lately, I have been researching proven icebreakers that simultaneously allow guests/participants to feel more involved AND also act as a feedback mechanism for the event coordinator.
for example, icebreakers that measure learning retention in a class or games that provide insights into customer loyalty.
to measure a circle, begin anywhere! the beauty of this is that it meets the needs of everyone. enjoyment is so closely related to the natural learning process. enjoyment can easily be used as a measurement tool to most anything.
mo lata!
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Ko (arm and hand out in front of you pointing at another player).
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Tuesday, July 31, 2007
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Monday, July 30, 2007
AhSoKo!
Description: An icebreaker for a small group that gets everyone involved with the coordination of hands, voice and pace.
Secondary Objectives: To use hand gestures when signaled without making a mistake.
Primary Objectives:
* warm-up & energize
* entertain
* promote team spirit
Process: Have the group get in a circle. Use hand gestures for the following:
- Ah (hand under the chin palm facing the floor)
- So (han
One person starts with “Ah” (hand to neck). The direction the hand is pointing, that person follows with “So” (hand to forehead). Similar, the direction of the hand signals that person to do “Ko”. And so on... If someone “messes up” or forgets to act they are “outta the game" and step out of the circle. The person to the right has a silent 3 second count to start the game again with “Ah”. This game continues until 2-3 people are left (up to you whether the last 2 compete for AhSoKo champion title!).
Variations: Continue to involve everyone. The people who get “out” can become “hecklers” whose job it is to try to get the others to mess up. Rules of being a heckler are, hecklers must stay on the outside of the circle, cannot obstruct vision, physically touch anyone, or be cruel.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
eating healthy is like a window because...
Description: An activity where participants explain how an object and a learning goal are similar. this is a very powerful activity for thinking out-the-box as it forces the mind to go where it hasn't. It also acts as a great exercise to increase retention around a specific training goal.
Loud Objectives: To define a comparison or association between two or more seemingly unrelated subjects.
Silent Objectives:
* solicit attitudes, values, assumptions and motivation
* warm-up & energize
* facilitate creative thinking
* generate brand & business
Materials: Pens and paper
Process: Have people team up. One person will write down 3 things that come to mind. The other person will explain how each object relates/compares/associates to your training goal. For example, the object is "window" and the word you want them to remember is "carrots." One might associate carrots to a window because drive thru windows are now offering healthy foods which include carrots. The participant invented the association and will surely remember carrots! Debrief to facilitate learning objectives.
Variations: For a class, point to objects in the room and engage the entire class. For a marketing event or creative meeting, have participants brainstorm how objects relate to your brand. It silently solicits public assumptions!
Loud Objectives: To define a comparison or association between two or more seemingly unrelated subjects.
Silent Objectives:
* solicit attitudes, values, assumptions and motivation
* warm-up & energize
* facilitate creative thinking
* generate brand & business
Materials: Pens and paper
Process: Have people team up. One person will write down 3 things that come to mind. The other person will explain how each object relates/compares/associates to your training goal. For example, the object is "window" and the word you want them to remember is "carrots." One might associate carrots to a window because drive thru windows are now offering healthy foods which include carrots. The participant invented the association and will surely remember carrots! Debrief to facilitate learning objectives.
Variations: For a class, point to objects in the room and engage the entire class. For a marketing event or creative meeting, have participants brainstorm how objects relate to your brand. It silently solicits public assumptions!
Saturday, July 28, 2007
wedding couple trivia
Try wedding reception games to really get your guests into a spirit of fun. Some options for entertaining your restless crowd before the festivities begin are to include them in the reception before it begins, or to add a fun & meaningful activity in your reception.
Description: A fun trivia game for the guests to answer correctly about the wedding couple.
Secondary Objectives: To involve and entertain your guests and to pass the time between music sets or while your guests are seated and waiting for the meal to be served.
Primary Objectives:
* warm-up & energize
* entertain
* get acquainted
* build community & stimulate conversation
Materials: Index cards
Process: Have questions about you and your new spouse written down ahead of time, each relating to you, your spouse or both of you. Where did you meet? How did he propose? Who had what as a child? Have your DJ or MC select a guest to answer the first question. If they answer correctly, they can step up to the mic and call on the next guest, and so on.
Variations: If your one of your parents are up for it, have them stand at the microphone instead of the DJ! If any answer was regarding childhood, you can share a related picture on a projector. Table prizes are always a hit for the correct answers!
Description: A fun trivia game for the guests to answer correctly about the wedding couple.
Secondary Objectives: To involve and entertain your guests and to pass the time between music sets or while your guests are seated and waiting for the meal to be served.
Primary Objectives:
* warm-up & energize
* entertain
* get acquainted
* build community & stimulate conversation
Materials: Index cards
Process: Have questions about you and your new spouse written down ahead of time, each relating to you, your spouse or both of you. Where did you meet? How did he propose? Who had what as a child? Have your DJ or MC select a guest to answer the first question. If they answer correctly, they can step up to the mic and call on the next guest, and so on.
Variations: If your one of your parents are up for it, have them stand at the microphone instead of the DJ! If any answer was regarding childhood, you can share a related picture on a projector. Table prizes are always a hit for the correct answers!
debriefing
after completing a team-building activity, it is important to have the participants reflect on their experience. This is called "debriefing."
with the help of an insightful and energizing facilitator, the group has a discussion around what they did, how it worked, and how they could have altered the result by doing something different. suggested questions to facilitate desired learning outcomes are as follows:
with the help of an insightful and energizing facilitator, the group has a discussion around what they did, how it worked, and how they could have altered the result by doing something different. suggested questions to facilitate desired learning outcomes are as follows:
- what happened?
- how did you work together?
- were agreements made?
- what would you do differently?
treasure hunt!
Description: A treasure hunt involving clue solving.
Loud Objectives: Figure out the clues as you visit each mystery location.
Silent Objectives:
build community & stimulate conversation
foster social skills
promote team spirit
Materials: A trail of breadcrumbs...(any object will do)
Process: Divide participants in groups based on table, department, or interesting classification. Give them a time-limit, a list of clues, a worksheet to fill out, and some kind of incentive for completing. Debrief to facilitate learning objectives, if any.
Variations: Have fun with the time-limit by making it 2 minute intervals, storing the worksheet in an odd place (on people's backs), turning this into a cooperative game, or creating an odd rule like closing one eye the entire time! This can be quite hilarious as guests climb under tables.
Loud Objectives: Figure out the clues as you visit each mystery location.
Silent Objectives:
build community & stimulate conversation
foster social skills
promote team spirit
Materials: A trail of breadcrumbs...(any object will do)
Process: Divide participants in groups based on table, department, or interesting classification. Give them a time-limit, a list of clues, a worksheet to fill out, and some kind of incentive for completing. Debrief to facilitate learning objectives, if any.
Variations: Have fun with the time-limit by making it 2 minute intervals, storing the worksheet in an odd place (on people's backs), turning this into a cooperative game, or creating an odd rule like closing one eye the entire time! This can be quite hilarious as guests climb under tables.
Friday, July 27, 2007
what is an "icebreaker" anyways??
Compliments of wikipedia, an icebreaker is a facilitation exercise intended to "warm up" a group by helping the members to get to know each other in a light-hearted manner.
Commonly icebreakers begin the process of forming individuals into a team. Mainly, they are presented as a game and often focus on sharing personal information such as names, backgrounds, or opinions.
Commonly icebreakers begin the process of forming individuals into a team. Mainly, they are presented as a game and often focus on sharing personal information such as names, backgrounds, or opinions.
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