Beautiful Action Trainer Modules (BATMo): Resources for Nonviolent Action Trainers

Introduction

BatMo is for entry level and experienced trainers, facilitators and educators in the Nonviolent Action, People Power, Civil Resistance field looking for training resources, modules and activities.

Beautiful Action Trainer Modules BATMo! is a toolkit for Nonviolent Action Trainers and Facilitators by Beautiful Trouble. Beautiful Trouble equip social movements with an ever-growing suite of strategic tools and training to help grassroots movements be more creative, effective, and irresistible.

The BATMo trainer modules pull together curated best-in-class resources, including the Beautiful Trouble toolkit + other global resources to help Nonviolent Action trainers quickly produce agendas and identify training activities for their context.

The resources are available to use under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License. The Commons Library have adapted the resources to be presented with a link to each module and a list of training activities. See the BATMo website for the full modules.

There are:

Each module lists specific activities, and those activities have full directions on how to facilitate them.

Each Module + Activity has its own “prompt card” that can be downloaded and printed to help you during a workshop.

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Introduction to BATMo!

Training Modules

Find all the BATMo modules on the Beautiful Trouble website.

Below is a brief snapshot of each module and the accompanying training activities list.

Module 1

Learning from History Sharing Nonviolent Action Stories

Review nonviolent action history with a group to help them place their strategic choices within a broader history of social movements and powerfully ground the practice of nonviolent action.

Training Activities List

ExerciseWhat it is TimeEnergy Level
Timeline Wall activity A collaborative, knowledge-driven, written exercise for situating our present movements within the historical trajectory of nonviolent resistance.15-45 minLow- Moderate
Documentary & Discussion activity Use these short video segments with actual footage of historic nonviolent resistance movements to spark discussions and learn lessons from past strategy, tactics and campaigns for current campaigns.45 min or longerLow
Museum of People Power activity An active and engaging way to collaboratively share knowledge about nonviolent action history and jump start a physical connection to people power.15-30 minHigh
Disobedient Images activityUse historical images to jump start discussion on how good things we take for granted in our lives today was actually the outcome of struggle and of disobedience campaigns.20-45 minLow- Moderate
Ideal Community activityThis exercise offers a shared physical experience of people power and provides a framework for the discussion of nonviolent action and conflict transformation.40-60 minHigh

Module 2

Finding Common Ground: Setting Vision and Principles

Tools to help nonviolent action groups set their campaign or organization’s vision & values or principles to guide more effective planning and implementation of activities.

Training Activities List

ExerciseSnapshot TimeEnergy Level
Breaking News A collaborative activity using a media frame to help participants look into the future and imagine what the movement wants to achieve.20- 40 minModerate
Future Workshop: Imagining and designing our dream villageA collective visioning activity with drawing, for groups in political struggles to develop compelling futures worth fighting for. 60 minsModerate – High
Identifying Values  + PrinciplesThese tools help participants express and refine their personal beliefs and then come up with shared values and operational principles that will help guide their group’s work and planning.30-60 minLow – Moderate
Round Robin Purpose/Mission Writing A round-robin writing exercise to quickly identify and state the core purpose or mission of a group.25-45 minModerate – High
Vision Cafe –  World Cafe for Vision settingUse the World Cafe model to harness the power of collaborative dialogue around important questions that matter in service to setting a vision and identifying values for a group.  60 – 120 minsModerate – High

Module 3

Laying Groundwork for Strategic Planning: Assessment Tools for Analysis

This module focuses on how to use assessment and analysis — the process of gathering and then processing the information — as a bridge from developing your vision to developing campaign strategy scenarios.

Training Activities List

ExerciseSnapshot TimeEnergy Level
HOW? 
Pillars of power
Identify the institutions that your target relies on for support so you can weaken or disrupt their power. 40-60 minutes  Low 
HOW and WHO?
Power mapping/ Stakeholder Mapping
Map the power dynamics at play to identify your primary target and design a winning campaign strategy.40-60 minutes  Low
WHO?
Spectrum of Allies 
Locate allies and opponents along a spectrum from active opposition to active allies in order to increase your own support, as well as shift support out from under your opposition.45-60 minLow
WHAT?
Analysis Tree
Use this environmental scan to help identify, organize and prioritize the patterns and problems people face.30-45 mins Low
WHY?
The Onion
People & organizations are more complicated than their stated positions. By peeling back the onion on both friend & foe, we can discover potential allies and reveal powerholder’s hidden conflicts of interest.30- 45 MinutesLow
WHEN?
Historic Timeline
Developing a timeline of the history of the conflict enables stakeholders to identify potential “windows of vulnerability or opportunity” that could escalate or resolve conflict in the future.45-60 minModerate – High
WHERE?
Connectors and Dividers
Examine connectors and dividers that exist within a society to anticipate how actions may create further divisions or build a greater sense of connection across the lines of conflict.40-60 minLow

Module 4

Crafting a Strategic Plan: Integrating Analysis into Campaign Design and Planning

This chapter bridges the journey from strategic assessment to implementation, with activities to help a group understand the wider picture a& connect it to the concrete actions required to advance a campaign.

Training Activities List

ExerciseSnapshotTimeEnergy Level
Ideal Community This exercise offers a physical experience of people power and provides a framework for the discussion of nonviolent action and conflict transformation through shared experiences.40-60 minHigh
SWOT Cross- reference internal & external factors in order to identify potential campaign scenarios.30-40 minModerate
Campaign Path or Flow ChartThis exercise charts the roadmap of internal and external pathways for reaching your goal with specific and clear directions. 75-90 min Low – Moderate
Theory of ChangeLay a solid foundation for a campaign by working backwards from long-term goals to identify the conditions that must be in place in order to achieve those goals, and why.40-45 minLow
SMARTStrong campaigns are built on a series of short- and medium-term SMART objectives that function as intermediary steps towards a more ambitious campaign goal.30 – 50 minsLow

Module 5

Delivering on a Strategic Plan: Using Implementation Tools

This module provides guidance for developing an implementation plan, including identifying specific tactics and the people & resources needed to achieve the goals of a campaign.

Training Activities List

ExerciseWhat it is TimeEnergy Level
SMARTThis  methodology is a way to plan short- and medium-term objectives which increase the likelihood of a campaign’s success. 30 – 50 minsLow
CalendarizeCreate a comprehensive timeline/calendar that aligns with and supports your overall strategy and SMART goals to ensure that your planning becomes actionable and achievable.30 – 40 minsLow 
Points of InterventionIdentify pressure points where you can take action to interrupt business as usual, and press for change.30-60 minLow- Moderate
Action Planning Card GameLively overview activity of action planning steps and the importance of planning overall.10 – 20 minsModerate 
Action Star A graphic checklist of 8 key factors for planning & evaluating actions50-60 minsHigh

Module 6

Getting Creative: Designing Innovative Action

This module supports the use of innovative action tactics as a noticeable characteristic of successful campaigns.

Training Activities List

ExerciseWhat it is TimeEnergy Level
Cardstorm! Quickly brainstorm creative action ideas by flipping over 3 cards at a time.5-50 minModerate
Design an Action Build a creative action in mere minutes!15-60 minModerate – High
Points of InterventionIdentify pressure points where you can take action to interrupt business as usual, and press for change.30-60 minLow – Moderate
Best/Worst ActionHarvest the collective experience and wisdom already in the room about what makes actions effective– or not! and derive useful lessons for designing one’s own actions. 30-50 minModerate – High
Battle of the StoryHarness the strength of stories to expose oppressive beliefs, and show how another reality is possible.30-90 minModerate
Action Checklist  Handy checklist for what to do before, during and after an action. 15 min to hoursLow
Six Thinking Hats  De Bono’s six thinking hats are often used as a brainstorming tool that encourages parallel thinking on a specific issue. 60 minModerate

Module 7

Handling Conflict Creatively: Exploring Responses within and beyond the Group

Preparing and practicing your options for communicating clearly and handling conflict skilfully will help you build capacity to be more effective facilitators, organizers & activists.

Training Activities List

ExerciseWhat it is TimeEnergy Level
Hassle LinesA hassle line is a short roleplay done in a line with participants facing each other, useful for quick intense exploration of conflict behavior and intervention.15-45 minHigh
ACTIVE LISTENINGExplore Active listening as a critical tool for activists and organizers 10-45 minLow 
ACTION ROLE PLAYAction role plays are a direct and powerful way to support group learning as well as practice or rehearse for more effective actions.45-60 minHigh
EARLY WARNING, EARLY RESPONSE  In-depth guided process that supports preparation and response to upcoming potential conflict scenarios with UCP (Unarmed Civilian Peacekeepers), most effective when paired with practice role plays.30 min-2 hoursLow – High
Documentary & Discussion activity Use these short video segments with actual footage of historic nonviolent resistance movements to spark discussions on handling conflict.45 minLow

Module 8

Awesome Facilitation Ideas and Encouragement for NVA Trainers

Guiding principles for trainers including:

  • Political participation
  • Participatory Methods
  • Learning by Doing
  • Public Action Learning
  • Dreaming Big
  • Feminist Lens

Module 9

Group Energizers: Openers and Closers

Great energizer activities are useful at different points in a training — to help a group get to know one another, reenergize if they have lost momentum, or spark people to think in new ways if stuck.

Training Activities List

ExerciseWhat it is TimeEnergy Level
Opening the Space Various ways to open a space and create a ‘container’ for our best work through land acknowledgements, grounding, or inclusive welcome activities.3-30 minuteslow/moderate
Name GamesActivities to bring a group together while learning each other’s names.   5-20 minlow to high
Group Agreements Participatory process for establishing ground rules that promote interaction, accountability, trust-building, and inclusivity.10-45  minutesmoderate 
Get To Know Each Other ActivitiesEngaging activities for groups to get to know each other and build cohesion.10-45low to high
EnergizersParticipatory activities that are fun, engaging, break down barriers, bring up the energy level and help to refocus participants.10-15high
Closing the SpaceVarious ways to close a space and support participants in honoring the work done. 3–30 minlow to high

Module 10

Decision Making Tools

Strong groups benefit from good decision-making processes that help each person bring their own experience, understanding & level of motivation into their group dynamic constructively.

Training Activities List

ExerciseWhat it is TimeEnergy Level
Quick Decision ToolsSeveral quick and flexible ways to support group decisions in a democratic way. 2 – 10 minlow – high 
Dotocracy An engaging way to discern and prioritize choices democratically with colorful dots or markers.15 – 45 minlow – high 
Cascade  An engaging way to discern and prioritize choices democratically.15 – 45 minmoderate – high 
Take A Position (Agree + Disagree) Participants take up a physical position in a space based on their opinion of that topic.45 – 60 minutes high
Consensus Decision Making (Background Document)Consensus decision making is a creative and dynamic way of reaching agreement between all members of a group.15 – 45 minmoderate

Module 11

Debrief and Evaluation Tools

Debriefing and evaluation are a key step to help trainers & participants reflect, learn, share and consolidate their learning.

Training Activities List

ExerciseWhat it is TimeEnergy Level
Circle Group AssessmentFun and meaningful way to get to know each other’s experience and build vulnerability and trust in the group. Good for broad visual assessments of participants. 5-10 minlow to high
SpectrumsAn activity that helps individuals reflect on their own positions as well as recognize the diversity within a group by literally putting their bodies on a line (as you might in a direct action.) 15-45 minmoderate to high
Gallery WalkA Gallery Walk can be integrated into many different exercises as a way to  help a group collect or share information, encourage group analysis, and engage the room. 15-60 minmoderate
Graphic EvaluationCreative elicitive tools to provide direct feedback on training objectives, and support more insightful and useful processes and takeaways for participants and facilitators alike.   10-60 minlow to mid
DebriefAn engaging debrief creates opportunities for deeper understanding and lasting learning, improving comprehension, drawing out insights or lessons, and helping participants integrate what they’ve learned.15-60 minlow to high
Evaluate an Action- Card Game This Card Game based on the principles and theories in the BT Toolkit tool can be used to Test-flight an action that’s still in the works, debrief after an action, or analyse an historic action.10-30 minlow
BarazaA baraza is a large community gathering to discuss important matters, share information, and hold leaders to account.30-90 minmoderate to high

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