How to run an in-person Inspiring the Future event

Voiceover: Kia ora. Welcome to our guide on how to prepare for and run an in-person Inspiring the Future event.

Watch our ‘How to schedule an Inspiring the Future event’ video first, to learn how to plan and schedule your event through the Inspiring the Future website. Remember to download or order the event resources.

We send the role models details of and instructions for the event, but they have told us they want to hear from the organiser as well.

Once a role model accepts your invitation, click on their profile to see their contact details.

We encourage you to send them a run sheet – there is a template in the event resources.

There are optional pre-event activities which help prepare students. We recommend at least doing the 20 questions brainstorm to increase engagement in the first part of the event.

It’s also helpful to organise the students into as many groups as you have role models for the discussion groups activity, in advance.

The first part of the event should be set up panel style, so, ensure you have chairs for each role model and space for students to sit facing them. Place the role model numbers supplied by each chair.

The second part of the event is broken up into groups. You could have tables and chairs for this, or students could sit on the floor.

Make sure you have:

  • a whiteboard
  • pens or pencils for the students
  • an area for role models to change into their work clothes
  • somewhere for role models to meet, store their props and get refreshments.

Consider having a microphone.

Keep these event resources handy:

  • role model number cards
  • the step-by-step guide
  • your run sheet
  • 20 questions templates for the students
  • discussion group prompt cards.

After welcomes and introductions, the first part of an Inspiring the Future in-person event is the 20 questions activity.

In this activity, role models sit in a row in front of students. Students try to guess what jobs the role models do by asking yes-or-no questions such as the ones on the 20 questions templates, or questions they have prepared or come up with on the day.

Each role model answers “yes” or “no”, “sometimes” or “maybe” to each question. Students use the 20 questions templates to note down the answers. They can each do this or do it in pairs or groups.

Once the time you have allocated to the activity is up, ask the role models to leave the room and get changed or collect their props.

While the role models are out of the room, ask the students to guess what each person’s job is and write it on the whiteboard or note down on a piece of paper.

Either invite the role models back into the room one-by-one, or all at once, and tell them the students’ guesses. The guesses can be pretty funny!

Ask each role model to reveal their job and tell the students a bit about their pathway.

After this is a good time for a break.

Rearrange the space for the discussion groups if you need to. Use the number cards to mark which area each role model should go to, and put out the discussion group prompt cards.

The final part of an Inspiring the Future in-person event is the discussion groups. This activity gives the students a chance to engage with the role models in small groups and it’s where the magic happens!

Direct the role model to their place and direct a group of students to each role model. The groups rotate through the role models, chatting to them for 5 to 10 minutes. You may not have time for each group to visit every role model – that’s okay.

Check in on the groups – the role models may not be used to keeping kids on task.

And that’s it!

There are post-event classroom activities in the resource pack that help build on the learnings and deliver on the curriculum.

And start thinking about your next event!

Here’s a tip. Manaakitanga is important. Make the role models feel welcome by giving them:

  • clear arrival instructions
  • time and space to meet each other
  • refreshments if you can – tea and coffee are great
  • a thank you. This could be as simple as a pre-written thank you card from a student.

If you have any questions, please get in touch by email at inspiringthefuture@tec.govt.nz or phone 0800 601 301. 

We’re here to help make it easy for you to create unforgettable events for tamariki and broaden their horizons. We can’t wait for you to join us. Mā te wā.

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