Free Trainer Activities: In the Same Circle

HomeAbout FSTDTrainingIssues / ResultsTeam DynamicsLeadershipNonprofit ServicesFree ResourcesShop FSTDContact FSTD

What Others Are Saying

We hired Rob to facilitate and lead a two day offsite for our seventeen member leadership team. This was not an easy task as this group struggles with a number of crippling dysfuntions. Rob was easily up to the task. He was well prepared and used his intuition to guide the team. It was one of the most productive offsite meetings I have been a part of in my 20 year career. Rob can get the job done.

Pat Thomasson, Raytheon

In the Same Circle

Overview

An easy, low-prop ice-breaker that gets you important information about what you audience knows and sets you up to better conduct your training. I learned this one earlier today at a meeting of the Mississippi Chapter of ASTD. Thanks to Bette Breland for sharing!

PROPS: one piece of blank paper and pen or pencil per person.

TIME FRAME: 5-10 minutes.

INSTRUCTIONS:

At the beginning of a course or workshop, ask for each person in the room to find a partner. Between them, they are to "jot down" all of the main points which they know about the subject at hand. (NOTE: this shouldn't be exhaustive, or they are in the wrong class to begin with!) This should only take about one minute.
Have each pair "pair up" with another pair. Have them share the main points with all members of their group. This should take about three minutes. Ask each group of four to appoint a spokesperson.
Call on each group and ask the spokesperson to share his/her notes of what her group knows about the subject. Jot these on a flipchart for all to see.

What's the big deal you ask? By investing ten minutes of your class time, you have moved your participants past the initial awkwardness usually associated with the beginning of a workshop and have begun to build rapport between them. Also, you now know "who is in the room," a sense of their expertise, and at what level you need to begin your conceptual explanations. This helps you avoid, for example, explaining basic concepts which most of your participants already know.

Train-the-Trainer

Learn how to facilitate activities in ways that promote real learning and long-term behavior change
Enhance your facilitation skills - learn from leading practitioners
Experience the activities yourself!

Click here to learn about our next Open Enrollment Train-the-Trainer course



SIGN UP for our December 2009 Experiential Train-the-Trainer! Disclaimers: Please Read Why Use Activities in Team or Leadership Training? Why Use Icebreakers? New to Experiential Facilitation? Read These Principles Tips for Getting Started Facilitator Tool: Process Leadership Grid - Archive Index - What Others Are Saying We hired Rob to facilitate and lead a two day offsite for our seventeen member leadership team. This was not an easy task as this group struggles with a number of crippling dysfuntions. Rob was easily up to the task. He was well prepared and used his intuition to guide the team. It was one of the most productive offsite meetings I have been a part of in my 20 year career. Rob can get the job done. Pat Thomasson, Raytheon read more... In the Same Circle Overview An easy, low-prop ice-breaker that gets you important information about what you audience knows and sets you up to better conduct your training. I learned this one earlier today at a meeting of the Mississippi Chapter of ASTD. Thanks to Bette Breland for sharing! PROPS: one piece of blank paper and pen or pencil per person. TIME FRAME: 5-10 minutes. INSTRUCTIONS: At the beginning of a course or workshop, ask for each person in the room to find a partner. Between them, they are to "jot down" all of the main points which they know about the subject at hand. (NOTE: this shouldn't be exhaustive, or they are in the wrong class to begin with!) This should only take about one minute. Have each pair "pair up" with another pair. Have them share the main points with all members of their group. This should take about three minutes. Ask each group of four to appoint a spokesperson. Call on each group and ask the spokesperson to share his/her notes of what her group knows about the subject. Jot these on a flipchart for all to see. What's the big deal you ask? By investing ten minutes of your class time, you have moved your participants past the initial awkwardness usually associated with the beginning of a workshop and have begun to build rapport between them. Also, you now know "who is in the room," a sense of their expertise, and at what level you need to begin your conceptual explanations. This helps you avoid, for example, explaining basic concepts which most of your participants already know. Train-the-Trainer Learn how to facilitate activities in ways that promote real learning and long-term behavior change Enhance your facilitation skills - learn from leading practitioners Experience the activities yourself! Click here to learn about our next Open Enrollment Train-the-Trainer course

140 Creekwood Court - Suite 200 - Fayetteville, GA 30214 Phone: (800) 211-0871 - Fax (866) 389-4807 E-mail Click Here
© 2000- 2010, First Steps Training & Development, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Site design by Speedsoft.com.