I use Padlet as my online post-it board

by | Sep 22, 2020 | Coaching, Creativity, Influence, Interests, Online Tool

I was introduced to Padlet by a school teacher. She was using it as an online virtual “noticeboard”, where students and teachers collaborate by

  • sharing of thoughts and reflections
  • sharing of useful links, pictures and ideas
  • posting words of encouragement to each other

This is indeed a brilliant idea to introduce some technology to an adult training class and to reduce paper wastage. It is like writing your note on a post-it pad and pin it up, but it even better because you can still refer to it after you leave the classroom. So, let’s get started!

Padlet, is a blank wall online

Instructions

  1. “Sign Up” for an account using your Google, Microsoft or Apple account. You could also sign up with an email account.
  2. Click ” + Make a Padlet” to create a new wall for your sticky notes. Note that for a free account, you can create 3 padlet walls.

3. Figure 1: This is a new padlet wall I have created. Click the “+” button on the bottom right to create a post. When you mouse over it, you will see the comment as shown in the figure.

4. Figure 2: The posts were created for my learners so that they could enter their comments without a padlet account. Their status will be Anonymous as shown in Figure 3. Note: only the creator of the wall can click the 3 dots on the right of each post to edit the post.

5. Figure 3: Click the 3 dots, i.e. “Comment actions”, on the right of each comment and you will be able to edit the comments, i.e. Edit or Delete the comment. Anyone who posts for each other are encouraged to leave their names

5. Figure 4: To share the website with my learners, I click “Share” on theYour content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings top right.

  • I could change the privacy to Private/Password/Secret/Public
  • I could share my padlet wall using the weblink or QR code.

Secret Tip
Click “Remake” for your existing padlet wall and you can create another 3 more. That would be a total of 6 padlet walls for a free account!)

In the midst of difficulty lies opportunity.

Albert Einstein

Rummikub for Team-building

by | Aug 24, 2020 | Coaching, Creativity, Influence, Interests, Learning Activity

Rummikub is a tiled game for 2 to 4 players, pronounced as ‘Rummy-Cube’.

It was created by Ephraim Hertzano, a Romanian Jew, who wanted to replace the traditional card games with colour cubes. Hence, if you are familiar with the Rummy card game, you will find it easy to learn how to play Rummikub. Oh yes, some even call Rummikub the American-style Mahjong.

Related: How A Funny Jewish Game Called Rummikub Became An International Sensation

Contents

  • 104 tiles of 4 colours (orange, red, blue, black)
  • Each colour has 2 tiles of each number, and the numbers range from 1 to 13.
  • The last 2 pieces are the wild tiles, also known as the Joker tiles.
rummy card

Instructions

  1. Every player gets 14 tiles at the start of the game.
  2. The first move of each player begins with placing a valid set(s) of at least 3 tiles on the table. It could be a sequence of tiles of the same colour and in increasing order OR a group of tiles of different colour and the same number. To increase the level of difficulty, the first move of each player must fulfil the earlier requirement AND that exceed a value of at least 30 points.
  3. If players are unable to play their first move, they draw 1 tile from the draw pile and pass their turn. This repeats until the player is able to play out their first move
  4. Once players make their first move, they could either make a new set(s) with the same criteria as (2) or make manipulations on existing sets. Players need to draw the number of tiles that they have passed out during their move.
  5. Types of manipulations
    5.1 adding tiles to the existing set(s)
    5.2 split existing set to create a new set; each set has at least 3 tiles
    5.3 the joker tile can be used to substitute any other tile
    5.4 replace the joker tile with the valid number and use it for another set. note that you cannot keep the joker tile for the next move
    5.5 players can rearrange the tiles to dispose of more of his/her tiles. similarly, you cannot keep the tiles for the next move
  6. Play continues until a player clears all the tiles. This player is the winner.
  7. If no more tiles are in the draw pile, the play continues until a player clears all the tiles. This player is the winner.
  8. If no valid plays are possible, the player with the least number of remaining tiles is the winner.

Rummikub first move
Rummikub Manipulative 5.2
Rummikub Manipulative 5.4
Rummikub Manipulative 5.5
Rummikub Manipulative 5.6

These are the few different version of Rummikub in the marketplace. Rummikub can also be found online. You can find the official Rummikub app and Rummy available on Android and iOS.

Rummikub
Rummikub
Rummikub

Rummikub is a brain burner. It develops the working memory and logical thinking; it reinforces STEM skills like sequencing, pattern recognition, planning and decision making.

Rummikub is also a good activity for reinforcing social lessons; playing as a team, learning to be a good sport, turn-taking, and how to lose gracefully. I bet you will still be talking about the fun after the game!

Related: Why Learning Through Play is Effective (and Fun!)

If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got.

Albert Einstein

You can be eXtraOrdinary

by | Feb 24, 2020 | Character, Coaching, Influence, Leadership

Inspiring ConneXion believes that ordinary people can be extraordinary. What does it mean to be called ordinary and what does it take to be extraordinary?

An ordinary person sees no distinction in himself when compared to others; he blends in, does things accepted by the society and follows status quo. He follows a routine that gets him through the day at work, at home and in the community. Basically, who is he to make a difference to anyone, in any capacity?

So, we said you can be extraordinary! What does it take to be extraordinary? We have seen a quote that says “God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.” Is that real? Can that person be me? Definitely!

Change your thoughts and you will change your world

The first thing we need you to do is to STOP telling yourself that you are ordinary or a nobody. Why?

  1. It prevents you from growing personally and professionally.
  2. It limits you and traps you in your comfort zone.
  3. It reduces your choices to No Choice.
  4. It hurts your self-esteem.

The list can go on and on; nothing is positive. It drains your energy, so let’s not go there!

Next, we want you to do a Minimal Makeover (Extreme Makeover may sound too overwhelming). 

We need you to START thinking positive. How?

  1. Start being a winner by walking away from whiners.
  2. Start facing the giants and rising to the challenge.
  3. Start creating momentum that generates positive energy.

Finally, we need you to CONTINUE doing what you are good at and make every day a Masterpiece! Remember:

You are more powerful than you know ad they fear the day you discover it.

The difference between the ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.

Jimmy Johnson

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