Page 273 - The Creative Training Idea Book Inspired Tips and Techniques for Engaging and Effective Learning

lucas chap 07 11/20/02 12:29 PM Page 262
262 The Creative Training Idea Book
Team Juggle
This activity is a good way to wake people up and get the heart pumping. It also helps
participants to get to know each other’s names and emphasizes the need for team com-
munication. Start by getting everyone into a large circle. You will then need three balls
made of soft material (e.g., Koosh®, Nerf®, or tennis ball). Explain that you will get
the process started by calling someone’s name, then gently tossing him or her a ball.
That person then calls someone else’s name and tosses the ball to the next person, who
repeats the rotation to someone else. Tell participants that they should remember from
whom they got the ball and to whom they tossed it. Explain that they cannot toss to
someone who has already had it. Once the last person receives the ball, stop the action.
Talk a bit about how participants felt the activity went and how it could have been done
better. Ask how they might speed up the process. This is a good technique to tie into
discussions of quality improvement, communication, creativity, or teamwork in the
workplace.
After the debriefing, tell participants that they will go through the process again in
the same order as before but this time you will introduce two balls into the circle. Toss
in one ball to the same person who started the first round, then toss in the second to
that person as soon as he or she gets rid of the first ball. Again debrief after the last per-
son catches the second ball. Have participants give a round of applause for their success
and debrief again. Finally, tell them that they have done so well that you think they are
ready for three balls. Give them time to brainstorm on how they might improve their
time further, then repeat the process using three balls. Debrief the activity by asking how
what they just did resembles their workplace (e.g., doing more in a shorter time and
sometimes without adequate preparation time; breakdowns in process or communica-
tion; or the need for teams to plan, coordinate, communicate, and work together).
Have everyone give a round of applause.

Team Grid

If you are not fortunate enough to have a carpet with a grid of squares woven into it,
you can make your own with a roll of 1-inch masking tape. To do so, clear an area in the
back of the room, or close by, that will allow for a grid that is approximately 8 × 8 feet
with room to walk around it. Lay down your outer edges of a square first to ensure that
you have a large enough area. To do this, measure eight distances of 12 inches apart
along the top of the square strip and mark the edge of the tape at those points. Next,
measure eight distances of 12 inches apart along the left or right strip and mark those
points. Add the bottom and remaining side strips, mark them, then put additional strips
of tape from one mark on the top strip to a corresponding mark on the bottom strip
and then do likewise on both side strips. When you finish, you should have a grid that
has 64 twelve by twelve inch squares (see Figure 7-1).
When you are ready for the activity, have all participants gather at the bottom edge
of the square for instructions. If you have more than 10 learners, create two teams. Teams