I recently worked with a group of 72 adults who were a part a student support department at a University. Their mission statement included: "To support students from pre-college through graduate education." One of their desired outcomes for the professional development day was to explore the concept of 'support.' During my planning process I came up with Trackball as a way to experience and discuss support. Let me walk you through my process...
Set Up:
Set Up:
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I used 5-foot lengths of rope (tied into circles) for the Pods and golf balls for the participants. You could also use Hula Hoops for the Pods and Tennis Balls for participants – really, anything that rolls. Maybe there are different 'kinds' of participants you want to talk about. They can be represented by marbles, golf balls, and tennis balls – maybe even a few softballs.
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I used a collapsible grocery basket for the Realm of Their Future. I like the portability of this container. You can use a bucket or box as well. I used to use another rope circle for the destination point for materials, but the orbs often bounced out of the circle (of course another problem to solve). I'm purposefully increasing the odds of success using a container with walls.
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Needs & Numbers: As for the set up, use the same gear (and Set Up) for 24 all the way up to 80 participants. (With the time allowed, it will not be about getting ALL the participants into the Realm of Their Future. It will be about how many they can get there in the time they have.)
You'll also need one 'Track' for each person in play. Any 'Pipeline' prop you have will work. I used the colorful 'Gutter Ball' kit from Training Wheels (see the Track picture in the heading). You can even use foam pool noodles cut into 18-inch sections.
Each initial 'team' within the 'group' will need a copy of the Trackball Self-Guided Instructions. I also like to provide a clipboard and a pen for each team if I'm going to have them self-reflect using the guide on the back of the Instructions.
You'll also need one 'Track' for each person in play. Any 'Pipeline' prop you have will work. I used the colorful 'Gutter Ball' kit from Training Wheels (see the Track picture in the heading). You can even use foam pool noodles cut into 18-inch sections.
Each initial 'team' within the 'group' will need a copy of the Trackball Self-Guided Instructions. I also like to provide a clipboard and a pen for each team if I'm going to have them self-reflect using the guide on the back of the Instructions.
| trackball_selfguided_instructions.pdf |
This PDF will show you a Preview before you click to download.
Process: Divide your group (of 24 to 80 participants) into smaller 'teams' of 6 to 10 people. With my group of 72 I handed out playing cards at the beginning of the program so I could get them into a variety of group sizes during our training. (Check out THIS VIDEO/Blog post on Card Groupings.)
After I divided them into teams (using cards – 8 or 9 on a team), I asked everyone to send me one person from their team to pick up the gear they needed. They picked up a Track for each person on their team (including themselves), one Self-Guided Instruction Sheet, a clipboard and a pen.
Before we started, I got everyone's attention using my trusty cowbell. I told them this:
"You now have what you need to begin the next adventure. Have someone on your team read out load the Instructions for the task. Wave your hands around for me to see if you have something I can clarify for you.
For your Time Budget, you have 10 minutes to plan and practice your approach and then 20 minutes to work your plan moving participants to the Realm of Their Future. Please keep in mind, you are one service provider divided into teams to meet the Objective.
When your Time Budget is up, you will spend some time exploring the ways you supported the participants, and each other, during the experience. Your 10 minutes of planning and practice starts now. I'll let you know when to begin the official movement of participants to the Realm of Their Future. Go ahead and share the Instructions with each other and let me know if I can clarify anything for you."
After I divided them into teams (using cards – 8 or 9 on a team), I asked everyone to send me one person from their team to pick up the gear they needed. They picked up a Track for each person on their team (including themselves), one Self-Guided Instruction Sheet, a clipboard and a pen.
Before we started, I got everyone's attention using my trusty cowbell. I told them this:
"You now have what you need to begin the next adventure. Have someone on your team read out load the Instructions for the task. Wave your hands around for me to see if you have something I can clarify for you.
For your Time Budget, you have 10 minutes to plan and practice your approach and then 20 minutes to work your plan moving participants to the Realm of Their Future. Please keep in mind, you are one service provider divided into teams to meet the Objective.
When your Time Budget is up, you will spend some time exploring the ways you supported the participants, and each other, during the experience. Your 10 minutes of planning and practice starts now. I'll let you know when to begin the official movement of participants to the Realm of Their Future. Go ahead and share the Instructions with each other and let me know if I can clarify anything for you."
Facilitation Notes: At the conclusion of my instructions, I let the teams work out their process. I walked around making myself available for questions and clarifications. I also kept an eye on Instructions violations – clarifying the expectations.
BIG NOTE: Many people started to plan and practice without a clear understanding of the Instructions. (This was a great talking point after the activity.)
Here are several things I needed to clarify right away:
BIG NOTE: Many people started to plan and practice without a clear understanding of the Instructions. (This was a great talking point after the activity.)
Here are several things I needed to clarify right away:
- Each person can only use and touch one track.
- 'Participants' can only be touched by the tracks (many were confused about how to get participants out of their Pod – a problem to solve).
- They are "one service provider" divided into teams, not competing against each other. In other words, they are ONE GROUP working towards the Objective.
After starting in smaller teams here's what was suggested. In the end they moved 11 participants in 20 minutes and felt good (as they shared) about this ALL-Group bonding experience.
Reflection: After the Time Budget was up, I asked them to rejoin their original teams and discuss the question regarding 'support' that was found on the back of their self-guided Instructions. After about 6 minutes I asked teams to share out the supportive behaviors they noticed. Together there were over 15 supportive behaviors they shared. Then I asked this group, "What are some of the supportive behaviors you saw here would you like to see more of in this group?" This opened some awareness to what they can work on as they moved forward together.
Here is the Post-Activity Reflection Question and 15-point spaces to document observations that was printed on the back of the Instructions sheet:
Here is the Post-Activity Reflection Question and 15-point spaces to document observations that was printed on the back of the Instructions sheet:
| supportive_postactivityreflection.pdf |
This PDF will show you a Preview before you click to download.
I have found over time with larger groups, the self-guide Reflection gives more people an opportunity to share their thoughts. And, when they all write down what was shared, I can collect this data, type it up, and send it to the group for future reference. It's a nice value-added to a program.
Let me your thoughts about this one. Leave us a Comment or send me an email. I'd love to know how it works out or how it can be improved.
All the best,
Chris Cavert, Ed.D.
Let me your thoughts about this one. Leave us a Comment or send me an email. I'd love to know how it works out or how it can be improved.
All the best,
Chris Cavert, Ed.D.
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