a lot, especially NPR, and I have never heard a teacher workshop advertised, though I have heard ads for good speakers/panel discussions and video screenings.

- Bottom line: Teachers love good, free stuff. Teachers out there, am I wrong?! Offer good gifts/food/prizes to teachers who attend. Be sure to include that you will do so in your well-designed ad! I really don't mean just giving one free pencil or pen, because they are just too generic. Good office supply gifts might be unique pencils/pens--or enough generic ones for a whole class or to give as student prizes, cool erasers, good markers, and so on. Other gifts might include "educator kits," posters, books, gift certificates/coupons, and so on. Be sure to have food for all who attend, if possible. Have a raffle or door prize, and make sure that you offer a number of items that are attractive to your local teachers! Try to get the local community involved to donate items that you can give away. For example, the local teacher or office supplies store might be willing to give you items as long as you advertise for them at your inservice. But really, you can ask just about any business (bookstores, markets, bakeries, WalMart/Targets, restaurants, etc.). Many will at least offer a gift certificate and/or coupon(s). It helps if you have a network of teachers who can ask these businesses for you. Sometimes, they have friends or family who work there, own it, or know people who work there or own it. You get the idea.

- Get famous/interesting, or get someone famous/interesting to come, and advertise it: Teachers will often go out of their way to see someone speak who is potentially important to them (true for non-teachers, too). We are often tired after work, and we often do NOT want to go to a workshop to listen to another teacher talk, unless we have to, or unless that teacher is unusually good and useful to them. If you can become, or perhaps you already are, famous or interesting, then you need to market that quality--hey wait a second, all of us here at the National Diversity Education Program are famous and interesting (especially after our opening weekend splash at the Center)! For example, if you have written a book or you are a musician, you could advertise in your book or at your event that you are leading a teacher workshop or program. Or, you can get a person or group who is famous/interesting that enlightens your subject. Teachers will often drive an hour or more to listen to inspirational speakers, or to speakers who are closely related to a lesson for school that is close to their heart. Of course, panel discussions that are closely relevant to your workshop or program can be great, providing that you select your panelists well.

- Show a unique movie, or video "screening": Many teachers and non-teachers would love to see a rare screening of a movie that relates to them. Perhaps it's a documentary that is difficult to get, or just released. Perhaps your local university or museum might be able to help out. Sometimes they have such movies available for you. SOME CAVEATS: Be SURE that your equipment is working AND you have a good back-up plan should equipment not work. If you want to focus on regular K-12 classroom teachers attending your inservice, then you would usually do it on a weekday during or just after school, which means that your movie has got to be good or you will only turn off all of your overworked teachers in the audience (which means EVERYONE). If the movie is long and/or slow, perhaps show part of it at the beginning, then have your discussions, then show the remainder at the end, allowing for people to leave if they must. If on the other hand, you want to encourage non-teachers, and teachers/students at the college level, then you should probably hold your unique video screening on the weekend. Perhaps show it at the local college, and advertise on its campus. Try to get in touch with its professors, turn them on to your program, and have them advertise in their classes. If possible, get the movie's director/writer/producer/stars to attend.... You get the picture.