 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.
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:
Looking for more games to add to your-person classes? Check out this idea from my Caffeinated Learning archives.
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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.
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.  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!)
There were several big wins here:
Here are a few of the tweeted answers for your enjoyment.   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:
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. |
For even more ideas...
AuthorAnne Beninghof is passionate about teaching and learning. Archives
May 2018
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