What ideas could you suggest for improvement?

Participants were very creative with suggestions to strengthen future gatherings.

Content
To improve the afternoon workshops and inquiry sessions, people suggested that each workshop should be clear about who should attend. Some sessions seemed to require that participants were currently working on research projects. Perhaps if workshop leaders spoke about their session, people could more easily choose one which fit with their interests.

Several people were disappointed that there were so few opportunities for people to hear about what was happening in other parts of the country. Others were very interested in hearing more from speakers from different countries. One person suggested a panel discussion which allowed speakers to address the whole group. Others felt that each participants should be given time to address the whole group so that all could hear what everyone else is working on and under what conditions they are doing the work.

A number of people mentioned that they hoped future gatherings would include sessions focussed on numeracy. Several people said that the more popular sessions from this Institute should be offered at the next gathering.

Participation
Many people keenly felt the absence of who did not attend. In particular, they mentioned the lack of Aboriginal, deaf, and francophone participants. People suggested that future organizers draw on practitioners who work in more "diverse community settings" like women's centres, Friendship centres, and community based health centres.

As to the size of the Institute, participants wished that more people could attend at the same time as they hoped that future gatherings not be too much larger. Many people were concerned that the intimacy of the relatively small group was one of its distinct advantages. Others felt the group sessions should have been smaller to allow for a better teacher/ student ratio.

Communication
Several people suggested a central bulletin board to announce social or other meetings, or a morning gathering so that each day started by connecting the whole group. Others suggested more signs, to guide people through the various buildings spread over the campus.

Although there was a fair amount of free time in the schedule, people felt there was not enough time and space for socializing, networking, reflection and debriefing. People would have appreciated more time in the day or evening to get together either to socialize or network. One suggestion was to have a comfortable common space where people could meet over coffee and tea, and a quiet space for reflection, writing and processing the day's activities.

Environment
Many participants felt the lack of physical activities in the classroom and the Institute. They would have liked more movement-based work in the classroom, team-building exercises or opportunities to be physical during break times.