The main concerns of many practitioners in training is how to engage learners to sustain their interest. The challenge is more pressing especially for training sessions conducted after lunch. In some instances, conducting energizers are not possible especially if time is an issue. I have experimented with the following learner-centered approaches in order to engage learners during lesson.
Speed Dating
This is a very useful activity which enables learners to have brief contact with each other. The uses include sharing views and ideas, swapping and comparing data, getting to know new members quickly etc.
To perform this activity,
1. Explain the question or topic to be discussed for e.g. What are the characteristics of a good leader?
2. Arrange the learners in two rows facing each other.
3. At the signal provided by the trainer, each pair is to share their views.
4. When the time is up, each learner is to move one position to the right to face a new partner. The two learners on the extreme right of the row is to move to the opposite row.
5. The process is repeated until the trainer feels that sufficient points have been gathered by each learner during the activity.
Learning Centers
This approach is conducted based on the notion that learners are engaged when they are actively involved in their learning. Learners are empowered to teach their peers and take responsibility over their own learning.
In the module Apply Emotional Competence to Manage Self at the Workplace at Operations Level, the class was divided into four groups called learning centers based on Daniel Goleman's four domains of Emotional Intelligence namely:
1. Knowing your emotions
2. Managing your emotions
3. Knowing other people's emotions
4. Managing relationship
Each group was assigned one of the domains and to prepare the materials on the flip chart.
A member was tasked to present the topic to their own respective group.
Once done, another member was to take over the presentation while the other team members checked into the other learning centers either in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction.
After the presentation, another member who had not done a presentation during this activity is required to take over in presenting the content to the newly-checked-in members. This will continue until all the team members had gone through all the four learning centers.
Expert Jigsaw
Generally, there are 2 stages to the Expert Jigsaw Technique namely Expert and Jigsaw. Before the start of the activity the class is divided into number of groups equivalent to the number of topics. For this activity the class is divided into 4 groups which correspond to the following topics:
- Sources of Conflicts
- Facilitation methods in conflict resolution
- Methods for resolving conflicts
- Negotiation Strategies
Expert Stage - At this stage, each group will be assigned of the above topics. They are to read, discuss and understand (hence, the term
Expert) the topic. They may clarify with the trainer when in doubts.
Jigsaw Stage - at this stage, each member in the 4 groups is assigned a number 1 to 4. Members of each expert group with similar number are to be seated together at an assigned seating cluster. Each member will play the role of an expert and present his/her topic to the other experts.
Gallery Walk
During Gallery Walk, learners explore multiple text or images that are placed around the room. This strategy is often used to provide opportunity for learners to share their work with peers, examine multiple documents or respond to a collection of text. As this strategy requires learners to move around the room, it is especially engaging to the kinesthetic learners.
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here to see how gallery walk strategy is incorporated in training.
