Running long workshops without losing people can be tough. After extended periods of focus, mental fatigue sets in. People can't process new information and they have a shorter attention span. You also have to contend with the physical discomfort of sitting for long periods of time. Plus, especially for those who aren't used to the effective accessibility workshop format, information overload is a real factor.
So here are some solid ways I've found to keep energy up, even during longer workshops.
Mix things up often
After about 20-30 minutes or so, our brains just check out. There's just no stopping that, no matter how interesting you make the workshop. So a good idea is to break your workshop into exercises that alternate in style. Have a silent brainstorming, followed by a group activity, then a session of voting and quickly switch gears to a demo.
Get them moving
I like to start the workshop with little breathing exercise that focuses their brains and after the first few exercises, take a break and do some light physical movements. It's just like sitting at your desk for too long. It doesn't have to be anything wild. Even just a few body stretches will work wonders. Especially after a lunch break when everyone's acting like they're in a coma.
Make it personal
As much as we don't like to admit it, we humans are selfish. We ignore things that we don't find matter to us and our ears prick up when it's something that can impact us directly. So what I found worked was to tailor exercises to the workshop participants. I sometimes ask people, if they're willing, to share some of the problems they might have faced recently. This gets them thinking about solving their own problems.
Gifts and prizes
If there's a chance someone will win something, they'll feel like they have to pay attention. I used this tactic in a workshop I did to get people to ask questions. I had a bag full of candy bars (Snickers, Mars, Bounty, whatever) and made a show of dumping all the candy on the table in front of me at the start of the workshop. I then said, throughout the workshop we'll take small intermissions and you get to ask me questions. If you ask a question, you get a candy bar. That simple trick worked and everyone felt energised and engaged.
Good storytelling
Never underestimate the power of a good story. Real examples of how poor accessibility affected someone or how good accessibility made a huge difference. This is what I found always sticks with people way more than abstract principles.
And if you can get them to actually try some of the things you're talking about, you're unlikely to lose their interest. Nothing drives the point of the story home better than experiencing some of the challenges firsthand. So don't be afraid to ask people to ditch their mouse for a few minutes, instead of just going on and on about keyboard navigation.
All these work both in an in-person workshop as well as a remote setting.