Take-off

on May 10, 2012 in Uncategorized

When I read this idea I was struck by how versatile it could be. A great way to get your group up and moving, getting to know one another, and digging into their goals or the session content. The idea is that participants create a paper aircraft. They write their name on one wing and a question or expectation on the other wing (you can tailor this to your workshop needs).  The idea was posted on the “Effective and Fun Training Techniques” LinkedIN group by Nandini Nayar Sharma.

The Take-Off

Have the group sit in any classroom formation you like. Give them each a sheet of paper and ask them to fold their sheet into an aircraft. Then have them write their name on one wing and on the other, they could write one question or expectation pertaining to the programme they’re attending.

Now tell the class to get their aircraft ready for take off and blow the whistle. They need to fly their planes towards each other making sure it’s not a short flight to the guy next door. It’s fun to watch the planes go all over the place crashing, lifting up high etc. Now tell them, this was a test flight and everyone needs to pick up one aircraft each again and this time the take-offs must be simultaneous. You can get them to do this 3 -5 times. Creates a bit of buzz and laughter in the room. Each person reads out the name and question on the aircraft and you get to the who’s who.

As a trainer you can either manage the expectations thru this activity, or get the aircraft fixed on the walls with blutack, informing the class that we will come back to base (the wall) during and at the end of the workshop and answer the questions asked. This helps review the learning and how well the participants have absorbed concepts etc.

Another “take” on the Take-Off exercise would be to have folks write reinforcement questions on the second wing.  When participants pick up an aircraft they can read off the name, question, and give their answer.  If they can answer correctly, they get a point; or they can hand it off to the group for a discussion.  

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5-Minute Competive Games

on May 4, 2012 in Activities, Energizers

In our LinkedIN group, Effective and Fun Training Techniques, Noreen Clifford recently posed this question:

Here’s a challenge! I’m looking for a 5 minute competitive exercise that gets people working together, but also challenges them.

So many great ideas have come from the discussion, that I wanted to collect them and make them more available for our reference. Many thanks to all who contributed! Continue Reading →

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Quick Stand-up Sit-Down Energizer

on March 26, 2012 in Energizers

I’m always on the look out for a quick energizer and this IS a quickie. In under a minute, he gets folks up and out of their seats, generates a few laughs, refocuses their minds. It doesn’t take much!


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Roundtable Roulette

on March 20, 2012 in Activities, Effective Training Techniques, Icebreakers

Last week,  as a member of the National E-tailing and Mailing Organization of America (NEMOA), I conducted a breakfast roundtable for a group of small business owners. Typically at breakfast roundtables, you sit with one table of eight to ten people and stay there for the duration of the event. You are only privy to the conversation at your own table. I wanted to create an environment where people could engage in discussions around several topics, meet more people, and get the highlights of what others had talked about at the other tables too.  Thus the “Roundtable Roulette” was born. Continue Reading →

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The Bygone Lecture

on March 13, 2012 in ARTICLES & WHITEPAPERS, Research citations

I’m surprised when I talk to college students and professors these days and hear that lectures are still a common method of instruction.  This week, however, I came across two sources that challenge  the  old tradition.  The first was a study of Astro 101 (that is, Introductory Astrology) teaching methods, which explored ways to improve the effectiveness of very large mega-classes sometimes averaging over 1,000 students.  The second was an article recently shared by Kim Marshall in his weekly  Marshall Memo. Perhaps the tide will soon be shifting, as it should, away from lecturing. Continue Reading →

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Teaching the Learning Virtues

on March 5, 2012 in ARTICLES & WHITEPAPERS

Maybe it’s the fact that I have two elementary school-aged boys that this article on virtues captured my attention. Ironically, it addresses teaching virtues in college. However, I believe facilitators and teachers should always model these five virtues, whether we’re teaching young students, young adults, or grown-ups.  They include:

  1. The love of truth
  2. Honest
  3. Courage
  4. Fairness
  5. Wisdom

Admittedly, I’m also a graduate of Yale University, where the motto is “Lux et Veritas,” that is Light and Truth. The article, “Colleges Should Teach Intellectual Virtues” by Barry Schwartz and Kenneth Sharpe, was synthesized in this week’s Marshall Memo. Continue Reading →

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Empathy

on March 2, 2012 in Activities, Stories

Twice now, I’ve come across this story of two parents losing their son, and twice I’ve been completely moved by it.  If you’re one who has doubted that empathy can be taught, this scenario might change your mind. It would be a good addition to training in leadership, communication, customer service, team-building and more.

After 10 years of their marriage, a couple had a son. They were very happy and loved the child more than anything. They looked at him for hours while he slept, pampered him, and protected him like a rare jewel. The son meant the world to them. Continue Reading →

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The Difficulty of Networking

on February 21, 2012 in Uncategorized

Those of us who are extraverts think of icebreakers as a wonderful way to facilitate networking. Those of us who are introverts look at those same events with a mixture of trepidation and dread. Jim Barker’s Monday Cartoon, captures the essence well.

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Ready-to-go games for specific training content

on February 16, 2012 in EXERCISES & ACTIVITIES, PRODUCT SELECTION & USES

Although Trainers Warehouse doesn’t focus on many content-specific board games, I’ve come across a few really good ones recently.  I’ll continue to add to this list as I learn of more. Admittedly, these aren’t all “Board” games, but they’re off-the-shelf, ready-to-play.  Continue Reading →

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10 Easy Appreciation Exercises

on February 3, 2012 in Energizers, Quick Tips

Posted by guest blogger, Betty Lochner, Cornerstone Coaching & Training

It may sound overly simple, but adding purposeful appreciation towards others can be one of the most powerful communication tools you can hone.  People want and need to feel appreciated [whether you're in a training session, classroom, or working in your office].  People will respond better, and perform better when they are genuinely valued.

Try any of the following appreciation exercises and watch what happens!

1. Caught Ya!

Catch someone doing something right and recognize them for it. For example, say something positive when someone picks up a poster that has fallen down, someone holds the door for you, or someone cleans your dish in the sink. You can go one step further, even giving them a small gift, like a small bag of candy, and leaving it with a short note. Continue Reading →

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