in this issue
	Icebreaker: I'm Unique! Creativity with Cards Activity: Communication Line Closer: Crossword Quiz

Icebreaker: I'm Unique!

Here's an idea that gets people thinking about how they are different, and realizing ways that they may also be alike. Have participants think of something that they think makes them unique. Ask them to introduce themselves and their "uniqueness." As each person states what makes them unique, ask the others in the group to stand up if they also have that same uniqueness. Make the point that we sometimes think we stand alone in some way, but often there are others who will stand with us. Another variation of this is to have them guess how many others in the room might have the same uniqueness. Award a prize to those who correctly guess how many others are like them. This can be a great opener for any session that focuses on difference: Diversity, Communication, Problem Solving, Negotiating. Have fun and be different!

Creativity with Cards

Here are some ways you can use a deck of cards in your training workshops. Try them out. Send us some of your ideas, too! As an icebreaker: Tear cards in half. As each person arrives in training, give them half a card. Instruct them to find their partner and chat. Then have them introduce their partner. To form groups: Deal cards to the class. Have them find others with the same suit or number (depending on how large you want the groups.) To assign roles: Give each team one suit. Have each person draw a card. Then assign roles for an activity based on the card they drew. For example, high card is the recorder, low card is the leader, etc. See what other ideas you can think of for a deck of cards and have some fun.

Activity: Communication Line

This activity is a way to begin discussing how a group is interacting. It's especially useful in team building when you want to explore people's contributions. Here's how it works. Place a piece of masking tape on the floor of the room long enough for all team members to stand on it in one line. Instruct participants to silently position themselves on the line based on their communication on the team. Those who communicate the most should be at one end, while those who are more quiet should be at the other end. Let them know that they can move others around if they feel they are in the wrong position. Then allow about 5 minutes for them to get in line. When they stop changing positions, ask some questions to analyze their line. Begin with questions about how they feel about where they are and how they felt if others moved them around. Then ask questions about their feelings about where others are positioned. Guide the conversation so that there is no judgement about where someone stands on a line (it's not good or bad), simply focus on why they are at a particular spot. Take the discussion even further and focus on each individual, soliciting feedback from others about the value that person brings to the team, the kind of information they should be sharing, and how they can change their communciation to strengthen the team. This is a great activity that gets people moving and talking, and that leads to improved team communication.

Closer: Crossword Quiz

This closer is a fun way to test learning, especially of technical concepts. And it's easy to do with some affordable software. Just create a crossword puzzle with the terms you have covered in the training. You can use the crossword several ways. One is to have each person complete the puzzle on their own, with a prize for the first one who finished with all the right answers. Another option is to divide the class into small teams and make it a competition for them. You can take the puzzles and enlarge them on a poster printer for posting on a flip chart. After they complete the puzzle, go over each answer. Take this opporutnity to reinforce the learning and answer any additional questions from your audience. This activity has several benefits: you test learning, have some fun, and reinforce the information covered in the class.