Use Word Search Puzzle in your training programme review sessions

After a module/session, hand out a Word Search Puzzle quiz to each participant. Wait an appropriate amount of time for participants to complete the puzzle. The amount of time allowed will vary depending on the group’s education level and complexity of the puzzle. Consider giving a prize to the first correctly completed puzzle. To ensure participation or if you have a mixed group, you may want to have participants complete this activity in groups or pairs.

What is it?
A word search, word find, word seek, word sleuth or mystery word puzzle is a word game that is letters of a word in a grid, that usually has a rectangular shape. The object of the game is to find and mark all of the words hidden in the grid. The words may have been placed horizontally, vertically or diagonally. They may have been written backwards or not. Often a list of the hidden words is provided, but more challenging puzzles may let the player figure them out. Many word search puzzles have a theme to which all the hidden words are related.

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Word Search Puzzle Templates
1. You can create a simple template on MS-Excel. If you require a readymade MS-Excel template, I can email it to you. Send me an email on: trainersnetwork123@gmail.com

Use Crossword Puzzle in your training programme review sessions

After a training module, hand out a crossword puzzle quiz to each participant. Wait an appropriate amount of time for participants to complete the puzzle. The amount of time allowed will vary depending on the group’s education level and complexity of the puzzle. Consider giving a prize to the first correctly completed puzzle. To ensure participation or if you have a mixed group, you may want to have participants complete this activity in groups or pairs.

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Variation

As a variation, you may play it as a "buzzer game" by giving clues one-by-one and throwing it open to the teams to participate. The team that responds first gets the first chance to give the answer. Team that gives the correct answer gains positive points, whereas, incorrect answer attracts negative points.

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What is a Crossword Puzzle?
A crossword is a word puzzle that normally takes the form of a square or rectangular grid of black and white squares. The goal is to fill the white squares with letters, forming words or phrases, by solving clues which lead to the answers. In languages which are written left-to-right, the answer words and phrases are placed in the grid from left to right and from top to bottom. The black squares are used to separate the words or phrases.

Squares in which answers begin are usually numbered. The clues are then referred to by these numbers and a direction, for example, "4-Across" or "20-Down". At the end of the clue the total number of letters is sometimes given, depending on the style of puzzle and country of publication.

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Crossword Puzzle Templates

1. You can create a simple template on MS-Excel. If you require a readymade MS-Excel template, I can email it to you. Send me an email on: trainersnetwork123@gmail.com

2. Alternatively, you can buy a low cost software. I bought a CD of one such software - Crossword Designer, from a super store for Rs 100/-.

Jeopardy! Game Show – Make your participants 'Bid and Win' Points for their Teams

Jeopardy! is a fast-paced game that is great for review sessions. The Jeopardy! template consists of six categories with five questions each (6 x 5 = 30 questions). The questions are worth a varying number of points—point values of 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000. The difficulty level of the question coincides with the increasing point values.

Jeopardy! game is usually used in training programmes with some variation. This is done in order to lessen the setup time for participants getting used to the game and to get teams playing in rotation. Teams compete for points by first selecting a category and point value. When the question is revealed, teams have an allotted time period to “ring in” to answer the question. The first team to ring in answers the question. If the team member answers correctly, he /she wins the point value of the question for his /her team. If the contestant is incorrect, he or she loses the half of the point value indicated, and the other teams have an opportunity to ring in and answer the question. If no team answers the question correctly or the time runs out before anyone rings in, the answer is revealed. The next opportunity for selecting the question goes to the next team in the sequence.

Hidden behind the questions is one special “bonus question” that can be answered only by the team who selected that question. Depending on whether the response is correct or incorrect, points are won or lost by the team. If the response is incorrect, no other team is allowed to ring in or to answer the bonus question. The team that “Hit” the bonus question gets a chance to select the next question – out-of-turn (a bonus!).

The 'Jeopardy! game' MS-PowerPoint template is freely available on the internet in the public domain. Just download and use it! You may download template from any of the following sites -
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http://jc-schools.net/tutorials/PPT-games/
http://exchange.guhsd.net/details.php?object_id=28
http://www.netxv.net/esc/technology/InstructionalTechnology/templates/powerpoint.htm

Use “Slumdog Millionaire” Game Show in your training programme review sessions

Trainers are always looking for interactive ways to engage participants of a training programme. Game shows are extremely effective for “Knowledge Review” sessions leading to increased content retention, increased trainer engagement and interactivity.

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Most participants like playing in this game show format. Divide your group into teams and have them play this game. Very good for recap sessions.

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The 'Millionaire Show' MS-PowerPoint template with original loud music is freely available on the internet in the public domain. Just download and use it! You may download template from any of the following sites -

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http://jc-schools.net/tutorials/PPT-games/

http://exchange.guhsd.net/details.php?object_id=28

http://www.netxv.net/esc/technology/InstructionalTechnology/templates/powerpoint.htm

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When should you use Game Shows in a training programme?
To quote Sivasailam “Thiagi” Thiagarajan, “I am fond of telling trainers that they are limited to only three occasions in a training session for the use of game shows: before, during, and after.”