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

Tangram Puzzle for Team-building

by | Jul 22, 2020 | Coaching, Creativity, Influence, Interests

Tangram is an ancient Chinese puzzle from the Song Dynasty. 

The 7-piece puzzle is made up of three shapes, namely

  • 1 square
  • 1 parallelogram
  • 5 triangles, coming in 3 different sizes

The objective of the activity to rearrange the puzzle pieces to form figures and all the pieces just be used without overlapping.

Tangram Template

Tangrams are simple shapes combined to create complex pictures. Tangram could be used as a team-building activity tool for adults, to promote the benefits of effective communication, spatial awareness, collaboration, coaching, problem-solving, time management and teamwork.

The brain teaser activity could be divided into various levels of challenge that each team could embark on. Following are some weblinks where Tangrams are used as a learning activity for adults

Tangram is also a good alternative for charade or taboo.

Level 1 Tangram Challenge

At this level, there will be at least 1 or 2 shapes that stands-out in the figure.

Tangram Level 1
Tangram Level 1

Simple Debrief Question: How difficult was the activity for you? What communication challenges did you experience?

Level 2 Tangram Challenge

At this level, instead of completing the tangram puzzle independently. It would be a team activity.

Tangram Level 2
Tangram Level 2

Thought-provoking Debrief Question: Was it more difficult for you to communicate a design to your partner or to build the design that was communicated to you?

Level 3 Tangram Challenge

Option 1: Recreate the Tangram figures.

Option 2: Create your own Tangram figures!

Creativity is Intelligence having FUN!

Albert Einstein

Babylon the Puzzle CUBE for Team-building

by | Jun 22, 2020 | Coaching, Creativity, Influence, Interests

Nurturing and encouraging creativity is no longer something we do for our children. In fact, the complexity of problem-solving of today demands a shift from critical thinking to a good blend of critical and creative thinking, so that we could introduce more effective solutions.

Imagination is the door to possibilities. The first step is to take ourselves from the linear approach to life and embrace learning through play. I know that sounds very kiddish to many adults, but I encourage you to be more open-minded and take on the challenge!

Change your thoughts and you will change your world

We would like to introduce you to a Wooden Puzzle Game call Babylon. This activity can be played alone or with a team of people.

Contents
2 coloured dice
7 4-dice building blocks: blue, brown, green, orange, purple, yellow, red
2 3-dice building blocks: black, white

Instructions
(refer to the picture on the right)

1. Roll the two coloured dice and remove the two coloured building blocks shown on the eyes of the dice (example: remove red & green)

2. Assemble the remaining 7 building blocks into a 3-by-3 PUZZLE CUBE.

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

Note:

If you are playing with a team of people. Players take turns to roll the dice and everyone will complete his/her puzzle cube independently. The winner either earns a point, a prize or a reward. Have FUN!

Creativity is contagious. Pass it on!

Albert Einstein

A Career that Inspires Growth to GLOW

by | Apr 22, 2020 | Character, Coaching, Influence, Leadership

While growth can be accidental and incremental, it has to be intentional if you want it to be sustainable and impactful.

For growth to be intentional, two very important questions have to be asked and answered:

  • Why do you want to grow?
  • What is the push factor for you to continue growing when time becomes easy or even busy?

    Let’s talk about how we could inspire growth that leads to GLOW:

Growth to Infinity

The world advocates lifelong learning as an “ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated” pursuit of knowledge for either personal or professional reasons. At an individual level, this means to

  • expand our knowledge base,
  • equip ourselves with new skills,
  • strengthen the skills that we need to improve.
Living a Legacy

Living a Legacy:

While many do not believe that their influence can impact generations, experience has taught me that one’s continual growth can create an immediate impact as he/she will

  • be more efficient in processes,
  • be more confident to engage in complex problem solving,
  • encourage innovation in the team,
  • ultimately be given the opportunity to lead teams and increase their circle of influence.

Open-mindedness is like a muscle. It is the muscle of willingness to try new things or consider new ideas. It is also a muscle that allows us completely immerse ourselves into another situation or experience without personal biases and prejudices. 

However, it does not mean that you are changing yourself to agree with everything. It simply gives you the freedom to adjust your conclusions and better our ability to connect with others even when we disagree. Open-mindedness takes time, energy, and practice. 

Open-mindedness
Well Grounded

Well-grounded

Lately, we have been witnessing a series of coronavirus-inspired panic buying and hoarding around the world. While being grounded means having the ability to be completely aware and conscious of the present moment, it also means you practice a deep sense of mindfulness and rarely think about “what ifs,”  such as “what if we run out of food/ toilet paper.”

When we are grounded, we are in complete control of our mental and emotional state, and not easily influenced by other ideas or individuals. Likewise, when we are grounded at work, we continue to work responsibly and grow continually to stay relevant and competitive. 

Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.

John Maxwell

error: Content is protected !!