Training 10: Role Plays

What is Role Play?
Role play = involving participants acting out various scenario.


Benefits of Role Play
1) Learners get to participate.
2) Make the training more interesting.
3) Informal and indirect method of learning.

Script vs Acting-out-the-Scenario
Role Play with Scripts
- Script is written. Learners would act and read out the script accordingly.
- After that, the Learners will discuss and answer the questions in the role play.
Role Play by Acting out the Scenario
- There is a written scenario. Learners will do the acting according to the scenario.
- The rest of the Learners will become the Audience.- After that, the Learners will discuss and answer the questions in the role play.


In the next blog, I will be sharing about the use of Games in Training.


***Michael***

Training 09: Brainstorming session to gather ideas from Learners

What is Brainstorming?
1) Method used to gather and review ideas contributed by a group of people.
2) There are few styles of Brainstorming.


Benefits of Brainstorming
1) Ideas are contributed by a group of Learners.
2) Learning via brainstorming is a method of constructive learning. Learners learn by constructing their own ideas with or without facilitator.
3) Knowledge is generated using knowledge, experience and ideas from a group of Learners.
4) Learners become active participants during brainstorming session of the Training.


Disadvantages of Brainstorming
1) Brainstorming is not suitable if the group of Learners are overly passive, lack knowledge, lacking in experience or do not wish to express ideas.
2) Brainstorming could sometime go OFF-The-Topic.
3) Facilitator may need to help out group which goes OFF-The-Topic during brainstorming.


Brainstorming Topics
1) One line topic
E.g. Membership Growth Ideas

2) One question
E.g. Why do Lions resign?

3) Structured
E.g. Heading: Leadership Training Ideas;
Subheadings: Presidents; Secretaries; Treasurers; Directors; Members;
Subheadings: Funding: Projects; Admin;
Subheadings: Lions Leadership; Project Management; Time Management.

4) 4M Analysis
E.g. Heading: Problems of Project Planning and Implementation;
Subheadings: Man; Material; Machine; Method.


Brainstorming Style
1) Fast ideas
Anyone in the group can give ideas. Facilitator encourages the Learners to think quickly and shout out their ideas.
2) Round robin
Every Learner takes turn to give out an idea. Facilitator would ask the Learner one after another.
3) Silent contribution
Each Learner is given a small piece of paper. He shall write his idea(s) on the paper and submit it back to the Facilitator.


In the next blog, I will be sharing about the use of Role Plays in Training.
http://LionsTraining.blogspot.com

***Michael***

Training 08: Panel Discussion – learning from Subject Matter Experts

What is Panel Discussion?
1) Panel of subject matter experts sharing their knowledge or opinion on specific topics or answering specific questions.
2) Moderator will be coordinating the flow of topics/questions, answers from panel members, and questions from the audience.
3) Learners learn by listening to the what is said by the panel of subject matter experts.


Example of Panel Discussion
Topic: Membership Growth Strategies.
Panel: GMT (Global Membership Team) Coordinator, Membership Chairperson, Extension Chairperson, Retention Chairperson, Leadership Development Chairperson.
Moderator: the Trainer.Audience: Learners (Club Presidents, Secretaries, Treasurers, Membership Directors).


Benefits of Panel Discussion

The Learners or Audience could learn from the knowledge, info, ideas and opinions given by each of the Panel members (who are normally Subject Matter Experts).
At second half of the Panel Discussion, it would be open to questions from Learners/Audience. Learners have the chance to put forth questions which would be answered by the Panel members.
Moderator (Trainer) could control the timing and duration of the panel discussion.Moderator (Trainer) could redirect specific questions to specific Panel members.
Moderator (Trainer) could rephrase and summaries the knowledge/info from the Panel.
It is a moderated dialog between Subject Matter Experts and the Learners. There is TWO-WAY communication involved.


Disadvantages of Panel Discussion

Certain Panel member may be dominating and talk much more than other Panel members, thus depriving other Panel members from speaking.
Time is often a constraint as there are several Subject Matter Experts who want to speak and there may be too many questions from enthusiastic Learners.
Some Learners may become frustrated that their questions are not answered due to time constraint.
Some Panel members may feel that he has been given sufficient time to speak his mind or answer questions.


In the next blog, I will be sharing about Brainstorming session during Training.

***Michael***