Page 136 - The Creative Training Idea Book Inspired Tips and Techniques for Engaging and Effective Learning

lucas chap 04 11/20/02 12:00 PM Page 125
Opening With a Bang 125
number on the back of their piece is their entry (another use for the numbers if you
desire). I also state that the piece will be used for an activity so they should bring it to
the session. When I use the numbers on the pieces for a prize drawing, I generally ran-
domly select a number and write it on a flip chart. After they arrive, I announce the
winning number and award a prize prior to the assembly of the puzzle.
In class, following the drawing, I have participants approach a flip chart page that I
have sprayed with repositionable artist’s adhesive or photo mount (available at most
art, craft, and hobby stores, or see Resources for Trainers in the appendices) so that the
pieces will stick without the use of tape, yet can be repositioned as needed. Each person
places his or her piece of the jigsaw puzzle on the page, then returns to be seated. Ulti-
mately, the entire puzzle is assembled to reveal the program objectives, quote, or what-
ever I used as content for the puzzle. I then ask the last person placing a piece to read
what the puzzle says to the group. I then reward everyone and have them give a round
of applause for their accomplishment. Thus, I have engaged participants early in the
program, added a bit of pizzazz, revealed program objectives or otherwise introduced
pertinent information, and set the expectation that the session will be fun and that they
can earn rewards for active involvement.
Here’s how to make your own puzzles:

Select and put the text you will use (e.g., session objectives, quote, or other information)
on a standard 8.5 × 11 inch piece of paper.

Have two large poster-size images made of the text.
Create your puzzle pieces on the reverse side of one of the sheets by randomly drawing
lines in various shapes (see Figure 4-4).
Place the poster sheets one behind the other with the lined pieces visible and trace them
onto the second puzzle content page.
Numerically, identically label puzzle pieces by placing like numbers on each piece of
both puzzles.
Use scissors to cut out the pieces of both puzzles (keep the two puzzles separated).

A mind stretched by a new idea never returns to its original
dimensions.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes

Card Games

Similar to the jigsaw puzzle idea, you can use card games as a basis for participant in-
volvement. To do this use a standard deck of playing cards with four suits (hearts,
clubs, spades, and diamonds). Form small groups of four to eight participants. Based
on the total number of participants, select a run of cards from each suit (e.g., for a class
of 20 or groups of five participants each, you need something like 9, 10, jack, queen,

(text continues on page 128)