Beginners in a sea of experts

I help organize Boston Python. It’s a great group. We’ve been active during the pandemic, in fact, we’ve added new kinds of events during this time.

One of the things we’re trying to get started is a Study Group based on the observation that teaching is a great way to learn. The idea is to form a small but dedicated group of beginner-to-intermediate learners. They would take turns tackling a topic and presenting it informally to the group.

Here’s the problem: how do you make a space that feels right for beginners when you have thousands of experts in the group who also want to join in?

Beginners:

• Beginners can be shy and uncertain, both about the topic and about whether this space is even for them.
• They don’t want to appear dumb. They are afraid they will look foolish, or will be ridiculed.
• They don’t know that everyone has uncertainties and gaps in their knowledge. They don’t know that not knowing something is inevitable, and can be conquered.

Experts:

• Experts want to help. They have knowledge and want to share it.
• Can forget how hard it is to be a beginner.
• Experts can be blind to how their speaking is keeping other people quiet. There’s limited space for talking, but more importantly, expert-level speaking can set the tone that you must be expert-level to speak.

Experts are very good at occupying these spaces. They are comfortable speaking, and eager to share their knowledge. How do we ensure that they don’t monopolize the discussion?

Beginners can be shy, and reluctant to speak. They may feel like they don’t know enough to even ask a question. They don’t want to appear dumb. They hear the experts around them, and feel even more certain that this is not for them.

The experts could have the best intentions: they want to help the beginners. They are interested in the subject, and have useful bits of information to contribute.

I’m looking for ideas to solve these problems!

How to keep the balance of attendees right:

• Explicitly label the event as “for beginning to intermediate learners.”
• Send a reminder email about the event, asking people to select themselves out of the event: “We’re really excited that this idea has gotten so much interest. Our goal was to have a smaller conversational group for beginning learners. If that doesn’t sound like you, now is a good opportunity to step back to make space for others.”
• Have other events labelled for experts so they have a space of their own.
• Invite specific people one-on-one to increase the number of “right” people.
• more ideas?

How to encourage beginners to join the group:

• Use lots of words to underscore the welcoming nature of the group, and that beginners are welcome.
• Invite specific people one-on-one so they feel sure it’s for them, and that they are wanted.
• more ideas?

How to encourage beginners to speak in the group:

• Ice-breaker question
• Set an expectation that everyone will ask at least one question.
• Be especially supportive when someone asks a really basic question.
• Contact them individually to ask if they have anything they want to ask, and help them get it asked.
• more ideas?

How to encourage beginners to lead a session:

• Demonstrate vulnerability while leading.
• Offer to pair with them instead of having them do it alone.
• more ideas?

Like I said, I’m looking for ideas. The more I run events, the more interested I am in helping beginners get started.