Hello everyone. This is my first post. By way of introduction, I live in Sodus Point, New York on the south shore of Lake Ontario, eastern most of the Great Lakes. I am a US Coast Guard Licensed Master 100 ton. Have sailed for many years and that initiated my interest in knot tying. Additionally I am involved with a Marine Construction company and operate tug boats to move barges and dump scows.
On the workshop topic, I can offer some teaching advice having done various classes and work shops over the years.
You have to get the people's interest. This is often called using a hook. Tell a story, show a picture or video, or one of my favorites in knotting, do a rope trick.
Next remember there are three ways in which people learn. 1. Auditory, they can learn from hearing an instruction - only about 10%. 2. Visual, they learn by seeing it done - the majority about 80%. 3. Hands on, they have do it themselves, usually with instructor guidance - about 10%. Most people are a combination of all three. So you have to teach a class so that all three methods are used to get through to everyone.
Happy knotting.
Capt. Larry