Comments on: 10 ways to split big groups into small groups or pairs http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/10-ways-to-split-big-groups-into-small-groups-or-pairs#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed support for Brain Friendly Learning practitioners Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:36:58 +0000 hourly 1 By: Debbie Demare http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/10-ways-to-split-big-groups-into-small-groups-or-pairs/comment-page-1#comment-504 Debbie Demare Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:52:42 +0000 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1485#comment-504 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">Great tips. 10 ways to split big groups into small groups or pairs http://bit.ly/cBtx6W</span></span> Great tips. 10 ways to split big groups into small groups or pairs http://bit.ly/cBtx6W

]]> By: Stacey http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/10-ways-to-split-big-groups-into-small-groups-or-pairs/comment-page-1#comment-503 Stacey Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:53:30 +0000 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1485#comment-503 Absolutely, Ally! I'm glad my idea might work for you. Thanks for your support. I've successfully used this approach with terms and definitions too. Crossword puzzles also work well for terms and definitions. Here's a web site where you can download the (open-source, thus free) program and make your own crosswords. http://www.eclipsecrossword.com/ Cheers! Stacey Absolutely, Ally!

I’m glad my idea might work for you. Thanks for your support. I’ve successfully used this approach with terms and definitions too. Crossword puzzles also work well for terms and definitions. Here’s a web site where you can download the (open-source, thus free) program and make your own crosswords.

http://www.eclipsecrossword.com/

Cheers!
Stacey

]]> By: Scott http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/10-ways-to-split-big-groups-into-small-groups-or-pairs/comment-page-1#comment-501 Scott Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:30:21 +0000 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1485#comment-501 To pair off, I often tell them to find someone with similar shoes (or shirt). This often causes a little bit of laughter, creates some movement (something the learning brain needs), and usually creates pairs that wouldn't normally partner up. If I need a larger group, I ask each pair to join with another pair. To pair off, I often tell them to find someone with similar shoes (or shirt). This often causes a little bit of laughter, creates some movement (something the learning brain needs), and usually creates pairs that wouldn’t normally partner up. If I need a larger group, I ask each pair to join with another pair.

]]> By: Ally http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/10-ways-to-split-big-groups-into-small-groups-or-pairs/comment-page-1#comment-500 Ally Wed, 24 Mar 2010 08:59:04 +0000 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1485#comment-500 Nice one Stacey, I've done somethng similar using quotations relevant to course content but love your idea of actually using text from the course. I can see this working with a Customer Service programme I'm involved in at present. They are really struggling with the vocabulary needed for the exam - this might be a useful way to help them connect definitions with terms. Thankyou :) Nice one Stacey,

I’ve done somethng similar using quotations relevant to course content but love your idea of actually using text from the course. I can see this working with a Customer Service programme I’m involved in at present. They are really struggling with the vocabulary needed for the exam – this might be a useful way to help them connect definitions with terms.

Thankyou :)

]]> By: Ally http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/10-ways-to-split-big-groups-into-small-groups-or-pairs/comment-page-1#comment-499 Ally Wed, 24 Mar 2010 08:54:45 +0000 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1485#comment-499 Hi Andrew, your right to focus on the learning points. As Deb mentioned in an earlier comment, if we are going to be splitting our groups into smaller groups anyway, how about doing it it a way can can reinforce learning points? I sometimes struggle with 'having fun' for the sake of it but that suggests that the rest of the time is a grind and hard work for the learners. Jooli Atkins wrote a great article about <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BrainFriendlyTrainer/~3/-yXdu7ItWJY/help-learners-learn-with-pragmativity" rel="nofollow">Pragmativity</a> that offers an antedote to our concerns about this danger. We might be able to have an alternative to splitting groups up that takes no more time but re-inforces learning points. Sometimes the extra time does pay dividends in other ways like changing state, introducing movement, lightening the mood or simply getting strangers to interact a little more. All of these might speed up learning later in the day ;) Hi Andrew, your right to focus on the learning points. As Deb mentioned in an earlier comment, if we are going to be splitting our groups into smaller groups anyway, how about doing it it a way can can reinforce learning points?

I sometimes struggle with ‘having fun’ for the sake of it but that suggests that the rest of the time is a grind and hard work for the learners. Jooli Atkins wrote a great article about Pragmativity that offers an antedote to our concerns about this danger.

We might be able to have an alternative to splitting groups up that takes no more time but re-inforces learning points.

Sometimes the extra time does pay dividends in other ways like changing state, introducing movement, lightening the mood or simply getting strangers to interact a little more. All of these might speed up learning later in the day
;)

]]> By: rickzanotti http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/10-ways-to-split-big-groups-into-small-groups-or-pairs/comment-page-1#comment-497 rickzanotti Wed, 24 Mar 2010 02:44:20 +0000 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1485#comment-497 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">RT @RussellAWheeler: 10 ways to split big groups into small groups or pairs => http://bit.ly/bJOgL5</span></span> RT @RussellAWheeler: 10 ways to split big groups into small groups or pairs => http://bit.ly/bJOgL5

]]> By: Russell A. Wheeler http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/10-ways-to-split-big-groups-into-small-groups-or-pairs/comment-page-1#comment-498 Russell A. Wheeler Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:41:52 +0000 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1485#comment-498 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">10 ways to split big groups into small groups or pairs => http://bit.ly/bJOgL5</span></span> 10 ways to split big groups into small groups or pairs => http://bit.ly/bJOgL5

]]> By: Stacey http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/10-ways-to-split-big-groups-into-small-groups-or-pairs/comment-page-1#comment-496 Stacey Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:02:08 +0000 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1485#comment-496 A good way I've found to review content presented before a break and then to pair participants up after break: Take sentences (i.e., policies) from the training content and divide sentences in half. Write each half of the sentence on separate index cards. Use ellipses (...) at the beginning or end of the phrase to indicate if the card is the beginning or the end of the sentence. Participants then must circulate and find their matching half. This activity: a) eventually pairs up participants, b) reviews content, c) fulfills a learning objective or learning point, d) engages everyone at the same time, and e) requires that participants "mingle." A good way I’ve found to review content presented before a break and then to pair participants up after break: Take sentences (i.e., policies) from the training content and divide sentences in half. Write each half of the sentence on separate index cards. Use ellipses (…) at the beginning or end of the phrase to indicate if the card is the beginning or the end of the sentence. Participants then must circulate and find their matching half. This activity: a) eventually pairs up participants, b) reviews content, c) fulfills a learning objective or learning point, d) engages everyone at the same time, and e) requires that participants “mingle.”

]]> By: Mark Sturgell http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/10-ways-to-split-big-groups-into-small-groups-or-pairs/comment-page-1#comment-495 Mark Sturgell Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:25:24 +0000 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1485#comment-495 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">RT @bftrainer: 10 ways to split big groups into small groups or pairs http://bit.ly/9KgwCb</span></span> RT @bftrainer: 10 ways to split big groups into small groups or pairs http://bit.ly/9KgwCb

]]> By: BrainFriendlyTrainer http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/10-ways-to-split-big-groups-into-small-groups-or-pairs/comment-page-1#comment-795 BrainFriendlyTrainer Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:52:57 +0000 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1485#comment-795 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">@TMSDImarkgilroy @TNMCoaching @MentorGuru @SandyRank Thankyou for RT http://bit.ly/cBtx6W post on splitting groups</span></span> @TMSDImarkgilroy @TNMCoaching @MentorGuru @SandyRank Thankyou for RT http://bit.ly/cBtx6W post on splitting groups

]]> By: Andrew Miller http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/10-ways-to-split-big-groups-into-small-groups-or-pairs/comment-page-1#comment-467 Andrew Miller Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:35:07 +0000 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1485#comment-467 Are we not just in danger of wasting training time with things like this when it is far far easier just to number people off? Fair enough if there was a learning point to the exercises - but in many (most actually) I can not see a learning point? As we get pushed to deliver more in less time - time itself becomes very important! Andrew Are we not just in danger of wasting training time with things like this when it is far far easier just to number people off?

Fair enough if there was a learning point to the exercises – but in many (most actually) I can not see a learning point?

As we get pushed to deliver more in less time – time itself becomes very important!

Andrew

]]> By: Mark Gilroy http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/10-ways-to-split-big-groups-into-small-groups-or-pairs/comment-page-1#comment-465 Mark Gilroy Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:03:32 +0000 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1485#comment-465 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">10 ways to split big groups into small groups or pairs http://bit.ly/9KgwCb (via @bftrainer)</span></span> 10 ways to split big groups into small groups or pairs http://bit.ly/9KgwCb (via @bftrainer)

]]> By: Ally http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/10-ways-to-split-big-groups-into-small-groups-or-pairs/comment-page-1#comment-461 Ally Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:16:21 +0000 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1485#comment-461 That is a fab idea Deb! I love this :) An alternative - not quite so affirming, may be to use words associated with the subject matter. For example, in a customer service course, you may use questioning, listening, empathy etc... That is a fab idea Deb!

I love this :)

An alternative – not quite so affirming, may be to use words associated with the subject matter. For example, in a customer service course, you may use questioning, listening, empathy etc…

]]> By: Deb Herbert http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/10-ways-to-split-big-groups-into-small-groups-or-pairs/comment-page-1#comment-459 Deb Herbert Sun, 07 Mar 2010 10:57:15 +0000 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1485#comment-459 A positive variation on the 1-2-3 method, and just as quick and simple, is telling them they are 'fantastic', 'brilliant' or 'wonderful'. If you want more groups just add additional positive adjectives. It makes me and them smile, and feel positive, when they are looking for the 'wonderful' people etc.! A positive variation on the 1-2-3 method, and just as quick and simple, is telling them they are ‘fantastic’, ‘brilliant’ or ‘wonderful’. If you want more groups just add additional positive adjectives. It makes me and them smile, and feel positive, when they are looking for the ‘wonderful’ people etc.!

]]> By: Tony Latimer, MCC http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/10-ways-to-split-big-groups-into-small-groups-or-pairs/comment-page-1#comment-462 Tony Latimer, MCC Sun, 07 Mar 2010 03:43:42 +0000 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1485#comment-462 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">10 ways to split big groups into small groups or pairs - http://bit.ly/d5kKrw</span></span> 10 ways to split big groups into small groups or pairs – http://bit.ly/d5kKrw

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