Frozen Acronyms: Online Opener, Revisiter, Energizer
July 28, 2011 By Becky Pluth
This activity can be used as a learning activity,
energizer or revisiter A producer is a second staff member who helps the
facilitator with housekeeping items, software issues, and other things behind
the scenes.
Webinar Length:
any
Activity Length:
1-5 minutes
Instructor Skill
Level: novice
Participant Skill
Level: novice
Supplies:
slide
Tools: polling
Purpose:
Familiarizing, Introduce New Concept, Recall Background Knowledge, Recall
Information-Existing Schemas, Refocus Learner, Review, Teach New Material Set-up
Prep
Create a slide that includes the following:
o Title: Frozen Acronyms
o Do selected motion in place
for 30 seconds or until the facilitator calls out a new acronym. Freeze when
you hear an acronym.
o Raise your online hand if you
know what the acronym stands for.
Create a slide that includes a list of activities:
o Jumping o Twisting
o Jumping jacks o Playing air guitar
o Stretching o Free choice
Insert the slide at the very beginning of the
presentation as an opener, during a content piece to teach as a learning
activity, after content is covered to revisit or as the last slide before break
or the end of the session to be used as a closer. Insert the slide anywhere
throughout the presentation for fun as an energizer.
Trainer Process
Put up the "Frozen Acronym" direction slide when
learners are starting to fade.
Have learners stand at their desks. Encourage
participation by demonstrating the movements on a webcam.
Put up the activity slide and have participants select
an activity from the list.
Participants should do the activity for 30 seconds or
until the facilitator calls out an acronym at which point participants freeze.
Remind the group to raise their online hand if they
know the definition.
Facilitator calls on a volunteer to either define the
acronym or use it in a sentence.
Tell learners to resume their activity or begin a new
activity when their peer has defined the acronym.
After all listed ideas are done, ask participants to
text chat how they are feeling now compared to before they took their break.
Producer Process
Put on webcam and participate.
Put up timer for 30 seconds. Reset and restart timer
after each acronym.
Post up ideas on whiteboard to get learners thinking (variation
only).
Keep track of team points (variation only).
Variations
Have learners stand and text chat the definition or
sentence. The first correct text chat gets a point for their team. Make teams fun-guys
vs. gals, East Coast vs. West Coast, etc. Use multiple times with the second
half of the session earning double points.
In need of a quick, unplanned energizer? Put up a blank
whiteboard and have learners post, one at a time, acronyms along with an
exercise. Learners still define the acronym.
Do as a timed activity; get through as many acronyms as
possible in the allotted time. Keep track of how many you get through each time
to see if the number defined improves.
Used with permission from Webinars with Wow Factor by Becky Pike Pluth
