Training Articles Setting themed ground rules
| Setting themed ground rules |
| Written by Karen Gray | |||
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Ground rules are such an important part of safe learning – yet the way that we set ground rules often adds little value to the learning process. This little exercise was stimulated by a ground rule setting activity at Virgin Active a few weeks ago. Thanks to the VA training team for their ideas! Preparation Look at the name of the course and choose one word that captures the key message of the course. Here are a few examples: • MS Word for Dummies – choose WORD• Plan and design the learning - choose DESIGN • Write to make a difference – choose WRITE Think about the broad aims of the programme and consider the learning culture that you would like to build on the workshop. Do you want your learners to: • Get out of their comfort zones?• Dare to try new ideas? • Practise practise practise? • Build their own strategy for success? • Gain confidence in a new (and uncomfortable) skill? • Master new product knowledge? Draw a border around a flipchart and write the word that you have chosen vertically down it, leaving plenty of space on both sides of the letters. Create one ground rule based on your learning culture thoughts that will be a good example of the ground rules you would like to see on this workshop. Write it onto the flipchart, incorporating one of the letters in your word. On course... At the beginning of the workshop, introduce the course topic and your broad aims and invite learners to share their expectations. Once everyone is clear about the theme of the workshop, move on to ground rule setting: • Display the flipchart and link the ground rule you have written to the course theme.• Divide your learners into groups. • Allocate one or two letters to each group, and task them to create a ground rule incorporating that letter that will add value to the course. • Invite each group to share their ground rules and add them to the flipchart. You should find that the ground rules are far more focussed and meaningful. Share this article 
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