Amplifying Activities for Great Experiential Learning: 37 Practical and Proven Strategies

Description

This book provides proven practical strategies and approaches to help you run your existing learning activities in new and more effective ways. It shows how by using distinct and deliberate strategies, teachers and trainers can guide and maximise the learning and development that their activity provides. The 37 ideas can all be used independently and are appropriate for children and young people of different ages and abilities and can be used in many different environments including outside, inside, classrooms, sports pitches and wilderness, and more. Each strategy is presented on a double page spread with illustrations and includes Issues this strategy will help address How to implement this strategy The strategy in action, with examples from a wide selection of educational fields How this strategy helps maximise learning Any pitfalls to be wary of Other similar strategies to consider Aimed at teachers, outdoor and adventure instructors, sports coaches, drama and music teachers and science educators, this is valuable reading for all educators wanting to deliver exciting experiential learning activities. Cover Half Title Endorsement Page Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Acknowledgements About the Authors Introduction What is this book? What is this book not? How to use this book Who is this book for? ‘Successful’ activities Language and definitions Choosing the Right Strategy Factors that affect the strategy you choose Some factors to consider Learning outcomes Participants Activity Emotions Risk Context Combining strategies Strategies for common issues If you want to… …brief your participants differently …build participants' confidence …challenge your participants …make it likely your participants will succeed …empower your participants …inspire your participants …motivate your participants …help your participants plan and organise …have your participants play and experiment …encourage your participants to reflect and review well …help your participants see the big picture …get your participants setting goals …encourage your participants to solve problems …ensure your participants support each other …make your participants think about each other and their differences …get your participants to think for themselves …encourage your participants to use questions well The Strategies Abandon: Give the group their instructions and play no further part Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Charge: Go flat out, giving the group all the help they need to succeed and don’t let their feet hit the ground Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Cheerleader: Provide constant praise and enthusiasm to propel your group to success Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Delegate: Give someone in the group part or all of your job Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Devil on the Shoulder: Consciously provide unhelpful comments and bad advice to provide a challenging environment Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Devil’s Advocate: Always offer alternative viewpoints to those offered by group members Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Drag and Drop: Support the group in their planning and leave them alone during the task Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls? If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Fish Bowl: Take a participant out of the activity and get them to observe what is going on Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Free Rein: Tell the group the objective, then give them free rein to work out how they will achieve it Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Help for Sale: Give the group opportunities to buy help as needed Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Hidden Agendas: Give each member of the group a hidden goal to achieve alongside the task Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… How High?: Let the group set their own measure of success Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… In the Picture: Hand the group picture instructions with all the information they’ll need and leave the participants to follow them Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Instruction Manual: Have the group create an instruction manual alongside the activity to help others succeed Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Islands of Safety: Allow chaos between controlled points Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Iterative Goals: Assign the group a series of achievable steps until they reach their goal Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Leg Up: Give your participants the minimum amount of support needed to achieve their goal Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Lifelines: Give the group a limit on the number of times they can ask for help Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Listen Very Carefully: Give instructions for the task only once Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Mime Artist: Demonstrate the whole task without words or sounds, exaggerating key points Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Mysterious Voice: Play audio instructions with all the information needed and leave the group to follow them Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Peer Expert: Teach one or more of the group the skills they need and get them to teach the others Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Playtime: Allow the group to learn through play by setting only necessary boundaries Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Plot Spoiler: Tell the group what they can expect to learn before they do the task Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Pulling Strings: Adapt the activity without the group’s knowledge to make it easier or harder Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Questioner: Interact with the group by only using questions Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Saviour: Swoop in at the last minute with the solution or answer to ensure success Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Secret Agent: Assign a secret mission to one team member alongside the group’s main task Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Shifting Sands: Adapt the activity with the group’s knowledge to make it easier or harder Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Souvenir: Distribute a physical memento to each member to remind them of their experience and learning once they are home Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Storyteller: Use a story to explain the rules and give a purpose to an activity Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Sum of the Whole: Assign each member of the group a distinct part to play in achieving the goal Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… The Bigger Picture: Create a storyline that connects a lot of little tasks into something bigger Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Train Tracks: Create a precise plan for the group to follow Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Wind Up and Let Go: Provide a lot of praise and enthusiasm before the activity to give the group confidence Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Written Brief: Hand out written instructions to the group with all the information needed and leave the participants to follow them Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Wizard: Inspire the group with expert skills beyond their comprehension Use this strategy to… How does this strategy maximise learning? Pitfalls If you are looking at this you might like to consider… Let’s Carry on the Conversation