Purpose
This exercise encourages creativity and helps delegates to come up with a larger variety of solutions. The activity also enables participants to evaluate and compare the influence and effect of using expert views in solving problems. This activity is suitable for groups of people who have access to Internet and phone during the training session.
Objective
Delegates to come up with solutions to a specific problem with and without the help from experts and sources of information.
What You Need
- Flipchart/Whiteboard
- Post-It notes for each group
Setup
- Divide the delegates to groups of 3 to 4 people.
- Give each group some Post-It notes.
- Write down the problem you want the delegates to solve on the flip chart or whiteboard.
- Select half of the groups and explain that they have 10 minutes to use the resources available to them such as Internet and phone to find more information related to the problem or even ask an expert for advice.
- The other groups should use this 10 minutes to brainstorm and come up with solutions for the proposed problem.
- You can take advantage of this opportunity to emphasise using specific brainstorming techniques such as using, Mind Maps, Belbin Groups, Six Thinking Hats, Lateral Thinking and so on.
- At the end of 10 minutes, each group has 5 minutes to write down their best solutions on individual Post-It notes.
- Collect the Post-It notes with the solutions from delegates stick them to the main flip chart or whiteboard.
- Ask delegates to go to the flipchart and observe the solutions.
- Get back together and initiate a discussion to find out the best solutions.
Timing
Explaining the Exercise: 5 minutes.
Activity: 10 min brainstorm/expert advice + 5 min record it + 10 discuss = 25 minutes
Group Feedback: 10 minutes.
Discussion
Encourage the delegates to have a discussion about the most effective way of finding solutions to a specific problem. Was asking experts and finding extra information helpful in coming up with more creative solutions? What was most helpful about this exercise? Was the generated solutions helpful and practical?
Soft Skills Training Materials
Get downloadable training materials
Online Train the Trainer Course:
Core Skills
Turn Your Expertise into Engaging, Well-Structured Training
Topics
Training Materials
Get downloadable training materials on: Management Training, Personal Development, Interpersonal Development, Human Resources, and Sales & Marketing
The Most Similar Exercises & Articles to This in Order of Similarity Are:
Resources for Trainers and Course Designers
Instructional Design Books
Practical books on course design, learner engagement and training delivery, available in paperback and ebook
Free Training Resources
Download a complete sample course with training activities, assessment forms and practical resources for trainers.
Comprehensive Body Language Guide
Explore body language, gestures, posture, facial expressions and non-verbal communication in one practical guide.
Train the Trainer Resources
Improve course design and delivery with practical guides, specialist books and Train the Trainer courses.
Leave a comment
All comments are moderated before being published.
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.