Hi Friends,
Please find below the Part II of the IceBreakers...........
Requesting you to send your comments on the this Article.......
[b]Ice Breakers : Part - II
Icebreakers[/b]
Topic Lead-in sometimes when a group is meeting for a workshop on a specific topic, participants already know each other well. In these situations, use an icebreaker that leads into the content of the gathering. A topic lead-in can play a number of functions. It can:
* generate interest in the topic of the meeting or training
* activate participants' prior knowledge of the subject
* help the facilitator and participants to identify individual learning needs and goals
* encourage the sharing of information and resources
* Surface resistance to discussion or learning
Topic lead-in questions can be answered collectively or individually. Use topic lead-ins liberally: it is appropriate to use them in every session, and you can use both types in a single session.
GROUP ACTIVITIESGroup lead-ins are particularly useful for introducing the topic, discovering what is already known and activating that prior knowledge.
Here are some examples:
Word Tree
Generate a list of words related to the topic. For example, in a health and safety workshop, ask participants to give you words related to the phrase, "hazardous materials." Participants may suggest: 'dangerous,' 'corrosive,' 'flammable,' 'warning,' 'skull and crossbones,' etc. Write all suggestions on the board, clustering by theme where possible. You can use this opportunity to introduce essential terms, too.
Multiple Choice or True/False Quiz
Rather than giving participants a multiple choice or true/false quiz at the end of a session, try giving it at the beginning. As facilitator, you can walk around and discretely scan participants' responses -- this can help you to identify where to focus your attention during the training. Check the answers with the group at the end of the session.
INDIVIDUAL LEAD-IN QUESTIONS
Individual lead-in questions are designed to identify individual learning needs and goals, encourage the sharing of information and resources, and/or surface resistance to learning. Participants can respond to questions in a predetermined order (eg., left to right around the room), or popcorn-style, by volunteering responses in random order. If you let participants speak in random order, remember that one of the purposes of this activity is to get people talking, so try to ensure that everyone in the group makes a contribution.
Here are some topic lead-in suggestions:
* State one or two "burning questions" you hope will be answered in this session.
* Describe one strategy/resource you have successfully employed recently (relevant to the topic of the meeting/training).
* State your personal definition of the topic (eg., in a customer service training, "Customer Service means...").
The following lead-ins are particularly useful when the subject matter challenges established beliefs beliefs or practices:
* State your opinion on the topic. ("I think...")
* Complete a phrase or phrases (eg., in a customer service training on handling customer complaints, "A customer service representative should NEVER respond to a complaint by...").
To encourage free-flow participation, ask participants to listen to all contributions, but reserve their comments for discussion later in the session.
Keep learning!!
Best Wishes,
Sridhar.
Executive - HR
Invensys India Development Center
Please find below the Part II of the IceBreakers...........
Requesting you to send your comments on the this Article.......
[b]Ice Breakers : Part - II
Icebreakers[/b]
Topic Lead-in sometimes when a group is meeting for a workshop on a specific topic, participants already know each other well. In these situations, use an icebreaker that leads into the content of the gathering. A topic lead-in can play a number of functions. It can:
* generate interest in the topic of the meeting or training
* activate participants' prior knowledge of the subject
* help the facilitator and participants to identify individual learning needs and goals
* encourage the sharing of information and resources
* Surface resistance to discussion or learning
Topic lead-in questions can be answered collectively or individually. Use topic lead-ins liberally: it is appropriate to use them in every session, and you can use both types in a single session.
GROUP ACTIVITIESGroup lead-ins are particularly useful for introducing the topic, discovering what is already known and activating that prior knowledge.
Here are some examples:
Word Tree
Generate a list of words related to the topic. For example, in a health and safety workshop, ask participants to give you words related to the phrase, "hazardous materials." Participants may suggest: 'dangerous,' 'corrosive,' 'flammable,' 'warning,' 'skull and crossbones,' etc. Write all suggestions on the board, clustering by theme where possible. You can use this opportunity to introduce essential terms, too.
Multiple Choice or True/False Quiz
Rather than giving participants a multiple choice or true/false quiz at the end of a session, try giving it at the beginning. As facilitator, you can walk around and discretely scan participants' responses -- this can help you to identify where to focus your attention during the training. Check the answers with the group at the end of the session.
INDIVIDUAL LEAD-IN QUESTIONS
Individual lead-in questions are designed to identify individual learning needs and goals, encourage the sharing of information and resources, and/or surface resistance to learning. Participants can respond to questions in a predetermined order (eg., left to right around the room), or popcorn-style, by volunteering responses in random order. If you let participants speak in random order, remember that one of the purposes of this activity is to get people talking, so try to ensure that everyone in the group makes a contribution.
Here are some topic lead-in suggestions:
* State one or two "burning questions" you hope will be answered in this session.
* Describe one strategy/resource you have successfully employed recently (relevant to the topic of the meeting/training).
* State your personal definition of the topic (eg., in a customer service training, "Customer Service means...").
The following lead-ins are particularly useful when the subject matter challenges established beliefs beliefs or practices:
* State your opinion on the topic. ("I think...")
* Complete a phrase or phrases (eg., in a customer service training on handling customer complaints, "A customer service representative should NEVER respond to a complaint by...").
To encourage free-flow participation, ask participants to listen to all contributions, but reserve their comments for discussion later in the session.
Keep learning!!
Best Wishes,
Sridhar.
Executive - HR
Invensys India Development Center