Use this five-minute activity in a webinar of any length as an opening exercise, closer or revisiting technique as a way to increase interaction in your group and "check the pulse."
Tools: Group Whiteboard
Supplies: Pre-made Slide
Instructor Skill Level: Intermediate
Participant Skill Level: Intermediate
Purpose: Brainstorm, Establish a Learning Community, Familiarizing, Recall Background Knowledge, Recall Information-Existing Schemas, Refocus Learner, Review
Set-up
- Create a handout titled "Top Takeaways" for learners to write down learnings throughout the webinar.
- Create a slide that includes the following:
- A to Z Relay
- Split the slide into two halves with the letters A-M running vertically down the left hand side and down the middle of the page the letters N-Z. One letter per line. All the letters of the alphabet (English or otherwise) should be listed out.
3. Insert the slide(s) into the presentation in the beginning as an opener, part way through the webinar if used as a revisiter or before a break or at the very end of the session if used as a closer.
Trainer Process
1. Have learners turn to their "Top Takeaways" page.
2. Put up the "A to Z Relay" slide.
3. Split group into two teams.
4. Each participant on a team will select a color to write in. Players must rotate who is writing. For example the learner that selected green writes down A-action ideas must then wait for a team mate to post another idea before they may post again. Thus the relay!
5. Learners will fill in each letter with a learning point from the session. For example in a customer service class you might see P=Positive Attitude, S=smile on the phone, X=xtra time with elderly etc. Share with participants that creative spelling counts!
6. When a group is done all participants raise their virtual hand and the game is over!
7. Ask if anything needs clarifying.
8. Check in on participants in their breakout rooms during the relay (variation only).
9. When completed discuss as a large group the ideas.
10. Then direct learners to add ideas to their "Top Takeaways" page.
11. Have learners then circle their favorite idea posted on the whiteboard.
Producer Process
- Put up a timer for 30, 45 or 60 seconds and have it countdown (variation only).
- Post A to Z slide in breakout rooms (variation only).
- After groups are done post winning slide in main room (variation only).
Variations
- Depending on the size of the class you can work as a large group on the main room whiteboard.
- If a large group, put the A to Z chart in each breakout room and race against other breakout rooms to finish the entire chart first. The team that finishes first and raises their hands wins.
- If a small group make it a relay race against the clock to see who wins.
- If a small group one team will work on the first half of the alphabet while the other group works on the second half.
Used with permission from Webinars with Wow Factor by Becky Pike Pluth.
