Some of the same methods can also be used to develop a learning community over a one or two day workshop. This can be done by breaking into small groups, bringing together people with different disciplinary backgrounds and roles and having them work together throughout the workshop. We conducted new paradigms symposia on policing, on media, and on affirmative action. We pre-interviewed participants to get a sense of their concerns and to create a common text for the group and to develop the agenda. We involved the participants in active roles over the course of the day instead of having people make formal presentations. We varied the format to encourage different ways of participating and to give relative newcomers to the community a chance to come to life in a smaller setting.

A stand alone workshop is a limited tool. Resources for follow up, the existence of a larger project, and the possibility of continuing with a small working group make a longer term payoff more likely.