Creative Thinking Review Activities

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 20 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 40 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To encourage participants to reflect on what they’ve learnt.
• To identify the group’s key learning points.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• Resources for participants to use to create their ‘cake’. This could be access to the internet and PowerPoint etc., or a variety of art resources to create a physical representation.

Notes:
This is a review activity for train the trainer training, but it can also be adapted and used in other situations where you want people to reflect on how they’re going to use the key ingredients from the training they’ve experienced and apply them in the workplace.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
This exercise will take about 10 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 15 minutes for completion.

Aims:
• To help participants recall many of the key learning points at the end of a training session about creative thinking.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of almost any size.

Useful For:
Anyone attending a course or workshop that focuses on creative thinking.

You'll Need:
• A printed copy of the large (A3) Trainer version of the Word Search grid provided, affixed to a flipchart.

Notes:
A small prize for the winning team would be nice, though not essential.

Time:
This exercise will take about 10 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 20 minutes for completion.

Aims:
• To encourage participants to reflect on what they’ve learnt.
• To identify the group’s key learning points.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of almost any size.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• A selection of random images - one for every 3 participants.

Notes:
This is an ideal review activity to include in training where you’ve sought to encourage lateral or creative thinking.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
This exercise will take about 20 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 40 minutes for completion.

Aims:
• To encourage participants to reflect on learning they’ve experienced, and how they are going to use it.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• To make sure participants have access to the tools and resources they need for this exercise, if you want them to complete it during the training session.

Notes:
This could be a task that participants complete in their own time outside the learning session, in which case we recommend that you arrange a review session where the results are shared and where you build on these with some action planning activities to conclude the training programme.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
This exercise will take about 30 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 40 minutes for completion.

Aims:
• To get participants into a creative and energetic state.
• To illustrate the value of short, sharp periods of creativity and idea generation.
• To launch training with some fun.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of any size.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• A box of resources, which can be easily collected and used again and again. The basic items we suggest are: Varied topic magazines/colour supplements, sticky tape, scissors, newspapers, ribbon, coloured card, feathers, balloons, scraps of material, coloured markers or felt tip pens. Try to add resources that are unusual too.
• You may also choose to award a few small prizes.

Notes:
This fun activity is suitable groups of all sizes and is designed to get people working in teams, sharing resources and ideas, and working against the clock. It is meant to be a fast and fun exercise.

The exercise also works well if the participants are staying overnight on a residential course when, as an alternative to a conventional icebreaker, you can use this exercise last thing in the day. Ask all the participants to turn up for dinner wearing their hats and prizes can be awarded.

We’ve included some suggested competition categories in the handout, but you may wish to add others (particularly if working with a very large group).

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.