During the briefing, when the leader says, “It’s important to be able to say at the end of our activity today that you challenged yourself in at least one way,” he is utilizing one of the most effective tools he has. Challenge means going beyond the old, pushing into new territory, new ways of doing […]
Category Archives: Tips for Trainers
3.14 – Albert Einstein’s birthday and National Pi Day! Illustration by Charlie Powell I love a good play on words, and numbers, and anything that is creatively clever. Pi day ranks pretty high on my creatively clever scale, but did you know that it’s actually a nationally recognized holiday? Really! It’s official. The date March 14 […]
Experiential Learning Cycle (based on the work of David Kolb and others) One of the most basic models of our work, the Experiential Learning Cycle (Kolb, et al), proposes that after Activity comes Reflection, followed by Application of the new information we have learned. The complete cycle is required for learning to take place. Unfortunately, […]
01
Feb
Feb
Whether from an educational or therapeutic point of view, effective learning occurs in an environment where what is learned can be put into practice and the individual can receive feedback and reinforcement. Learning experientially in groups is particularly effective in encouraging and supporting individuals who are developing new approaches and behaviors in their lives. An […]
01
Feb
Feb
At Training Wheels, we love Thumballs, but before Thumballs were even a thing we were making our own with a beach ball and a sharpie. It’s an easy way to customize the questions you want your group to discuss at an affordable cost. This photo here is an example of an Icebreaker question ball. We […]
Sooooo, Fox and Chicken is a tag game I made up when I was a kid on the farm. My two older brothers, my sister, my cousins and I would wait until dusk when the shadows from the moon and the yard light would allow for juuuuuust the right cover. We would all huddle up to […]
You expect staff to think on their feet, why not train them on their feet? As you start to plan your staff training week, make sure you incorporate a wide range of helpful experiential topics, from icebreakers, getting-to-know you activities, to activities that help staff embrace their different work styles and gifts. These are not […]
19
Sep
Sep
One of the first team building tools I ever purchased was a set of Chiji Cards.I still have my original set and still use them!In my opinion, it is a ‘must-have’ tool for your facilitator toolbox.I use them mostly as a debriefing tool, but my friends Chris Cavert and Steve Simpson created several additional activities […]
Tips for Trainers New book! Facilitated Growth Experiential Activities for Recovery and Wellness by Michelle Cummings, Marc Pimsler and Diane Sherman I am excited to announce my new book, Facilitated Growth–Experiential Activities for Recovery and Wellness, that I co-authored with Marc Pimsler and diane Sherman! This book is for facilitators and professionals who work with […]
Facilitator Tip: Hoop Pass This activity is an oldie but a goodie. It probably originated with Karl Rohnke. This was one of the first activities I learned when I took my first job as a teambuilding facilitator. Although I haven’t used it in a little while, it’s still a favorite. You can use it with […]