News
Insights Into Making Better Open Science Trainers
Two weeks ago, we concluded the sixth edition of our train-the-trainer bootcamp. This five-day event has become a key opportunity for Open Science trainers to build their skills, gain new knowledge, and connect with others. With over 140 participants to date, the bootcamp has consistently received overwhelming praise, and this edition was no exception.
Participants frequently highlight three key aspects: community building and networking, practical tools and resources, and the personal impact the training has on their work. The graphics below showcase general satisfaction stats and quotes from attendees. But if you’re curious about what makes this bootcamp successful and how you can incorporate these insights into your own training, keep reading.
The Sense of Community
The standout feature of the bootcamp, as always, was the sense of community it creates. In a world where most of our work is now digital, there is a clear need for spaces where trainers can connect, share experiences, and support one another, beyond the usual one-hour monthly meeting. The discussion during the live sessions, the group assignments, the forum on OpenPlato (our e-learning platform), all contribute to making it a powerful social event.
One popular activity is the 'Horror & Hooray Stories' where they share one training that went horribly wrong, and one that went surprisingly well. Hearing about others’ struggles helps people feel less alone in their own challenges. Many also said they enjoyed meeting colleagues from different countries (25% of the 16 countries represented were from outside Europe) and learning about the similar and different problems trainers face.
The Content Expectations
People come to the bootcamp with different goals. Some need more theoretical knowledge or get up-to-date with current trends, others are interested in practical pedagogy, while some look forward the discussion with trainers and peers. Finding the balance between what learners expect and what is delivered is a common challenge for educators. Based on the feedback, it seems we are on the right track!
Many participants appreciated the real-world relevance of the tools, concepts, and pedagogical methods that were presented. Highlights included gamification, pre-registration, citizen science discussions, and a hands-on exercise writing a Data Management Plan (DMP).
Why a DMP exercise? Most participants already know about RDM and the FAIR principles, and train others on how to write DMPs. But many have never written one themselves. This exercise let them experience what researchers go through when writing these documents. It’s a great way to understand the challenges your learners face. If you train others on DMPs but haven’t written one yourself, I highly recommend it!
The Emotional Impact
Training isn’t just about content, the atmosphere matters too. We have all been to trainings where we are not engaged and start doing other things, especially in a virtual setting. Grabbing and holding learners’ attention is a constant challenge.
Many participants thanked us for the bootcamp’s welcoming, friendly environment, with engaging sessions and enthusiastic trainers. It contributes to a positive learning environment, which encourages questions, discussion, and active participation. As in previous editions, several people noted they felt inspired, motivated, and more confident about applying what they had learned in their own work.
The psychoeducational side of training is often overlooked, but it can really make the difference in it being a 'Hooray' or a 'Horror' story. Adding interactive activities, discussions, group work, or breaking presentations into smaller sections can really help learners stay focused and enjoy the experience.
Access to the resources
The resources and presentations from the bootcamp are curated and made available on our e-learning platform, OpenPlato. The course is fully open, with materials shared under a CC BY licence: https://openplato.eu/course/view.php?id=59