WebDialogues cultivate informed and thoughtful discussion. Participants from many walks of life share information and ideas of mutual personal or professional interest. Similar to in-person conferences, seminars, and focus groups, WebDialogues bring large diverse audiences together to learn and exchange information with subject experts who serve as panelists. They follow an agenda with specific focus point discussions that are guided by a facilitator.
Unlike in-person events, WebDialogues eliminate travel and conference setup costs. They bring hundreds or thousands of people together for multi-day discussions at convenient times. Dialogue participants may join the discussion day or night. They converse with subject experts who otherwise might be difficult to contact. And, they are able to network with other participants having similar interests. WebDialogues include a library of online resources that provide balanced information. The daily summaries capture discussion highlights. WebDialogues allow host organizations to know the participants through a well-crafted registration process.
Some WebDialogues involve only a few dozen people. Others accommodate thousands. In this case, a smaller group of randomly selected individuals actively discuses the issues. Others follow the discussion and register their views through responses to polling questions. Dialogues can be public or private.
Elements of WebDialogues
Website. WebDialogues reflect the look and feel of the host organization. The website includes a discussion agenda, selected online library resources, a registration form, and information about panelists, participants, and staff. The website creates a public record long after the dialogue has concluded.
Agenda. Each dialogue follows a structured agenda with a daily topic and multiple focus point discussions. The agenda contains links to the panelists and recommended resources for each day’s topic.
Library. An online library provides balanced information that informs participants about the issue under discussion.
Panelists. Subject experts serve as guest panelists. They share information and perspectives on agenda topics and focus point discussions. Panelists, highlighted with distinctive icons in the discussion, are featured with pictures and brief biographies.
Registration. A registration form collects participants’ demographic data, backgrounds, and interests. Selected information can be included on the website. Participants’ profiles bring context to their views in the conversations.
Outreach. Individuals are invited to join the dialogue through e-mail announcements, electronic and print newsletters, links on relevant websites, and flyers. Collaboration with stakeholder groups and organizations interested in civic participation, such as the League of Women Voters, expands outreach.
Dialogue. The dialogue follows the agenda and comprises the many viewpoints and perspectives of the participants, panelists, facilitators, and host staff.
Polls. On-the-spot polls capture participants' views and solicit feedback on important issues. Compiled results may prompt the facilitators to raise questions later in the discussion.
Summaries. Daily summaries capture discussion highlights. They are sent to participants at the beginning of each day's discussion. Summaries help participants remain current and provide an overview to share with colleagues. After the dialogue's conclusion, a final summary incorporates points made after the daily cutoff time.
Evaluation. The dialogue evaluation captures participants’ reflections on their experience.
Dialogue Development & Production
WestEd provides host organizations with a flexible, turnkey, Internet-based framework for planning, developing, and producing WebDialogues. Hosts determine their level of involvement in dialogue development and production based on their existing resources, public participation goals, and intention to host future dialogues. Although WestEd offers complete dialogue production services, it encourages organizations to develop their own capacity. In this way, the WebDialogue resource may be economically integrated into their outreach and communication strategies.
Developing Organizational Capacity
WebDialogues is designed with non-technical staff and host-independence in mind. Web tools allow non-technical staff to build website content and manage communications. WestEd staff provides step-by-step, “on-the-job” guidance for dialogue planning, agenda development, panelist involvement, outreach, and discussion facilitation. After co-producing one or more dialogues, hosts can independently develop and produce dialogues. Of course, WestEd support staff is available for consultation and technical support. Close collaboration ensures that each dialogue is successful.
