Train-the-Trainer: Stakeholders and audiences

Introduction to importance of knowing your target audience / participants

Introducing the learner to reasons CS projects fail, and the Ladder of Participation for researchers and other staff

Explaining to the learner why stakeholder and audience mapping and analysis are important tools, and encouraging learners to think about different levels of participation or readiness for CS

Introduction to teaching and learning styles

Introducing student learning styles and the Facilitator teaching style

Explaining to the learner that there many different learning styles that need to be considered, as well as identifying an appropriate teaching style for the CS training to deeply engage with learners is important

Stakeholder analysis and mapping

Introducing ways to map and analyse stakeholders, including on Interest/Influence scales and taking a timeline approach

Demonstration of how different ways of mapping stakeholders can be useful in different circumstances. Enabling learners to conduct a stakeholder analysis and mapping, considering the timing of the training

Audience mapping

Using Empathy Mapping (by Xplane.com) to dive deeper into the characteristics of identified (training) audiences

Enabling learners to conduct audience mapping for their planned trainings

Group discussion

Learners conduct a stakeholder analysis (Interest/Influence and/or Timeline) in relation to a particular training opportunity and create an overview on a flip-chart (or Miro board). They are encouraged to share their training opportunity and identified relevant stakeholder groups.

Engaging in group discussions allow learners to share diverse perspectives and ideas, enriching their understanding of the potential stakeholders related to citizen science training.

From stakeholders to audience

Each learner or group identifies the target audience for their training opportunity.

Identifying the targeted audience among many stakeholders will focus the training development and design.

Target audience characteristics

Learners discuss their audience’s characteristics using the target audience mapping framework (Empathy Mapping) from Xplane, including identifying their audience’s Gain and Pain, what they Say & Do, See, Hear, and Think & Feel. Insights are plotted on another flip-chart (or Miro board).

This discussion encourages learners to think realistically about their audience’s perspectives and motives for participating in citizen science training, fostering a better basis for creating meaningful and impactful training for the audience.

Presentation and feedback

Each group or individual presents their flip-charts, explaining their identified stakeholders and the characterization of their target audience. Presentations are followed by a feedback session, where peers and/or facilitators ask questions, provide constructive comments, alternative perspectives, and suggestions for improvement.

Presenting analysis and mapping of audiences and receiving feedback cultivates a collaborative learning environment and enhances learners’ ability to articulate and refine their ideas on training audiences’ perspectives.

Conclusion and reflection

The session concludes with Learners reflecting on their learning experience. They consider how the stakeholder analysis and audience mapping has influenced their understanding of how to develop and conduct their future training sessions.

Reflecting on the session's activities solidifies learning and allows learners to improve and refine their stakeholder analysis and mapping skills.