Participatory Methods

5-Minute Ideas

5-Minute Ideas is a collaborative activity inspired by the Lightning Talks from Google Design Sprints. This method allows teams to share key knowledge and generate opportunities through quick, direct presentations on relevant topics. It’s ideal for planning sessions, strategic design, and problem-solving, as it encourages clarity, synthesis, and idea exchange.

Preparation

  1. Define the purpose:
    • Generate quick and useful ideas for a specific challenge or project.
    • Share key information on relevant topics, such as research, competitive analysis, or legal considerations.
    • Encourage collaboration and shared ownership of the challenge among participants.
  2. Prepare the materials:
    • Slide template for presentations (optional).
    • Whiteboards, flipcharts, or digital tools to capture emerging ideas.
    • A timer or stopwatch to keep time.
  3. Set up the space:
    • Arrange the space in a semicircle to encourage visual interaction with the presenters.
  4. To run the activity virtually:
    • Use collaborative platforms for quick presentations and idea capture tools, such as virtual whiteboards or live polls.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Prepare the topics:
    • Identify key topics related to the challenge or project. Examples: business goals, tech trends, legal considerations, etc.
    • Assign a topic to each participant or team and define the scope and time limit for their presentations.
  2. Run the presentations:
    • Each participant has 5 minutes to present their topic clearly and concisely.
    • Participants can use slides, whiteboards, or simply verbal communication.
  3. Capture opportunities:
    • After each presentation, invite the group to share observations, ideas, or questions on a whiteboard or shared document.
  4. Wrap-up and action:
    • Once all presentations are done, review the collected ideas and group them by themes or categories.
    • Define next steps based on the insights and opportunities identified.
Recommendations
  • Clearly define the objectives of the activity for the participants.
  • Use a visible timer to ensure each presentation stays within the allotted time.
  • Encourage active participation with questions and comments after each presentation.
  • Facilitate a group discussion at the end to connect the ideas with the main goal.
Inspiration

Recommendations for presenters:

  • Know your audience: Make sure your ideas are relevant and clear to the attendees. Adapt your language and examples to the group’s knowledge level.
  • Structure your presentation: Follow a basic structure: introduction (context), development (main idea), and conclusion (call to action or reflection).
  • Be clear and concise: Use short sentences and avoid rambling. Focus on the essentials to deliver your message within the time limit.
  • Support with visuals: Use slides with graphics, images, or key words, but avoid too much text. A powerful image can communicate much more than a long list.
  • Practice in advance: Rehearse your presentation several times to stay within the time limit and gain confidence.
  • Grab attention from the start: Begin with an anecdote, interesting fact, or question to hook the audience.
  • Use positive body language: Maintain eye contact, gesture naturally, and use a dynamic tone of voice to keep the audience engaged.
  • Anticipate questions: Be prepared to respond to possible questions or comments about your presentation.
Materials
  • Slide template (optional).
  • Timer or clock.
  • Whiteboards or flip charts to capture ideas.
Online platforms
Purpose
The purpose of 5-Minute Ideas is to facilitate idea generation and the sharing of key information in an efficient and collaborative way, fostering a shared vision and encouraging critical thinking.
Type of activity
Collective ReflectionParticipatory InteractionParticipatory Learning
Level of participation
Information, Knowledge generation
Target audience
Educators, Facilitators, Students, Community leaders, NGOs and social collectives, Business teams, Government, Creative designers, Researchers
Fields of application
Education and training, Community development, Organizational and business management, Urban and rural planning, Health and social well-being, Art, culture, and creativity, Sustainability and environment, Public policies and governance, Innovation and design, Research and evaluation, Conflict resolution, Technology and digital environments, Citizen and social participation
Estimated duration
10–15 minutes per presentation.
Ideal number of participants
6 to 20 people, depending on the time available.
Topics related to this activity
Agile MethodologiesCollaborative InnovationCreative CommunicationCreative Problem SolvingEffective CommunicationImpact NarrativesInnovative SolutionsParticipatory InnovationProblem SolvingTeamworkVisual Communication
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