Page 262 - The Creative Training Idea Book Inspired Tips and Techniques for Engaging and Effective Learning

lucas chap 07 11/20/02 12:29 PM Page 251
Engaging and Energizing Learners 251
not be repeated for those who arrive late. If you are giving valuable ideas, the word will
get to those who are tardy. They will likely begin to show up on time so they do not miss
out on things that can ultimately make their lives easier.

Reward Promptness
Use a variety of creative techniques to reward participants who return on time from
breaks and lunch. You can either give an immediate reward, such as candy or a small
prize (e.g., inexpensive toy or organizational incentive items such as key chains or
cups) or give participants an opportunity to earn chances toward a reward later. For
example, you might give each person who returns on time a poker chip, a plastic coin,
a playing card, or a carnival ticket (the kind for which you keep one part and give the
other one with the same number to the participant). At the end of the session, you can
have a drawing, or give a prize to the person who has accumulated the most items given,
or who has the highest or lowest poker hand based on the number of cards he or she
received.
An alternate to giving awards is to list team names on a flip chart that remains posted
throughout the session. During the session, points can be awarded for activity comple-
tion, successes, or returning on time. The team with the most points at the end of the
session can then be rewarded or you might have different levels of reward for the first,
second, and third place “winners” so that all participants walk away with something and
no one feels like a loser. You can even purchase first, second, and third place ribbons for
something like this (see Creative Presentation Resources in the Resources for Trainers
section in the appendices). Many people will hang this type of thing in their office and
when they view it, or someone asks about it, they are reminded again of the program
and topic. This subtly reinforces learning.

Use Peer Pressure
Social stigmatism is a powerful deterrent for many people. Most people want to be
accepted and liked by their peers and others. You can use this phenomenon to your
advantage by setting up systems that reward team participation and success. To do this,
let everyone know that individuals who return on time will be rewarded; however, if an
entire team is back on time, there will be an extra incentive. You will likely see those in
the teams who value rewards shepherding others who would normally be delinquent
back to their seats on time.

Imagination is more important than knowledge, for while
knowledge points to all there is, imagination points to all there
will be.
—Albert Einstein