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5 Ways Game Boards Increase the Value of Your Training

6/27/2017

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Gamification is all the rage in talent development. But what about old-fashioned game boards? Are they a thing of the past? Should  they be?
 
Here are 5 ways that game boards add value to any training class or learning experience.


  1. Game boards increase face-to-face interaction and discussion among participants.
  2. Game boards reinforce and review content in an engaging way.
  3. Playing with pieces on a game board increases multi-modality learning, resulting in better attention and retention.
  4. Creating a game board does not require high-level technology skills.
  5. Game boards are easily customizable from event to event.
 
There are many resources that simplify the process of creating a game board. SparkleBox is the site I used to create the game board in the photo above. Click here for an editable game board template.
 
Here is another site with several different templates.

A few tips: 
  • Be sure to add directions to your game board or to a slide you are projecting.
  • If you don't want to carry game pieces with you, ask participants to find small objects in their pockets, bags or from the table. Items like coins, mints, paperclips and pen caps work perfectly!

Looking for more games to add to your-person classes? Check out this idea from my Caffeinated Learning archives. 
 

 
 
 
 


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Warning: 7 Clear Directions that Keep You Out of Trouble

6/20/2017

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On a recent hike in Colorado, my husband and I spied a beautiful lake in the distance. We hiked off trail to get closer and came upon this sign. Needless to say, we did not go any further! The sign was very clear about what we should do – turn around! The sign not only saved us from harm, but saved the property owners from unwanted trouble.
 
Explicit directions or guidelines are also essential for learning sessions. By setting clear expectations right at the start of a class, facilitators can save everyone from unwanted problems. 
 
One key topic to address is how the group will transition smoothly and efficiently. Effective learning occurs when participants are actively engaged with the material and each other. Because the best facilitators encourage small group discussion and activities, the best facilitators also have explicit methods for how to quiet the group and bring them back together quickly. Here are seven methods you can use. Whichever you choose, be sure to review the method(s) with the group early on in your session.


  1. Explain that when you raise your hand it is a sign for others to raise their hands and bring their discussion to an end.​
  2. Countdown with “Coming back together in 10, 9, 8…”
  3. Use a visual countdown timer on your screen, with a soft alarm at the end.
  4. Blow a few notes on a harmonica or other musical instrument. You don’t even have to be musically talented!
  5. Say, “Please find a place to put some ending punctuation on your discussion.”
  6. Play fifteen seconds of your favorite music. When the music stops, so does the discussion.
  7. Show a PAUSE image on your screen, indicating that it is time to pause, but you will have more discussion opportunities in a bit. 

​Your learners will appreciate your clarity and the fact that you are honoring their time by being efficient. For more ideas, check out Caffeinated Learning - the book, the webinars or the in-person sessions. 
 


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How to Win Big with Tweets

6/12/2017

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One of my favorite ways to open a presentation is to show a novel prop and ask participants to talk with someone nearby about it. This simple strategy activates their prior knowledge, fires up their neural networks and adds a touch of creative intrigue.
 
Recently, I presented for the Association for Talent Development International Conference and decided to add a Twitter twist. Here’s what I did (and you can do, too!)
 
  1. I held up a roll of toilet paper (you can use anything) and asked everyone to think about what it had to do with training and talent development.
  2. Then I gave them two minutes to tweet their answers, using my handle @annebeninghof.
  3. I opened up my Twitter feed on the screen and read each submission aloud.
  4. The entries got the audience laughing, making connections and cheering for their colleagues’ ideas.
  5. I awarded a copy of my book, Caffeinated Learning, to the person whose tweet received the loudest response from the group.
 
There were several big wins here:
  • Immediate audience engagement
  • Humor and laughter = endorphins
  • Sparked creative thinking
  • Boosted my brand on Twitter
  • No prep strategy
  • One audience member won my book
 
Here are a few of the tweeted answers for your enjoyment.

  
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How Rituals Can Quickly Stoke a Fire in Your Learners

6/1/2017

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Rituals are actions that we take regularly, actions that bring us a sense of purpose and reflection. While they take place in the here and now, they often link us to a past experience, firing up memories and connections.
 
The first backyard fire of the summer signifies, for me, a change in season and tempo. It reminds me of family evenings, laughter and marshmallows. While watching the flames, my brain is lighting up with old memories, and yet ready to make new ones.
 
Rituals can also be used at the beginning of a seminar or class. They can prime your participants with ideas and connections so that they are ready for the business of making new learning stick. They can also be a comfortable routine for you as the presenter – a standard way of setting up your space for maximum learning to occur.
 
One of my favorite rituals is to run a teaser slide show for the thirty minutes prior to the start of class. As participants come in and get settled, they see a self-advancing slide show on my screen, alternating every 12 seconds between a title/welcome slide and trivia slides. Trivia questions are based on the content I will be sharing and include question stems such as:
 
  • Which of these is the most __________________?
  • Can you name the four ________________?
  • What percentage of ________________ ?
  • Why is the word ________________ relevant today?
  • In what year did __________________happen?
  • Who said “________________”
  • Where would you find ___________________?
 
If participants arrive late, they haven’t missed anything critical. But the participants who are there early will be primed for learning your content. (Be sure to return to the questions at some point during your class and provide the answers!)


Do you work with SME's or others that need some ideas for teaching and facilitating? Caffeinated Learning offers webinars, in-person training and publications. 
 

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