Activity 12
Expert to Beginner
15–20 minutesCommunicationSkill practicePairsIn personVirtualHybrid
What is this activity?
Make specialist information understandable to a non-expert.
Preparation
Ask participants to choose a technical concept from their work.
How to run it
- 1Explain the concept as if to a fellow expert.
- 2Explain it again to a complete beginner.
- 3Remove jargon and use an analogy if useful.
- 4Ask a partner to repeat back their understanding.
Example in Action
Ask participants to explain something they know well, such as how a mortgage works, how a computer stores information or how solar panels generate electricity. First, they explain it to someone with similar expertise. Then they explain it to a 12-year-old. Their partner identifies any jargon that remains and challenges them to simplify it further.
Make it your own
Adapt the topic, scenario or materials to suit your audience.
Found in collections