Games In The Seminar (Part 2)
In this two-part series of articles, we present 10 different types of games, each with a sample game. This article is the second part of the series.
This is the second part of a two-part series of articles on the subject of games in the seminar. As already described in the first part of the blog post, games can loosen up the course of the seminar considerably and strengthen cooperation within the group.
In the following, 5 further game categories, each with a sample game, are presented.
Role Playing Games
By using small role plays, the participants are challenged to put themselves in the shoes of other people in the group. In this way, they can not only broaden their perspective , but also learn something about the perception of others and themselves (Johari window).
- Who am I: In this game, the names of the participants are written individually on small pieces of paper. These are then mixed in a bowl and each participant draws a piece of paper. Now the participant has to imitate the other person, whose name he drew, visually and verbally. The other participants have to guess who the actor impersonated. It is important that the group has agreed in advance on the attributes that are to be imitated (e.g. hobbies, strengths, job, marital status, place of residence, etc.). This is to ensure that participants do not accidentally hurt each other emotionally.
Business Simulation Games
In this game category, the participants simulate a company as a group, which they have to run successfully. With the help of these games, the different types of participants can be identified and the cooperation of the group is also analyzed and promoted.
- Company: The group should independently simulate founding a company. This is about filling certain positions in the company with the right people, developing a concept and then presenting it. Finally, the results are analyzed together (with the seminar leader).
Team Building Games
As the name suggests, these games are about team spirit. The team spirit and the integration of each individual participant is promoted.
- Ball chain: Several small balls are required for this. The participants form a large circle. The seminar leader randomly throws the ball to a participant. He throws it further. This goes on until each participant has had the ball once and the ball lands back with the seminar leader. Participants must remember the order in which the ball was thrown. In the next round, the ball must be thrown in the same order as in the first. In order to make the whole thing a bit more difficult, the seminar leader throws more balls into the round at ever shorter intervals, which have to be thrown on in the same order.
Activation Games
A seminar day can be exhausting. Sitting all day concentrated in a room with several participants can be tiring. Short activation games can help. They get the circulation of the participants going again. The movement returns energy and motivation.
- Tilt chairs: In this exercise, participants stand in a large circle. Each participant stands behind a chair. Now the chairs are tilted forward with the left hand on the backrest until they only stand on two legs. At the command of the seminar leader, all participants let go of their chair and grab the backrest of the neighboring chair as quickly as possible. Only one hand may be used. If a chair tips over, the exercise starts over.
Board Games
Even well-known parlor games (such as Tabu or Memory) can easily be transformed into a seminar game.
- Taboo: The trainer prepares the themed cards. The participants will be divided into 2 groups. One participant from each group goes forward and receives a card. This card contains the word that the participants have to guess. The participant must now explain to his fellow campaigners which term is being searched for (without naming it himself). In order to increase the difficulty, there are 3-4 words under the searched term, which the participant is not allowed to name in his explanation.
Conclusion
Integrating various short games into the course of the seminar is definitely recommended. They lighten the atmosphere, increase group cohesion, and each participant is encouraged to leave their comfort zone. The learning effect that comes with a game should not be underestimated. What has been learned is not only practiced theoretically, but is directly transferred to the level of action.