It’s been about twelve years since I first learned how to review and became convinced of the value of reviewing and reflective practice. Since learning about reviewing, I have spent a lot of my time training and coaching instructors on how to develop their reviewing skills. After many years of observing new and experienced instructors in action, here is a list of the 7 most common reviewing mistakes I have encountered. Not allocating enough time This happens often, especially when delivering an activity experience. Due to poor planning, and too much spent on the introduction and demonstration, the instructor rushes…
Author: David Priestley
Questions, questions, questions! The ability to ask and answer questions is central to training and development. For more than 2,000 years (since the days of Socrates) the question has been an integral part of teaching. If you’re a trainer, an instructor, a manager, a project manager or you hold any leadership responsibility in an organisation, at some point you’ll be working with questions. This might be either you asking questions or your training participants or team members asking you questions. Questioning style and content varies from trainer to trainer. The aim of this post is to help you understand the…
This article is written for anyone who is new to training and looking for some quick tips to help plan for their next workshop. These 10 training tips will help you prepare, plan and deliver a high quality training workshop and ensure that you and your team get the most from your training time. 1) Effective planning Know your subject and understand your training objectives. Once you know what you’re hoping to achieve, write a training plan consisting of activities to help you achieve those objectives. Activities may consist of presentations, practical activities, role plays, case studies and group discussions…
Teams must work together to complete a puzzle as quickly as possible. Initially the teams will be divided and given separate bags of puzzle pieces. They will think that they are competing against each other and then come to realise that they have no way of completing the puzzle unless they work with the other sub-teams as they hold the missing pieces of the puzzle. Resources: 1 x large jigsaw puzzle and small bags to hold the pieces Time: 30-45 minutes Space Required: Small. Indoors or Outdoors Group Size: 8-16 people Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces Setup Divide up the puzzle and…
During this exercise people share who they are and their motivation or ambitions for the future. This is who I am involves individuals writing or drawing something significant which they want to share with others in the group about their past, future and present. Resources: A4 paper, pens Time: 30-40 minutes Group Size: 8-16 people This is Who I Am Instructions Hand each person 3 sheets of A4 paper and a pen. Get them to write at the top of the first sheet: past, the second sheet: present and the third sheet: future. Now underneath each word, they should write…
Hole in Space is a variation of the popular Spider’s Web activity. Working together, each team member must travel through a hole in space without touching it. If anyone touches the outside of the square, the activity is restarted. This activity is ideal for those looking for a quick team builder and for those with limited space and resources available. Resources: 2 x shoe-strings or bungee cord Time: 20 – 30 minutes Space Required: Small. Either indoors or outdoors Group Size: 10-16 people Activity Setup You can use a bungee cord or you can tie 2 shoe-strings together to form…
A creative alternative to the group contract exercise and can be used during the forming stage of the team development process. This exercise provides an opportunity for team members to identify how they want to work together by setting up a rules of engagement contract. Resources: Plain white t-shirts, flip-chart paper and pens Time: 15-20 minutes Group Size: 8-16 people Rules of Engagement Instructions Open the workshop by asking group members to consider how they want to work together and the importance of teamwork. Allow group members an opportunity to reflect for a moment before discussing as a group. When…
This is an active ice breaker, great for group introductions. Masking the future involves group members sharing their past experiences and their future hopes and aspirations. Resources: Masking tape, paper and pens Time: 5 minutes per person plus 10 minutes preparation time. Group Size: 8-12 people Masking the Future Instructions Stick a long length of masking tape to the floor. Write the past on one sheet of paper and future on the other, and stick each sheet to the masking tape at opposite ends. Give group members enough time (around 10 minutes) to reflect and identify important aspects of their…
Climate checker is a quick and easy exercise used to find out how people feel about a particular topic or issue. This exercise is ideally suited for the start of a workshop or as part of a project team meeting. It can also be used during the formation stage of the team development. Resources: Flip-chart paper or whiteboard, marker pens Time: 2 -5 minutes (per topic) Group Size: 6 -15 people Climate Checker Instructions On your flip-chart paper (or whiteboard) draw a line and mark a scale of 1-10 (1 = strongly disagree; 10 = strongly agree) Write the statement or topic…
This is a discussion based exercise which allows group members to express opposing views about a topic without creating too much conflict. During the exercise, participants discuss a series of topics and identify positives, negatives and interesting points. Plus, Minus and Interesting can be used with the whole group, in smaller sub-groups or individually. This exercise can be used for both teaching a subject or as part of a project group. Resources: Flip chart paper (A2 can also be used), pens Time: 15-20 minutes (per topic) Group Size: 8-16 people Plus, Minus and Interesting Instructions On the top of the flip chart paper (or…
This useful exercise to use when working with a new team during the forming stage of the development process. At the end of your workshop or following a team building activity, participants are tasked with writing feedback for each other on a piece of flip-chart paper placed on the wall. This feedback should be honest and provide both positive and constructive criticism. Resources: Flip chart paper, blue tack and pens/markers Time: 20 minutes (or less depending on the number of participants). Group Size: 8-16 people Flipping Great Instructions Give everyone a sheet of flip chart paper and a marker pen. Next, get them to write…
Wherever I lay my hat is a simple but effective ice breaker activity that can be used with both small and large groups. It is a great introductory exercise that can be used to open a workshop and is guaranteed to get people talking. Question cards are placed in a hat and group members take it in turn to take a question, read it out and give their answer. Resources: Hat and question cards Time: 10-15 minutes (can be run longer if necessary) Group size: 6-15 people Where I Lay My Hat Ice Breaker Explained Before you begin the activity, gather all required equipment. If you don’t…