Integrating Online and Face-to-face Participation

By Bob Carlitz

Some of the most promising and innovative public participation projects combine online and face-to-face meetings and tools. But it isn’t always easy to decide how the two kinds of communication can work together. Here are some ideas:

Online activities that complement face-to-face meetings:

• Establish a Web site for information

  • View or print calendars and agendas for any project event

  • Read or print background material

  • Sign up for events

• Create an e-mail notification list

  • Announcements

  • Updates

• Provide a range of online activities

  • Complete survey

  • Forward site information to others

  • Read FAQs

  • Engage participants in choices and consequences with a game or other activity

  • Submit questions or comments

    • To agency or elected official

    • To project

  • Read background material/work through tutorials

  • View film

  • Read or view results of face-to-face activities and other projects

  • Join discussion forums

  • Participate in communities of interest

  • Read and make comments on proposed legislation

  • Get feedback about public input, report to decision makers, and outcomes

• Use background materials to increase interest and involvement

  • Interactive

  • User choices

    • Text or graphics

    • Summary or full text

    • Click text, map, other graphic for more detail

    • Reading level

Face-to-face communication can encourage people to use online tools:

• Raise awareness of existing free Internet access points

  • Public access sites (schools, libraries, community centers, public buildings)

  • Affordable home access (dial-up, broadband, wireless)

  • Wireless hotspots

• Provide simple project kits for schools and libraries

  • Internet basics

  • Project Information – handout with Web site, dates, etc.

  • Encourage appointment of a support person who can answer questions from staff and public