Program Types & Tips Community Forums & Discussions Entertaining and instructional, a community forum educates through involvement. A case in point: at one forum a young African-American man learned about the Korean belief that putting money into another's hands is disrespectful. Thereafter, he no longer felt insulted when Korean grocers gave him his change on the counter instead of in his hand. This story of which there are many illustrates the great advantage of a forum: it allows participants to explain their own views and, at the same time, learn to understand each other's differences, face to face. An effective forum audience may include the general public or segments of it. Basic formats Traditional public forum -- features an ad hoc panel of legal professionals Virtual public forum -- features a simulated meeting of a public body, such as a school board or city council. With either format, begin by outlining the purpose of the program and the points to be covered. Prepare a list of questions that will stimulate debate. Distribute the list to the audience to get the discussion going. Some questions may turn out to be duds. That's why you will need a skilled moderator to lead the discussion. Snafu Alert! If you are using microphones, lighting or audio-visual equipment: Run a test before the program begins. Know where the fuses are. Cue up videotapes ahead of time. Put someone in charge of technical details. >>Community Forums & Discussions Main Page >>Traditional Forums >>Virtual Forums >>Forum Formats >>Contacts & Resources >>Comparative Law Forums >>Community Conversations on Pluralism >>Democracy As a Discussion >>Humanities: Setting Up a Reading Program Reaching the Community Home | Program Types & Tips Home