The document provides guidance on conducting an information session or orientation seminar to recruit members for a political party. It discusses important considerations for adult learners, including that they are self-directed, goal-oriented, and want learning to be relevant. It also outlines factors for a successful seminar, such as using interactive teaching methods, addressing real-life issues, and demonstrating democratic values. The document emphasizes that political education is most effective when it builds capacity for both citizens and government officials to strengthen democratic governance.

1. HOW TO
PREPARE, STRUCTURE AND CONDUCT
AN INFORMATION SESSION OR
ORIENTATION SEMINAR
ABOUT THE PARTY FOR RECRUITING
Miss April G. De la Cruz
Education and Training Coordinator
Centrist Democracy Political Institute (CDPI)
april.delacruz@cdpi.asia
www.cdpi.asia

2. HOW TO PREPARE, STRUCTURE AND CONDUCT AN INFORMATION SESSION
OR ORIENTATION SEMINAR ABOUT THE PARTY FOR RECRUITING

3. REGULAR PARTY ACTIVITIES:
Recruitment, Membership Expansion;
and Internalization of Concepts and Practices

4. IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
BEFORE CONDUCTING
AN ORIENTATION/RECRUITMENT
SEMINAR

5. IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
BEFORE CONDUCTING
AN ORIENTATION/RECRUITMENT
SEMINAR

6. IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
BEFORE CONDUCTING
AN ORIENTATION/RECRUITMENT
SEMINAR
Practice of teaching and educating adults
Characteristics of Adult Learners:
-Autonomous and self directed
-Accumulated a foundation of experiences and knowledge
-Goal oriented
-Relevancy oriented
-Practical
-Need to be shown respect (as others do)
*Source: Malcolm Knowles (1970). The Modern Practices of Adult Education

7. IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
BEFORE CONDUCTING
AN ORIENTATION/RECRUITMENT SEMINAR
SOURCE OF MOTIVATION FOR ADULT LEARNERS:
Social Relationships: to make new friends, to meet a need for associations and friendships
External Expectations: to comply with instructions from someone else; to fulfill the
expectations or recommendations of someone with formal authority.
Social Welfare: to improve ability to serve mankind, prepare for service to the
community, and improve ability to participate in community work.
Personal Advancement: to achieve higher status in a job, secure professional
advancement, and stay abreast of competitors
Escape/Stimulations: to relieve boredom, provide a break in the routine of home or
work, and provide a contrast to other exacting details of life.
Cognitive Interest: to learn for the sake of learning, seek knowledge for its own sake,
and to satisfy an inquiring mind.
Source:
Stephen Lieb (1991): Principles of Adult Learning

8. IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
BEFORE CONDUCTING
AN ORIENTATION/RECRUITMENT
SEMINAR
LACK OF ADULT
LEARNING
MENTALITY
LACK OF
TRAINING SKILLS,
METHODS, AND
MATERIALS

9. BASIC FACTORS
FOR SUCCESSFUL
ORIENTATION/SEMINAR
Participants will gain little benefit
from attending one or two sessions;
once a threshold of three sessions
has been reached, the impacts will
be significantly greater.

10. BASIC FACTORS
FOR SUCCESSFUL
ORIENTATION/SEMINAR
The use of interactive methods such
as role-plays, problem-solving
activities, and mock political or
judicial activities is key to effective
learning.

11. BASIC FACTORS
FOR SUCCESSFUL
ORIENTATION/SEMINAR
Should involve and benefit the less powerful
groups.
Civic/political education activities need to be
carefully designed to match the needs and
conditions facing such groups.

12. BASIC FACTORS
FOR SUCCESSFUL
ORIENTATION/SEMINAR
Civic/political education can either tap into existing
channels for participation (e.g. by partnering with
local political advocacy NGOs) or create their own
channels (e.g. by setting up meetings between
program participants and elected officials).

13. BASIC FACTORS
FOR SUCCESSFUL
ORIENTATION/SEMINAR
Civic/political education based solely on abstract
notions, unrelated to the daily lives of the
participants, will have little impact; successful
programs weave lessons about democratic values and
principles into the real-life issues and experiences of
participants.

14. BASIC FACTORS
FOR SUCCESSFUL
ORIENTATION/SEMINAR
Political Education programmes need to be run in a
democratic manner, to demonstrate the values being
taught, such as participation, tolerance and respect.

15. BASIC FACTORS
FOR SUCCESSFUL
ORIENTATION/SEMINAR
Participants will engage more fully if the topics
discussed are ones they feel strongly about, so it is
useful to define and discuss a number of
controversial issues where there is likely to be a range
of opinions among participants.

16. BASIC FACTORS
FOR SUCCESSFUL
ORIENTATION/SEMINAR
As political education is generally concerned with increasing the
demand for good governance, consideration also needs to be
given to strengthening the skills, knowledge and awareness of
the supply side actors to respond to this demand.
It is more effective is accompanied by capacity building efforts
directed at civil servants, parliamentarians, etc.

17. FACILITATION SKILLS
1 Stand-setters for the discussion.
2 Make the workshop environment a priority.
3 Mindful of timing issues.
4 Responsible for articulating the purpose of the discussion and its
significance to the group.
5 Make use of various techniques/tools to keep the discussion moving
6 Responsible for paying attention to group behaviors
7 Should be relaxed and have a sense of humor that makes sure
discussions are enjoyable as well as educational.

18. METHODS AND FACILITATION
TECHNIQUES

20. WORKSHOP

21. WORKSHOP: Planning and Implementing Training Activities