Simulation, game - A simulation or game lets participants experiment with and experience new concepts and includes reflection to see how the new concepts can be applied in real-world settings. This can be e.g. a game like the world famous XP Game or an experiential role play session
On the Edge - an experiment in ways of working, interacting and transferring knowledge; exploring new, crazy ideas, topics, formats, approaches that are weird or way out there, looking for ways that could advance our practice and our community.
Technical hands on - a technical session where participants work on exercises or cases provided by the session organizers, to practice and improve their skills; usually technical hands on sessions require people to bring laptops and do hands on (pair) programming work, but we can also imagine hands on pen & paper & cards & stickies-sessions.
Workshop - an interactive, facilitated session in which participants work in a structured way on a topic set by the workshop organiser. Workshops can explore new topics, techniques, practices, or share experiences. Usually a workshop will have certain outcomes, like conclusions, ideas for further investigation, etc., which can be shared through posters, put on a wiki, ...
Case study, experience report - telling the story of a case study, sharing experiences of what worked in a specific situation & why, what didn't work & why, what lessons did you learn; although experience reports have a more one-way character (presenters telling their story), the format lends itself well for engaging participants, e.g. by letting them reflect on how they would approach things, why they think things worked/didn't work, or even letting them play out specific situations.
Interactive tutorial, demonstration - the session organizers present some new ideas, concepts, techniques or tools and involve the audience, so that they can learn by doing and reflecting.
Goldfish bowl - a moderated discussion on a chosen topic; the organizers seed the discussion with a topic or some triggering statements, and the audience joins in the debate. The session starts with a small group of invited participants forming a discussion circle (4-5). Discussion takes place in the discussion circle, with the rest of the participants being the audience. There is a spare place available in the circle and anyone who likes to contribute to the discussion can step in. Someone who is already in the discussion circle will step out to make place for the new participants, always leaving one chair empty. The session organizers should take care of producing some output of the topics discussed and conclusions reached, e.g. a poster.
Panel discussion - a moderated discussion on a chosen topic, with a number of invited participants. The audience can contribute through asking questions of the panelists. When organizing a panel discussion, make sure your selection of topic and panelists will provide sufficient dissent and differing opinions, to have a lively, interesting debate. Nothing is so boring as a panel where everyone agrees.
We're open to suggestions for other session formats.