Appendix A: Examples of Icebreakers, Energizers, Closing Activities, and Training Evaluations
Icebreakers
Energizers
Closing Activities
Training Evaluations
Paired Interviews
Purpose
To help participants get acquainted with their fellow participants
and practice their interview skills
Time
Depends on number of participants. Allow 1 to 2 minutes per
participant
Group Size
No more than 20 for one large group; can divide large groups into
smaller ones but then everyone would not hear all the
introductions
Materials
Scrap paper and pens/pencils for participants to jot down
notes
Directions
Pass out postcards or playing cards that are cut in half.
Instruct participants to find the person who has the other half of
their card. (This gets people up and moving around.)
When all pairs have matched up, ask them to take turns
interviewing each other. Each person will have four minutes to learn
the following things about his or her partner:
Name
How they spend their day (e.g., job or other responsibility
like caretaking for a sick spouse)
Their interest in or connection to the training topic
One hope for the training
One interesting thing about them (e.g., hobbies)
Tell participants that they will be introducing their partner
to the entire group when it reconvenes, so they may want to take
notes.
After 4 minutes, give participants a signal to change
partners.
At end of 8 minutes (or after each person has had a chance to be
an interviewer and be interviewed), call large group back
together.
Go-Rounds
Purpose
To give participants a chance to learn something about their
fellow participants and to encourage everyone to speak out
Time
One minute per person
Group Size
No more than 20 for one large group; can divide into small groups
but then everyone would not hear all the introductions
Materials
None
Directions
State the purpose of the exercise and ask each person to say
his or her name followed by the answer to one of the following
questions:
What is one thing you'd do if you were given
$100,000 with no strings attached?
What is one thing you'd like to change about the world (or
about cancer care, education, or screening)?
Describe a strong feeling you've had in the past week and a
reason for that feeling.
What is one thing you'd like to get from the training?
Post the questions on a flipchart paper or overhead so
participants can focus on the discussion and not on remembering the
question.
Beach Ball Toss
Purpose
To review material learned from a previous session or determine
what participants would like during the current session
Time
5-10 minutes
Group Size
No more than 20-25 participants
Materials
Choice of using either a beach ball, Nerf ball, or Koosh ball
Directions
Instruct participants to form a circle.
Explain that you will throw the ball to someone within the circle.
When that person catches the ball, he or she should mention a key
message or concept heard during a previous session.* Once he or she
has made a statement, he or she should toss the ball to another
person within the circle.
Ask participants not to toss the ball to the person on their
immediate left or right.
Suggest that participants should step out of the circle once they
have participated.
Continue tossing the ball until all participants have had an
opportunity to participate.
*Note: If this is the first session for the training
program, ask person to tell you what he or she expects to learn.
That's Me
Purpose
To get participants moving, i.e., standing up and down; it also
allows participants to get acquainted with each other
Time
5-10 minutes
Group Size
Unlimited
Materials
None
Directions
Give the following directions:
You will ask a question, such as "Who has
grandchildren?"
If that characteristic "fits," participants will stand
up, raise both arms outstretched over their head, and shout,
"That's Me!"
Ask the group to practice standing up and shouting "That's Me!"
when you count to three.
Ask the group as many of the following questions (or questions
of your choice) as time allows. Mix in questions that are more
personal with those that pertain to the topic of the training.
Who lives in (this state)?
Who traveled more than 4 hours to get here?
Who has grandchildren?
Who exercised this morning?
Who took a vacation last summer?
Who ate at least one serving of fruit this morning?
Who had a clinical breast exam within the last year?
Who watched at least one movie or videotape in the last
month?
Who plans to shop while in (this city)?
Who knows someone who has been on a cancer clinical
trial?
Who has a pet?
Who has read a nonfiction book in the last 3 months?
Who is eager to learn more about (the topic)?
Closing Statements and Handout
Some activities serve to close out both the emotional aspect and
content of the training. This exercise is an example of one that
serves both purposes.
Purpose
To give every participant a chance to summarize their experience
of the training in a way that the group can share
Time
10-15 minutes
Group Size
Up to 20 participants
Materials
Closing statement handout for each participant
Directions
Ask participants to:
Take a Closing Statements Handout (see below).
Take a minute to complete any of the sentences on the handout
that they choose (give participants 5-10 minutes to complete
handout).
Form a circle in (the back of the room).
Ask participants to go around the circle and share one of the
closing statements out loud.
Notes to Facilitator
You can place this before or after the evaluation,
but don't hurry it. Give people a sense of how much longer you
plan to keep them (i.e., "We'll do this exercise for 10 minutes,
spend 5 minutes finishing evaluation forms, and then we'll
adjourn").
Be sure participants will be able to see and hear each
other.
Don't respond to what is shared; model respectful, quiet
acceptance of what's offered.
End by thanking everyone for sharing the training with you.
Closing Statements Handout
Please complete any of these sentences to summarize your
experience of this training event. You will be asked to share one
with the group.
I learned_____.
I feel_____.
I was surprised_____.
I'm wondering_____.
I've re-discovered_____.
I figured out_____.
I appreciated_____.
I felt challenged_____.
I'm clearer about_____.
Form (Version A)
Goal 1: The overall goal/purpose of the training is to provide
health education coordinators with the knowledge and skills to plan,
implement, and evaluate effective outreach strategies for increasing
the number of adults aged 50 years and older who get colorectal
screening at appropriate intervals.
Goal 2: A second goal is to provide health education coordinators
with the knowledge and skills to provide tips for training peers to
conduct effective outreach for colorectal screening.
Name (Optional)
Were the overall program goals met?
If no, please explain and give suggestions for improvement.
What are the top three things you learned from this
training?
If you could give the trainers one piece of advice on how to
improve the training, what would it be?
What were some of the training's highlights or parts that you
valued most?
What did you like least about the training?
What other types of training would you like?
What problems or dissatisfaction did you have with the way the
program was scheduled?
Form (Version B)
Circle the appropriate response.
Trainer organized the material effectively.
Strongly
Agree
|
Agree
|
Neutral/No
Opinion
|
Disagree
|
Strongly
Disagree
|
Comments:
Trainer managed discussions effectively.
Strongly
Agree
|
Agree
|
Neutral/No
Opinion
|
Disagree
|
Strongly
Disagree
|
Comments:
Trainer used effective teaching methods.
Strongly
Agree
|
Agree
|
Neutral/No
Opinion
|
Disagree
|
Strongly
Disagree
|
Comments:
Trainer used handouts and audiovisuals that were appropriate
and contributed to the presentation.
Strongly
Agree
|
Agree
|
Neutral/No
Opinion
|
Disagree
|
Strongly
Disagree
|
Comments:
Discussion materials were clear.
Strongly
Agree
|
Agree
|
Neutral/No
Opinion
|
Disagree
|
Strongly
Disagree
|
Comments:
The training can be applied to my current job.
Strongly
Agree
|
Agree
|
Neutral/No
Opinion
|
Disagree
|
Strongly
Disagree
|
Comments:
The material presented is useful on a personal
level.
Strongly
Agree
|
Agree
|
Neutral/No
Opinion
|
Disagree
|
Strongly
Disagree
|
Comments:
The material presented is useful on a professional
level.
Strongly
Agree
|
Agree
|
Neutral/No
Opinion
|
Disagree
|
Strongly
Disagree
|
Comments:
Would you be interested in attending a followup session on
this topic?
If yes, specify the areas that you would like to see included in
the agenda.
Feedback Cards Exercise
Purpose
To provide a mechanism for participants to give feedback regarding
the training/learning experience
Time
5-10 minutes
Group Size
Any size
Materials
Two colors of 3" x 5" index cards, enough for each participant to
receive one card of each color
Directions
Pass around two stacks of 3" x 5" index cards. Each stack
should be a different color (best to use colors that are easily
distinguishable from each other, e.g., blue and yellow)
Ask each participant to take one card of each color.
Ask each participant to write, "One thing you really liked or
appreciated about this training (or this day of training) on the ____
color card."
Ask participants to write, "One thing you wished had been
different about this training (or this day of training) on the ___
(other than in step #3) color card."
When all participants have completed the cards, ask that they pass
both cards to the front.
Thank participants for their input and assure participants that
the trainers will carefully consider their feedback.
Head, Heart, and Feet Exercise
Purpose
To evaluate the session at its conclusion, especially useful for
audiences with limited literacy skills
Time
15 minutes
Group Size
Any size
Materials
Evaluation sheet for each participant, flipchart, markers, and
tape
Directions
Hand out the evaluation sheet that follows. Explain its
objective and how the information will be used.
Invite participants to use the markers to draw their head, heart,
and feet on the paper.
Ask participants to fill in the form (individually or with someone
else).
If there is time, ask them to share something they learned or to
give final comments.
Variation
Draw a large head, heart, and feet on flipchart paper and post it.
Distribute small slips of paper and ask participants to write down
the major things they learned or got out of the event. Post these
points in the appropriate position on the flipchart and discuss
them.
Head:
What did you learn today?
Heart:
How did today's training feel to you?
Feet:
What are you going to do as a result of the training today?
Faces Exercise
Please circle the face that best describes your feelings about
each given training activity:
Icebreaker
Lecturette on risk factors
Values clarification exercise
Small group exercise on barriers and facilitators
Video
Energizer
Role play exercise
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