<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Lots of ideas
Review: I got this book with Brian Miller's Quick Teambuilding Activities (also from amazon.com). Both are good. This one has more activities, but not necessarily better ones. I like the way this one often has a "suggested funny intro" for introducing the activity because i usually stumble in setting it up. The only problem is that some of the activites are quite long (up to an hour)...that's where Millers book excels, all activities are 15 min or less. The activities here are organized into nice categories, too.
Rating: 
Summary: Humor Opened Doors and Minds
Review: I recently purchased a copy of this book as I was preparing to facilitiate a workshop on respect in the workplace. I had used games in previous training sessions but was pleasantly surprised when I came across this book. I referred specifically to Chapter 8, dealing with reducing workplace negativity. I found that the games triggered a powerful response from the participants as their concerns became very obvious in a non-threatening way. The real benefit was what happened at the debriefing. Our discussion of issues turned into in-depth problem-solving. One participant said that an issue that had been festering with her for over three years was effectively resolved because the matter was finally discussed openly. Fifty games set out in a manner that is easy to follow, easy to understand, and clearly focused on the concern being addressed, each game in a group probes deeper into the issues without getting personal. The final game in each group leads workshop participants to make a commitment to change. The structure of the games also permitted enough flexibility to address a group's specific workplace behaviors thereby making the exercise very relevant to the group. Based on the responses from participants in my recent workshop, the point of the games came through clearly and effectively, and will result in real change in their workplace. Very powerful catalysts, your games are. I must also say that I am thoroughly enjoying this book! As a human resource consultant and trainer, I am always looking for new ways of thinking about change. This book is stimulating my mind to find other ways to present ideas in a fun and creative manner. Doni and Sharyn really helped make my job as a facilitator easier by giving me such powerful tools. I am keeping my eyes open to purchase other books by Doni & Sharyn to add to my library. I can hardly wait for Doni's new book, LAUGH AND LEARN: 95 WAYS PEOPLE WHO TEACH CAN USE HUMOR TO BOOST THE BRAIN.
Rating: 
Summary: You-yes, YOU-can be a humorous trainer!
Review: It's (you should excuse the expression) funny, but almost every trainer we've ever talked to believes that humor--used right--can enhance learning. Maybe they've read some research on the subject. Maybe they remember a favorite teacher of their own whose fun style made learning easy. Maybe they just have a gut feeling about the whole thing. Yet, whatever their reason for believing in humor, most trainers never try to develop their own skill at using it! Why? Usually because they don't believe humor is a "skill" that can be "developed." Humor is a gift, they think. Either you were born with it or you weren't. They're almost right. The truth is, humor is a gift--and everybody was born with it! In other words, anybody who wants to use humor CAN. Naturally. Expertly. Gracefully. Appropriately. And best of all, without fear. That's our claim, and we're sticking to it. We make this claim confidently because we measure humor not through a person's ability to tell jokes or use novelty store items, but through their ability to play. And anybody who has ever been a child possesses that ability in spades. We are assuming that you are in fact a former child. This makes you a natural humorist. Our goal in writing The Big Book of Humorous Training Games was to offer more than a collection of laughter-inspiring exercises for building business skills in your learners. More importantly, it was to help you as a teaching professional to achieve a higher level of confidence in your innate ability to use humor--to play better. And to play in a way that will help your learners learn better. To meet this objective, we did several things. First: Chapter 1, "Five Games to Make You a Naturally Funny Trainer," gives you and your training team practice in using the five principles of playful (as opposed to comedy club) humor. Second: Each game in the book comes with a suggested comic introduction. (We have found--as you may have, too--that laughter inspires enthusiasm, often getting even unwilling learners to participate.) Third: Throughout the book are numerous "Light Touch" tips on 1) getting volunteers for front-of-the-room games, 2) responding to your learners' humorous quips (and they will make them), 3) maintaining control in a fun environment, and 4) avoiding inappropriate humor. Finally, to model our brand of playful training, we've written the book in a style a little different from that of most training books. Briefly put: It's fun to read! Really. In fact, we're so sure of this claim that we herewith offer you our personal guarantee: If you don't laugh at least once while reading this book, Doni will eat a Japanese sea urchin, and Sharyn (whose risk-taking tends to be more calculated) will watch without flinching. Hope you love using the book! (FYI: The above-mentioned sea urchins are not poisonous.)
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous
Review: This book is a great reference for any trainer! Most of the Training Game books I have reviewed have a few games that really apply to your classroom needs. Not this one! There were very few of the games that I won't be using! So far, each one I have used has been received with enthusiasm by my students. I particularly enjoyed "Look Ma, No Hands" while training Delegation Skills.
Rating:
Summary: The Big Book of Humorous Training Games
Review: This book is a must for anyone who is involved with training or in giving presentations. I write and design training materials for a large corporation in which there is a constant need for training on many different levels. I have repeatedly used this book to make even the dryest of training materials fun, interesting and interative. The techniques work for all levels of employees from management down to Customer Service Reprensentatives. Now people walk away from training classes retaining far more information than before I found and began using this book. Participation and interest have greatly improved. I highly recommend this book-don't wait another minute longer to buy it!
Rating:
Summary: Lots of ideas
Review: This is the best book on training games I have ever read. It gives new insight that I have found lacking in other authors. Sharyn Weiss is a genious in her trade. Thank you for making my job in executive and managerial training easier.
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing and Innovative
Review: This is the best book on training games I have ever read. It gives new insight that I have found lacking in other authors. Sharyn Weiss is a genious in her trade. Thank you for making my job in executive and managerial training easier.
<< 1 >>
| 
