Organize Learn WordPress Discussion groups for your WordPress Meetup

MeetupMeetup All local/regional gatherings that are officially a part of the WordPress world but are not WordCamps are organized through https://www.meetup.com/. A meetup is typically a chance for local WordPress users to get together and share new ideas and seek help from one another. Searching for ‘WordPress’ on meetup.com will help you find options in your area. organizers can use the Learn WordPress content for their meetup events – simply ask your meetup group to watch one of the workshops in the weeks leading up to your scheduled event, and then host a discussion group content event.

If you are interested, you can start right away by organizing a discussion group based on one of the available workshops for your meetup group. You don’t need to sign up as a discussion group leader to organize a workshop for your local meetup. Here’s how you can get started:

1. Take a look at the available workshops in Learn WordPress and select one for your meetup group. If you want, you can seek help from other group members in finalizing a workshop for the discussion group. 
2. Once you have identified a workshop for your local meetup group, schedule a discussion event in your Meetup.com group. Specify in the Meetup description that this is a discussion group connected to a workshop, and ask meetup group members to watch the workshop video before attending the workshop. Make sure that you plan the event at least a week ahead from the current date, so that your meetup members have enough time to view the workshop before participating in the discussion group. Alternatively, if the workshop is short (~30 minutes or so), you can consider organizing a watch party for the workshop too!
3. Send a message to your Meetup group members announcing the meetup. Encourage them to see the Learn WordPress workshop video, and request them to participate in the discussion group. This is not a requirement if you are organizing a watch party.
4. Kick off the event on the planned date and time. If you are organizing the event as a watch party, start the event with a brief intro, and play the workshop video for your attendees. The watch party can then be followed by an informal discussion.
5. If you are planning the event in a discussion group format (and not as a watch party), start the discussion group by asking members about how many of them saw the workshop. You can start by providing a very brief (5-10 minute long) summary of the content. Then, ask questions to members, and try to start a discussion. You can consider innovating – some tips include organizing a quiz towards the end of the session or containing exercises as part of the meetup event.

If you would like some guidance on using the Learn WordPress platform, check out our Tuesday Training posts on the topic: How to be an excellent discussion group leader and How to organize a successful discussion group.

Last updated: January 18, 2021