Training and Teaming Activities and Strategies

Uses / Strategy Name / Description
Engagement
Discovery
Integration / A B Each Teach /
  • Have individuals pair up (someone they don’t know or is from another table) – Have them list one person as A and one as B;
  • Have each read separate sections of a provided text;
  • Have A teach B their section and B teache A
  • For lots of info / text – create C & D teams and have A & B then connect with C & D team, etc.

Gather & Share /
  • Given a question, have each participant list their option or answer and then find 3 others to add to their list;
  • Have participants return to their home table and share with their table mates

Assumptions Challenge /
  • Have participants list an assumption about a topic, and then in round robin fashion (give instructions on who to start (e.g. person with back most orientated to speakers) and what direction to go (e.g. clockwise);
  • Last person summarizes the assumptions of the group
  • Depending on the number of tables, have a select number report out and then other add items not listed

Salsa Share /
  • Organize teams by the heat the like their salsa along the outer wall of the venue (tomatoes to ghost peppers);
  • Have teams brainstorm solutions/ideas after given a sentence starter or topic using chart paper
  • Use salsa music to add to the fun

Content Check /
  • Create chart boards with 3 columns that say: Know what to do; Know why to do it; Know next steps
  • Organize teams by counting off (or other variations depending on the group and numbers);
  • Have teams brainstorm their understanding of the topic

Corners /
  • Identify each corner of the room with a choice or answer (use chart paper / visuals);
  • Give a question, content, or idea and have participants rotate to the appropriate corner
  • Offer opportunities for discussion

Criteria Matrix /
  • (high=3; Med=2; Low=1) create a matrix of alternatives / variables – have participants rate them

First Turn / Last Turn /
  • Have members read and select the most important section of the text to them;
  • In round robin fashion, have participants name their section but not explain their selection;
  • Then go around again and have each participant comment on their selection
  • OPTION: Go around again and have each participant comment on one interesting selection of another
  • Last person summarizes the themes of their group for report out

5-3-1 /
  • On a given topic / idea, have participants develop 5 words; 3 central ideas, and 1 label

Focused Reading /
  • Given a selected idea / reading, have each participant (check)=Affirms prior knowledge; ! = Surprises you; ? You wish you knew more

Force Field Analysis /
  • Provide a T chart – “forces for” & “forces against” – how can forces for be made stronger and against weaker
  • Break groups into teams using organized system (count off, salsa, etc.) and have the brainstorm

Gots & Wants /
  • Using T chart, list a column for gots (concepts, ideas) and wants (still need to know / understand)

Here’s what, So what, Now what? /
  • In teams on chart paper, list “here’s what it is,” “this is why it matters,” “now what do we do about it”

3-2-1 /
  • Have teams identify three key ideas, 2 to explore more, and 1 to ponder

Triad Inquiry (PPP) /
  • In trios, person A indicates a key point on the topic (sentence starter: A Key Point for Me is ____)
  • Others pause; Person B paraphrases; and Person C asks person C “what is a key point for you?”

Jigsaw Learning /
  • Number off a selected reading
  • Move participants into “expert groups” and number them to learn their section
  • Have participants return to their home table to share their section (round robin)

Know, Think you Know, Want to Know /
  • Arrange chart paper with each of these headings – give topic to the groups
  • Have “know” – share with “think you know” to help “want to know” the content

Paraphrase Passport /
  • Provide conversation prompt;
  • Person A makes first statement, all pause, next person paraphrases person A and then adds to it;
  • End by group constructing a summarizing paraphrase of the full conversation

Partner’s Report /
  • Give conversational prompt
  • Have participants pair up and each shares their response
  • Return to home table and report PARTNER’S response (not their own)
  • Report out 3-4 best ideas of the full group

Spotlight /
  • Use 3 column charts with Red (stop), yellow (continue), green (begin)
  • Given a topic / idea, have teams identify things to stop, continue, and begin

Card Games /
  • Arrange groups by using playing cards (find a red jack or all jacks get together)

Inclusion
(Opening) / Give one to get one /
  • Select topics to share (e.g. hobbies, job, topics relevant to the field, etc.)
  • Have participants write their info on a post-it and share/discuss with a partner well enough to share partner’s response
  • Trade post-its and share with another member / partner
  • Return to home table – what learned? Themes?

Like Me /
  • Use various categories and have participants stand when they are like them
  • Remind to look around and see how many others are in your group

Grounding /
  • Topic: My name is, My relationship to the topic, My expectations are, How I feel about being here is
  • Goal: Set norms for respectful listening, connect people, value thinking, elicit agendas, etc.
  • Working agreements: only one person talks at a time, others listen—full nonverbal attention
  • After everyone has talked, first speaker summarizes the group’s responses

Making Group Decisions / Combine Opposites /
  • When team members have differing views, have the 2 people with the most opposing views leave the group and together compromise and bring a solution to the team to decide

Forced Choice /
  • Give out equal number of stickers – Have options on chart paper
  • Members have to use all stickers to select their choices (or have members select first choice and explain)

Decision vs. Discussion /
  • Decide if the group is simply discussing a topic to understand viewpoints or if a decision must be made
  • If a decision is to be made, decide in advance how that will occur (leader or consensus)

Freeing Stuck Groups /
  • “What’s stopping us from making a decision?”
  • “Who would be willing to meet and develop a proposal for the next meeting?”
  • “Are you willing to give the subcommittee the authority to make that decision?”
  • “I think this is a decision for…..”

Eliminate the Negative /
  • Which of these choices are you ok removing? (use process of elimination)

Not A or B but C /
  • Take 2 options and create a third that combines the best of A and B

Set and Test Working Agreements /
  • Set agreement based on aberrant behavior
  • Test agreements when not followed (question / discuss)

Sufficient Consensus /
  • 80%? Or select a percentage – equal voice, understand all views; dialog vs. discussion; % = consensus

Rule of One-Third /
  • From list of brainstormed items, members select 1/3 +1 (so 12 items means each selects 5)
  • Which selected most often

Decision Options
(ask naïve ?) /
  • Who is making this decision?
  • How much detail do we need to move on this item?
  • What parts of this issue live in our sandbox?
  • Executive: Team to inform or recommend?
  • Given what we know about meeting standards, what is going on right now?

Facilitate / Airplane Stacking /
  • Assign numbers to the responses you plan to hear (1, 2, 3, etc.) and then call in order

PAG/PAU /
  • Process as given; Process as understood

Paired Squared /
  • 1 pair joins another to establish groups

Sabotage Ideas /
  • “I know you wouldn’t, but if someone might, how might this “idea” get sabotaged?”

(adopted and adapted from Adaptive Schools®)