forum, seminar, workshop

Question

"Attend this educational senior forum designed to enhance your knowledge in the area of elder financial exploitation."

1. Do 'forum', 'seminar', 'workshop' mean the same thing?

2. Can they be used interchangeably? For instance, is it OK to say "attend this educcational senior seminar/workshop designed to ......" without changing its meaning?

Thanks,

Nona the brit · Accepted Answer

To me they have slightly different meanings but I don't think they are set in stone, it's more useage.

Seminar - I'm going to sit there with a load of other people and be lectured at. Seminar can also cover a day with a lot of different activites all working towards one purpose. Usually business orientated.

Workshop - I'm going to get involved in some practical activities as well, putting into practice what I am learning, probably in a small group.

Forum - All of us attending have some knowledge of this and we will get to share our experience as well as perhaps learning from a leader/facilitator.

Real examples for you:

Seminar: I went to a small business seminar in March, where you could pick two talks to go to from a list of about 10, on different aspects of running a business, and you also got a one-to-one session with a business advisor. I am currently helping a firm of accountants organise a seminar for charities on taxation.

Workshop: a local theatre is offering a 2 hour drumming workshop before a show by a team of Japanese drummers, where you can go and 'have a go' and learn some basics.

Forum: I used to attend a forum that was a regular bi-monthly meeting of people doing the same job in the same industry, we used to have a chair who would control the structure of the meeting, but otherwise it was us sharing experience and tips, and perhaps having a short talk either from one of the members or a visitor.

forum, seminar, workshop

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