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Poster Paper

Sometimes the low-tech, hands-on methods are the best. If I could have only two tools in my planning tool kit they would be a pad of large sheets of paper, and s set of coloured felt tip pens.  Poster paper, butcher's paper or any big blank sheets of paper, are perhaps the most powerful tool for participatory planning in the tool box, provided they are used with good facilitation skills. 

Use a specialised easel, or stick sheets of paper on the wall with Blue Tack, or masking tape. Give felt tip pens to participants and encourage them, in workshops, to make planning lists. Structure and facilitate the workshop, so the lists contribute to the project plan. 

Post-it notes can be used with poster paper. Participants can  write things on post-it notes and then stick them on poster paper, arrange
them, move them and draw in connections with felt tip pens to make concept maps or other diagrams. 

Ian Hughes.