What do you need for a session

In this page, you can find information about what you need to host a MSP Challenge session. First we will go over what you need in general and then we focus on the particulars of face-to-face sessions and online sessions.

In general

Hardware and Software

Whether planning for an online or face-to-face session, the facilitator of the MSP Challenge session will need to have the server+client combi installed on the computer that they will be operating. Also, the participants will need the client installed on the computers they will be using. In case of concerns regarding the computer's suitability for MSP use, consult the system's requirements.

We advise the facilitator and the participants to use a mouse (drawing with a touchpad or touch screen might be more difficult).

Number of participants

You should limit your participants to a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 30. With at least 10 participants, you can already have an interesting MSP Challenge session representing enough countries. However, it's challenging to facilitate a session with more than 30 participants.

Timeline

It would be best to plan for a whole day for this activity, with a couple of coffee breaks and a lunch break.

If you don't have much time available for the MSP Challenge session, check the Handouts for players page. Here you can find support materials that help introduce MSP Challenge to the participants, as well as instructions and general planning rules. You can ask participants to go through them beforehand; that way, you can skip those instructions at the main event.

Support material

If you are not too familiar with MSP Challenge yourself, please check our tutorials on basic features, advanced features, and contact us for further information.

You can find further useful materials under Materials for facilitators, such as countries’ profiles, assignment examples for students, details over the simulations for each edition of the MSP Challenge Simulation Platform and more.

We also compiled a manual on how to design a MSP Challenge workshop with concrete examples depending on the target audience and (learning) goals, you can find it under How to design a session.

Face to face sessions

For a face-to-face session, you will need a room where all your participants can join comfortably. Comfort is essential since an MSP Challenge session should last at least 3 to 4 hours.

You can opt to provide prepared computers (with the MSP Challenge client installed) and a mouse pad. Another option is to ask participants to bring their laptops and mouse pads. If you choose for the latter, it's handy if participants install the MSP Challenge client on their computers before the session. Then at the start of the event, check if everyone was successful doing so.

Suppose you opt to provide computers for the participants. In that case, our advice is to plan one computer for two or three participants. A fourth participant might have trouble seeing the screen or take an active part in the discussion. Do not forget you need a computer yourself with the server+client combi installed.

Be prepared and bring extension cords (and possibly adaptors if you go to a country that uses different electricity plugs than yours).

It is helpful to have a big screen to show the plans made, the KPIs, etc., to engage the participants in the discussion between eras and after simulation runs.

Online Sessions

If the session is online, each participant will be using their computer. Therefore we advise you to ask participants to download and install the MSP Challenge platform client before the session. Then, at the start of the event, check if everyone was successful doing so. Of course, if there is enough time planned, you can guide them through the download and installation at the start of the MSP Challenge session; it should take around 5 minutes. Then, add some time for troubleshooting.

To facilitate an online MSP Challenge session, arrange for a communication platform. This platform needs to allow both plenary sessions and break-out rooms. The plenary session is used for the welcome, introduction, instructions and discussions. Leave this channel open for questions during the whole session. The break-out rooms are used for team members to communicate and share their screens while planning. It is nice to have also a digital whiteboard for drawing or annotation of screenshots.

For the facilitator, it's easier to handle the communication platform and the MSP Challenge using a big or a second screen. That is also handy for participants but not essential.

For clear communication, the facilitator should have a good headset with a microphone and use a webcam. Just as before, that is also nice for participants but not essential.