The following are some methods for gathering information from meetings:
- Notes: Appoint people to take notes on each discussion. When dividing into small group conversations, multiple note-takers will be needed. Participants can also take notes. Consider appointing note-takers in advance to ensure each small group has someone with the skills to listen with attention and type or write quickly.
- Flip charts: Participants can record information on flip charts. At the end of the meeting, take pictures of the flip charts. Sticky notes can be used in a similar way.
- Audio recordings: Meetings can be recorded and later typed and analyzed. This gathering method is best suited for virtual meetings but can also be used in live meetings when there is little background noise. Be sure to request permission from participants to create the audio recording. This shows respect for the knowledge that meeting participants hold.
- Graphic recordings: Graphic recorders create a visual record of key ideas at the meeting. A graphic recorder creates a large drawing on the wall of ideas that emerge in the meeting or sometimes creates a drawing privately that is unveiled at the end of the meeting. Participants can also be invited to record ideas with drawings, doodles, comics or designs.
Integrating Information into the Plan
After gathering information from meeting participants, type up meeting notes. Go through the notes and highlight them to identify key ideas. Key ideas can then be grouped together to form a master list of the meeting’s key ideas.
It does not matter how many people shared an idea – an idea shared by one person could be just as important as an idea shared by 10 people.
Finally, share the master list of key ideas with the meeting’s participants to ensure the information reflects their ideas correctly and nothing important has been missed.
Use these key ideas as the raw information to draft the language revitalization plan.