While we build on a broad range of methodic and didactic approaches during the conception of a Workshop, we differentiate two main kinds of Workshops that each have specific purposes and target groups:
First of all, we devise Workshops that convey a research approach or method in such a way that the participants can familiarize themselves with the approach or method and apply it in their own work. These Workshops serve as a tool for knowledge transfer that we, for example, employ when collaborating with researchers and stakeholders from different backgrounds. This is especially the case in interdisciplinary research projects where it is essential that all partners understand and support a chosen approach or method. Likewise, Workshops are one of the ways through which the HCC Data Lab practically transfers knowledge within the Freie Universität Berlin to interested researchers.
Second of all, we create Workshops that implement a specific research approach or method in the context of a given research topic or project. This includes, for example, participatory Workshops that we conduct with different stakeholders as a way to contribute to the knowledge production within a research project. We also employ participatory Workshops as a way to integrate the perspectives of stakeholders from the general public in our research projects as well as to develop new ideas or concepts for user interfaces collaboratively.
In line with our format Method Reflection & Toolboxes, we evaluate and iteratively improve our Workshops based on our experience and observations from each implementation. We publish re-usable workshop kits and instructions as OER as part of the Toolboxes.