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Seminars
Seminars generally orient participants
to authorities, strategies, plans, policies, procedures,
protocols, resources, concepts, and ideas. They also
provide a good starting point for jurisdictions that
are developing or making major changes to existing plans
or procedures. Seminars are also useful when attempting
to gain awareness of, or assess, the capabilities of
interagency or inter-jurisdictional operations. Seminars
are useful whenever there is a need to provide a common
framework of understanding. Within HSEEP, seminars are
the basic building block for exercise development.
Seminars can be used to deliver a wide range of topics.
Although their topics may be diverse, all seminars share
the following common attributes:
- Low-stress environment
- Information conveyed through different instructional
techniques, which may include one or more of the following:
- Lectures
- Multimedia presentations
- Panel discussions
- Case study discussions
- Expert testimony
- Decision support tools
- Informal discussions led by a seminar leader
- No real-time “clock” constraints
- Effectiveness with both small and large groups
Prior to participating in a seminar, participants should
have a clear understanding of exercise objectives. Goals
can range from developing SOPs and EOPs to setting objectives
for future capabilities. Seminars are typically conducted
in a lecture-based format with limited feedback or interaction
from participants. They may feature one speaker or a
series of speakers from different agencies or jurisdictions.
Lecture content can vary, but may include the following:
- Current capabilities
- Current or proposed mutual aid
agreements
- Existing disaster plans, SOPs, or EOPs
- Real-world or exercise experiences and lessons learned
- Agency or jurisdictional directions and goals
Seminars do not typically require a formal comprehensive
AAR; however, a seminar report should be developed to
capture the discussions, issues raised, and (if appropriate)
action items that will address these issues.
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