Improv games to explore active learning

[Viv McWaters]

I know that's a tautology - improv games are about active learning. Nonetheless, I need your help (again!).

I'm working next week with 55 people from a number of different countries who generally transfer knowledge to others via a ppt presentation based on the theory that they are the experts and the audience are the empty vessels that need 'filling up' with knowledge. My brief is to introduce them to active learning and participatory approaches of sharing knowledge.

Could you suggest any specific improv games that would be useful to incorporate? So far I'm thinking of Group Juggling (aka You!) and, er... um... (you can see my dilemma!)

Thanks

Viv

[Daniel Knutson-Bradac]

Hi Viv:

Story Exchange from Kat Koppet's book came to mind:
Overview: Participant exchange short stories from their lives. After exchanging stories, they cycle through a number of rounds in which they tell the stories they have just heard as if they were their own. Finally the group comes together in a circle, and each member again tells the last story they have heard. Think a giant, complex game of telephone.

Also "Story Spine Story"

There's also a wonderful article from Berkeley win which David Bryne extols the potential of PowerPoint you might like to read: "Ultimately, PowerPoint is just an instrument like a guitar, with ones and zeroes in place of strings and wood. And as Byrne showed last night, perhaps the naïve melodies are best." more at: http://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2005/03/08_byrne.shtml

Cheers:

Daniel

[Laurie R Kauffman]

First, form them into groups of three
Then give them a 5 minute quiz (include a puzzle in the quiz), perhaps matching popular TV shows/movies to active learning theorists
Then ask one person from each group to share their answers
I've found that training people are generally the worst learners, so it pays to start slow.