Over the past decade, a severe case of PowerPoint addiction has swept through our increasingly digital world - and as teachers and trainers we are often most at risk.
Symptoms among learners may include elongated yawning, heavy eyelids and heads on desks.
But fear not, here at Train Aid we are always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to keep learning fun, and most importantly our learners awake!
So, in this article, we’re going to show you how to break the cycle of slideshow overload, prevent death by bullet point and bring the fun back into the classroom.
The “Get to Know You” Game
We’re all familiar with the usual Icebreaker activity of standard introductions of name, experience of topic and reason for undertaking the course. While functional, it often lacks a personal spark.
The “Get to Know You” Game takes this somewhat dull activity and injects warmth, personality and a personal touch, whereby learners are encouraged to discuss a personal topic relevant to them. Instead of the standard facts, participants might reveal their favourite colour, describe their perfect Sunday, or share a fun fact about themselves.
This small shift helps foster connection between learners, ease nerves, and create a more welcoming and engaging learning environment from the start.
Role Playing
There’s nothing quite like physically undertaking a task during the learning process.
When we talk about Role Playing, think not about children dressing as doctors and policeman, more on creating a scenario that relates directly to your topic.
A great example of this when teaching first aid could be to have one learner play the role of an unconscious casualty and another learner take on the role of the first aider.
Physically engaging with the topic is a great way to ensure your learners are getting to grips with the subject and will often lead to a deeper understanding and better knowledge retention.
Scavenger Hunt Challenge
Admittedly a scavenger hunt isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when we’re thinking of ways to deliver a syllabus. However, they are memorable, engaging and energising events to get your learners up off their seats.
An example of a fun and easy scavenger hunt may be to hide things relating to your course around the room you’re in, which learners can then find, identify and explain its purpose. They can even be undertaken online if the course is being delivered remotely.
Casino
This is a classic game that’s been used in classrooms for decades.
It works by dividing students into small groups, then giving each group a budget of mythical money for example £100.00.
Groups are then tasked with using their money to place bets on whether statements read out by the teacher are either true or false. If the learners bet correctly, the teacher doubles their stake, if incorrectly they lose it. The winning team are those who have won the most money after 30 minutes.
Playing Casino is sure to get your learners working together cohesively and create some friendly competition.
Using a mixture of different teaching techniques has been proven to boost learner engagement.
If we incorporate methods that involve learners working together in teams, moving around the classroom and engaging in friendly competition, learner’s engagement and most importantly enjoyment levels will soar.
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