Imagine that your beloved furry friend keeps escaping from your yard through a gap in the fence. Exasperated and not wanting to lose her again, you’re temporarily flummoxed as you don’t have the time or cash to build a new fence. What’s a person to do? Why add a wooden spoon of course. I … [Read more...] about Ramping up your creativity with a dog, a fence and a spoon
Imagine you’re a professional clown for a minute. You’ve perfected your makeup. Your face is your work of art. It’s what makes your clown you. How do you protect your clown face from someone else copying it? And what the heck does this have to do with learning? Hang … [Read more...] about Imagine you’re a professional clown for a minute.…
I’ve been traveling a lot lately for my UN work; Uganda, Tanzania and Ghana and to Mauritius. Part of my go-with-me-everywhere is a series of plug adapters so I can get my gear working and charged up without fail. Sometimes though, it takes a few twists and turns (and even moving the … [Read more...] about Lost in translation; from beer and Snoopy to a broken mug and unanswered questions
Learning means putting your nose to the grindstone. Learning means aches and pains in places you didn’t know could hurt. Learning means being awkward at best, acutely embarrassed at worst. Right? I feel for you if that’s your history with learning. We can do better! … [Read more...] about Suffering is optional- games for learning
Motivation. Drive. They’re powerful pathways to grit, resilience and getting stuff done. Anyone who’s tried to dress a reluctant 2 year old knows the importance of motivation. The task can be easy breezy beautiful if the motivators are pointing in the same direction. Or the task can … [Read more...] about Which one of these 6 motivators drives you and why it’s important to know
Recently I wrote about “How to make your workshops not suck in three easy steps” including the strategic use of icebreakers, energizers and F.G.L.A.’s (facilitated group learning activities). Today I’m going to share the connection between F.G.L.A’s and group groans and how to ensure you get you … [Read more...] about How to make your workshop not suck part 2; from group groans to the E.L.C.
I’d gone from a balmy +30 degree Celsius at my home in Nairobi, Kenya to -20 in northern Sweden. My feet, covered only in thick socks, were warming beside a roaring fire. Later on I’d go to grab my boots to put them back on and find they were frozen to the thick reindeer pelts I was … [Read more...] about Learning how to learn from a traditional Sami reindeer herder
You’ve got hard won subject matter expertise. You’re set on changing the world (or your corner of it). You’re keen to share your wisdom with the world but you’re afraid of falling into the trap of creating a workshop that: Is boringIs nothing much more than a lectureDoesn’t engage your … [Read more...] about How to make your workshops not suck in three easy steps
Your list of to do’s is daunting. The number of plates you have spinning in the air makes you look like a Cirque du Soleil performer. The flotsam and jetsam of things washing around in your brain is massive, such as: Did she email me back about that thing or do I owe her an email?What … [Read more...] about If the number of plates you have spinning in the air is making you look like a Cirque du Soleil performer …
