Red and Blue Cooperation

Red and Blue Cooperation
-(Facilitation Technique, Communication, Enhancing Group Dynamics)-

This is a game that we can used to describe about conflict and importances to do cooperation-negotiation to achieve personal and group goals. It also describe that sometimes we have to choose between to take care all mistakes behind first, or to move forward with new system that everybody trust.

We did this game a couple weeks ago with Woman Group in Cimande - Indonesia. I choose this method to show participants that by cooperate together they can achieve greater result (for all), rather than working alone.

Needs
Cards : red and blue for each group.

Method
- Divide participants into 3 groups.
- Give instructions that each group must choose between show blue card or the green one in each round. There are 10 round in this game.
- They must not speak to other groups, but they can have discussion between group members to decide card color each round.
- Give them instruction to collect highest score in total 10 rounds by stick into this rules:

a. All groups choose red card, everyone get 2 point
b. All groups choose blue card, everyone get 1 point
c. 2 groups choose red card (@1 point), 1 group choose blue card (3 point)
d. 2 groups choose blue card (@1 point), 1 group choose red card (2 point)

- Facilitator make a table to show groups score
- Give 2 minutes to all groups in every round to make a strategy
- This game is over after 10 rounds

Situation
- Generally, each team will compete againts each other in first 5 rounds to collect highest score but the result will show the oposite, that while one group collect good score, the other one will get bad score.
- Participants will get aware, in round 1-3 they will play this activity as a game only - hardly understand the purpose of this game. As facilitator you must explain this game further after round 3, to show them that they collect bad score.
- Do short break after round no 5. Tell them to send negotiator (1-2 person) to have discussion with other negotiator to maximize group score.
-  Start again this game for round 6. After round 7 do another short break, and tell each group to send negotiator once more, to negotiate and make a strategy how to improve group score. You, as facilitator should encourage or give them hints how to get win-win situation in this break.
- The game is finish after round 10. Summarize all score and have a discussion.

Hints
- If all groups stay in point A (choose red card all the time), all of them will get full point (20 point) after round 10, or a total score of 60 for all group score. But this situation rarely h appened cos usually everybody compete each other in round 1-5.
- After round 5, after short break sometimes they start to realize that they should cooperate. Maybe they will play just the same as before if the negotiation failed, or play in another direction (cooperate) if the negotiation success.They can choose play point A (choose red card) or try to close the gap between each group.
- A short break after round 7 should make them cooperate and choose point A, but there is possibility that they still try to close the gap between groups. Just let the situation happened.

Discussion / Refflection
- You may make an analogy about group player as multistakeholder, working unit, or individual in the community
- How they deal with internal/external conflict and personal interest?
- How they deal with technical mistake (like taking wrong card),time limitation, decision making process in the game? Do they meet same problem in their daily activity?

Folding Paper

Folding Paper
-(Improve Listening and Observation, Facilitation Technique, Communications)-

This is a game that we can use to demonstrate that it easy for even simple instructions to be misinterpreted by the recipient, especially if ambigous words are used, or the recipient does not (or cannot) ask for clarification.

My friend Abdul Waheed Jamali from Pakistan used this method in a training held by ANGOC a year ago. My friend from Indonesia also used this method a couple years ago, so I think it is a universal game that has been played everywhere.

Needs
Several square / rectangle paper sheets

Method
- Give paper to all participants.
- Tell participants to obey these two rules: 1. each person must close their eyes during activity, and 2. they may not ask any questions
- Instruct them to fold their paper:

a. Fold in half and tear off the bottom right corner of the paper.
b. Fold the paper in half again, tear off the upper right hand corner.
c. Fold the paper in half again, tear off lower left hand corner.
d. Fold the paper in half again, tear off in the middle of paper.

- Instruct them to open their eyes and display the unfolded paper to each other and all the audience.

Discussion
There is a great probability that they will not all be the same. Use the following questions to start teh debriefing:
- What words in the instructions could be interpreted in different ways?
- How could the directions have been clearer to reduce the ambiguity?
- How can we encourage people ask for clarification when they do not understand something?
- Also relate this exercises with posibility that sometimes it is not instructor fault, but also depend with participants (community) ability to interprete instructions. Local knowledge, language barrier, experience also affect their action.

And hey, don't forget to clean all the paper after finish doin all this thing ^_^

Source : Participatory Learning and Action, A Trainer's Guide by Jules N Pretty, Irene Guijt, John Thompson, Ian Scoones - modified by Indra N Hatasura 

Knotty Problem

Knotty Problem
-(Enhancing Group Dynamics, Facilitation Techique, Communication)-

This game is a game to show that groups empowered to solve their own problems are much more succesful than if instructed by outsiders. I used this method when we had a meeting / training a couple days ago with woman group in Cimande - Bogor. This is a group that proclaimed itself as "CAHAYA" or "the light" in English and produce hand made bag to generate extra income for their family.

I used this game cos this group has a problem that sometimes they depend to much to outsider to solve their problem. And I think they must do something. I try to encourage this group to do internal communication and problem solving rather than ask somebody from outside to tell them what they must gonna do (I think they have learn before this and this exercise will refresh their memories and encourage them to do better).

Needs
Some ropes (I use simple plastic ropes, about 50 cm long and as much as participants).

Method
- Select one, two or three participants to act as managers. They are asked to leave the room while you instruct the rest of the group.
- Ask the remaining participants to make a circle and tie themselves into as entangled knot as possible by using plastic rope. Just tie each one hand into another participant hand sporadicly until it everybody get tied.
- They must not let go of each other's hands at any cost.
- Tell the participants to follow the manager's instruction literally and not make it easier for them by doing what they have not been told to do.
- Once the knot is complete, the managers are asked to return and to unravel the knot, using verbal instructions only.
- Instruct the managers to hold their hands behind their back. They are not allowed to touch the group, only instruct them verbally.
- The first attempt is generally not successful and sometimes even produce a more complex knot. After 5 minutes, repeat the exercise without the managers (insider). Tell the participants to "get out of the knot yourselves".

Hints
The second untying process is usually much easier and quicker. Ask participants to comment on what relevance this has to the real world. Some key questions that you can asked:
- What does the game tell us about the role of outsider/insider manager?
- What does the exercise tell us about the effectiveness of "outsider" and "manager" in organizing people?
- What does the game imply for facilitating participation in community development?

Source : Participatory Learning and Action, A Trainer's Guide by Jules N Pretty, Irene Guijt, John Thompson, Ian Scoones - modified by Indra N Hatasura  

Clam Opener

Clam Opener

-(Encourage Children, Communication, Trust Building, Facilitation Technique)-

:) yes, I use "Clam Opener" term to describe the game we play in the night before sleep. The purpose of this game is to make children tell their story, opinion, experience, feeling in their daily life, to help us understand better about our kids. This activity also increase their writing ability and develop their imagination.

If you have same problem with us: come home late, limited time to communicate, or if your children have unique character to express their feeling, you should try this method.

We can play this game in the night, before sleep, or if you come home late everyday, at least you can play this game in the holiday. It only cost 15-30 minutes, and after that you can discuss more (I used to use before sleep time in the bed, to make conversation with them, and I think it's suite for you too ^_^).

Charmanta loves this game

Needs
Paper, pen, 2 or more person

Method
1. Find issues that is important (such as social relation with friends, teachers; feeling; attitude, etc)
2. Try to build and arrange questions that have direct / non-direct relation with that issues.
3. Ask the questions, tell them to write in the paper, and let them speak their answer after that.
4. Let somebody answer the questions too, so it just like a quiz that everybody participate.

This is an example to know social relation between your child and her/his friends:
1. What is your favorite food?
2. McD, Kentucky fried chicken, Gaya Tunggal Noodles, Klenger Burger. Which one do you choose as place to eat for dinner?
3. What is your favorite pet?
4. If you have money, where will you go with your family?What activity will be held?
5. Mention 3 names of your best friend.
6. Why do you pick them as your best friend?
7. Do you believe extra terestrial life? Why?
8. Honest, discipline, kind, funny, wise, friendly. Pick two character that can describe yourself? Why?
9. Writer, doctor, pilot, farmer, breeder, police, secretary. Pick two job that you love most? Why?
10. What is your favorite color?
11. Is there any friend that you don't like in the school? Why you don't like her/him/
12. You saw a kid cheating during an exam. What will you do then: tell the teacher, pretend that you don't see anything, make a talk with the student, or what?
13. Tell me about your dream when you grow older...
14. Who is your favorite teacher in the school? Why?
15. Animation character that describe you better: Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald Duck, Scrooge, Pluto, Sponge Bob, Patrick, etc. Why you choose them?

Hints
- Modify your own questions. Mix fun questions with "main issue" so you can create fun atmosphere
- You can play this game with a whole family too, and everybody can create his/her own question too
- Find any interesting fact? Use "before sleep" time to share and discuss with your kid. Hear more, rather than talk more.
- Modify this method for grown up. You can build trust among each other with this activity 

Do this activity again and again in comfortable condition. Maybe you will find that after this your kid will ask for this Clam Opener game for one more time, just like Charmanta... :)

Five Wind Directions

Five Wind Directions
-(Nature Game, More ESD Activities, Facilitation Technique, Discussion, Communication, Enhancing Group Dynamics, Improve Listening and Observation, Analysis )-

This is a very interesting game we played about a year ago in ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) training in Bogor. This is a method that we can play again and again for many topics because its flexibility with issues.

Mr. M Saleh from JPL (Jaringan Pendidikan Lingkungan) / Indonesian Environment Education Network show us this game and we do a lot of discussion in this game regarding some hot issues.

This "Five Wind Direction" (sorry, I rename this game cos I don't know its real name) I think is one of the game that very effective to share information between participants.

There is no conclusion in this game since the goal of this game is to collect information and to brainstorm participants

Needs
About 15-50 participants (advance level)

First you must tell a story, and ask questions. Let say:
"In Bogor (where they lived), particularly in Pamoyanan village (where most of them have school), there is a plan about building a big factory complex. Many people feel happy cos they think it will open many opportunities for people who seek job, and the other thinks the opposite: it will pollute the river, destroy the small forest near the village and damage water reservement"

Ask participants
- Who agree (>75%) with factory complex build stand in north point
- Who disagree (<25%)>
- Who "kind of agree" (>50%) with factory complex build stand in west point
- Who "kind of disagree" (<50%)>

After first step ask someone who wants to give opinion about their stand. Facilitate other participants to give other opinion and let them exchange information and discussion.

Participants can move and stand in other direction after some opinions (let say, after every 5 opinions given, or every 3 minutes).
You will see that there is some change about their stand after some opinions being talked.

As facilitator you can give some new information while the discussion happened. Ask key questions to participants when they give opinion.

Don't worry... yes, maybe it can be a hot discussion between participants... keep be a good facilitator ^^ ! Don't forget to do some hand shake between participants after this game...

Ah yes, why I name this game: five wind direction, because sometimes there are participants who become extremely poled, or a participant who didn't choose any direction (always moving every time) - that's the fifth wind direction: extreme pole, or as a wanderer (joke ^^)

Answer and Grouping

Answer and Grouping
-(Nature Game, Facilitation Technique, Ice Breaker, Grouping, More ESD Activities)-

This is a game that we can use again and again, with only small modification- as an introduction games, ice breaker or energizing game, I prefer to modify, relate it with environment issues. But sure, you can also modify it into mathematic, biology, social science, language game, etc.

Needs
Pencils, papers, questions

Give papers and pencils to participants. The idea is simple: we give
questions (multiple choices are better). The children answer it by
writing answer in paper, and then in count 3 they must find a group
who write same answer with them (by moving,asking).

Purpose - to know each other / environment issues. Questions (sample):
- Which one is your favorite pet: dog, cat, turtle, fish, bird,
reptile?
- Which one is your favorite recreation place: beach, mountain,
forest, garden, lake-river, sea?
- Which one is your favorite social-environment friendly actor / artist: John Lennon, U2, Anggun, Leonardo Di Caprio, Sting, Elizabeth Taylor?

Purpose - to test environment / biology knowledge. Questions (sample):
- Which one doing photosynthesis: zooplankton, phytoplankton, mushroom, fungi, bacteria, and virus?

Purpose - to test language knowledge. Questions (sample):
- What Sundanese (traditional) language is having same meaning with "sit”: diuk, ulin, sare, lumpat?

And more...

Hints:
- Remember, for competition game, add some modification like squat / squat-walking for group who give false answer - until another question offered.
- Don’t forget to tell them to shake hand every time they do grouping,
with other group member. It will cheer the atmosphere.
- Remember, this is only an opening game. Prepare a discussion related with the topic you play.

Step of Knowledge

Step of Knowledge
-(More ESD Activities, Facilitation Technique)-

This is an activity to re-check children knowledges after a presentation or a lecture. Many of us hate a formal test because it raise our tension, so why don't we make a fun one ?

Needs
A bunch of participants (children are acceptable ^_^)

What we will do are by make a start and finish point for everybody who wants to participate in this game. Two lines or rocks are acceptable.

Then you must make some questions (number of questions are depend on how far is the distance between start and finish point). You also may consider the step range for every children.

For example, this is my activity (you may change it according the situation happened in your class)
1. Make a question. If the answer is right/acceptable, the kids who answer can step forward (he/she can make a big step - it is also a sport game ^^)
2. If the answer is wrong, the kid has to squat and stay still
3. More questions. If the answer is right, from last position the kids have to jump forward and make a stand up position again (yeah, so it's more difficult for somebody who answer fault answer before cos he/she isn't in best position - but he/she still can make a jump and stand up again - and now his/her position is become normal again
4. You will see a race here. The winner will be the first one who reach finish line. Maybe as a gift, you can give permission to come home early; or as gift to other kids (as bonus, so the other kids can ask the winner to help them; you can arrange another rules for that)

Some modification:
- Use "face backward" rather than squat
- Use winner answer (ask the audience) as bonus point (e.q. for everybody who has cross half range, for everybody who answer correctly one special questions, for every correct 3 questions - you can modify it according the situation happened)
- Make a non linear circuit. You can use tree, turn point, etc so children will not get bored

Ok, that's it. You can also give special offer, such as give an apple for the first two kids who reach some range, or a consequence : to write poems for children who didn't reach the finish line...

Who Will Talk Then ?

Who Will Talk Then ?
-(Facilitation Technique)-

Do you often face a situation that there is no one wants to talk after a presentation ? Sometimes it also happened to me :) . Yeah, after we present something, movie presentation, lecture, tell a story, no one raise their hand because they are to shy to ask a question (this situation generally happened in new group meeting; or maybe because my presentation too boring ^^ ?).

Well I have a secret,and I want to share it with you... how to make a simple game that always work, to make people give their opinion / ask question to our presentation (teacher, you can use this technique to pick kids randomly - and to bring excitement while learning).

Basicly, I assumed the kids / participants are just to shy to ask or to answer the questions, or to give their opinion. So I use to pick a kid from groups with asking them :
- Who have the longest hair in the group?
- Who have the curliest hair in the group?
- Who have the biggest shoe size in the group?
- Who have the blackest skin in the group?
- Who have the longest home range from this place?
- Who have the most dogs in the group?

Anybody who say : that's me will present, answer or ask the question you tell before. Well, a kind of surprising question that everybody wait, so everybody will focus while have fun after know what happened to the first group...

Picture taken from http://www.northcliftonschool.com

World Cafe Discussion Technique

World Cafe Discussion Technique

-(More ESD Activities, Discussion, Enhancing Group Dynamics)-

World Cafe is a new technique for me to have a kind of discussion.We did this activity in ANGOC - ToT in Philippine 15-21 September 2009.

We also can use this technique to other workshop participants. A senior high school students or higher may do this technique, because this discussion need a lot of informations and knowledges from participants.

Needs
Manila paper, color spidol, 1 facilitator, 1 notulen

First, divide participants into groups consist 3-5 participants (beside facilitator and notulen). In my ToT, there are 20 participants, so they form 5 groups, sitting in each table.

Well, let aside the ToT material. I will only tell you the concepts of this activity is to make an open discussion between people. Everybody can move to other groups an make a conversation. So, yes, somebody can come to you, in the middle of discussion and there is a basic rule that everybody who come late must join the topic that already discussed (no interuption first please).

Don't forget that in each table, there are a facilitator and notulen that have anchor functions. It means that everybody can move to other table, but not this 2 person (well, if everybody move isn't that difficult to know previous discussion?)

Let say, we make a 2 session with 4 questions that is :
- What is the problem of environmental issues in your area ?
- Kind of strategy you implement in that condition
- What thing you are not reccomend (according to your experiences) - in implement this activity ?
- Next plan to do in the future - why ?

For every session you can give 30 to 60 minutes. The idea is not to tell everybody exactly what happened (naration) but to get people participation (fresh idea, question asked) unless they need to know your information. Just telling everybody your feeling and dominate the discussion is not what I mean (it sometimes happened if the facilitator forgot their function).

Everybody freely moving all around. In my country Indonesia this is what thet tell you as WARUNG KOPI (cofee shop) discussion. Sometimes it's hotter in the parliament itself ^_^
My questions in previous paragraph are freely to be modify... you are welcome to do that...

The Spider Web and The Fly

The Spider Web and The Fly

-(Nature Game, More ESD Activities, Facilitation Technique, Analysis, Discussion, Enhancing Group Dynamics)-

This is a kind of more complicated game that we used to play for teenager / adult. This is a very effective game / training method to show relation between many factors in natural resources management.

Latipah Hendarti and Mia Siscawati from RMI play this game - usually in ToT / Community Organizer Training, to help participants realize, that there are many factors that influence one occurred problem. I give 9 point to this method. It help a lot, but as facilitator you must support participants with questions and information once this game is started

Needs
- A complete story about a condition in natural resource management (or you also can play this game with other topic).
- A big roll of rope
- Some meta plan papers (color paper)
- Whiteboard or large size of paper
- Glue / cello tape

Story Example:
Diah was a 15 years young girls, she lived with her mother in a village called Desa Babar Sari. Her father left the family when she was 2 - to married another women. It happened a lot in Desa Kemuning, a district where divorce number is high.

Diah stop learn in the school when she was 12 to give a chance to one of her brothers (there are 3 more kids in this family). Her brother passed away 2 years ago because nerve illness, after 5 years of un-safe diving.

Diah work help her mother to cook and process fishes. The family work to support fish industry in this local fisherman village. It is a small scale industry that provide only a little amount of reward. They, each only got Rp 6000 (about 0,6 USD) a day for their 10 hours work and this isn't enough to support the family.

The village is also not in a good situation. The health facility is poor, the school is far (10 km walk) and the transportation is bad (need a boat that only come once a week to go to nearest town).

One day, some investor came to this island. They want to buy this land to build a luxury resort. The village must be removed. The offer is poor because they want to relocate villager into deeper area, to become farmer. After a riot, some mysterious people came and burn the village, including Diah's house

After this happen, 2 months later his mother died and from now on she must take care his family. One of her younger brother now also stop school to support this family.

METHOD


GAME
- One participant play as Diah (the fly), stand in the center of the circle (being played by another participants). Tie (circle) the rope into Diah.
-Ask a question to participants: according to your opinion, what things are causing this (Diah) situation ?
- If there are any opinion from participants (one man one opinion), give the roll to him/her. Tie the rope again to Diah, then. An observer notes the keyword from participant in meta plan, so the answers will being record by observer.
- Ask the questions to another participants. When they answer the question, give him/her the roll again. After some answers, the rope will looks like a web.
- And everybody can say their opinions. Repetition for answers and participants is acceptable. Notes: don't forget to encourage participants to give clear explanation about their opinion by give questions...

REFLECTION
- After make a category for every opinion (written in meta plan); for example : economy, culture, environment, health, education, ... issues and place the meta plan papers in right groups (the participants can place his/her paper him/herself, we can begin the discussion
- I leave the discussion to you (you can facilitate by yourself)
- Say the magic words : according to you, how we can make Dinah free from this situation ? Try to discuss more... and don't forget, Dinah must say something too... do you agree with that ^^ ?

Guess My Name

Guess My Name
-(Nature Game, Facilitation Technique, Improve Listening and Observation, Enhancing Group Dynamics, )-

This activity is a nature game. It is fun and we can do it in a class room or an open area. Our purpose is to know different kind of animal, plant diversity (or something else if we want to develop and relate this game more : like in social issues - city name, village, tribe,...), so we can always practice environment issue with biology, social, geography with this kind of game.

Needs:
Handkerchief (optional), some game card (we create it)

First, for teachers, we have to make some game card related with our topics (is it about knowing animals? Is it about knowing plant diversity ? - (more advance: is it about local tribe knowledge ; or is it about city/village social knowledge)? This game is very flexible.

Cut a nice picture for the card. You can make it big enough, so the children can see it clearly. This is some example about what things we can do with this card
Animal diversity: deer, jelly fish, pig, worm, shark, sea snake,...
Plant diversity: tomato, chilly, coconut tree, banana tree, other tree,...
Profession: farmer, teacher, ...
Social knowledge: city, village, country name, tribe
Tools : computer, knife, paper map

The game we played needs some participants. We divide kids into 2 groups (each about 3-5 kids). Then we give the cards to them. In round one, one group try to guess what card that the other group have. They can ask about 10 time, which the other groups answer is one of this answer : yes, no, yes-no, or not sure. Not clear answer means that the first group must ask a more clear question

The facilitator only give the first clue like : living creature, profession, country, or more speciall clue like : it can breath (for monkey), or it can be from wood (paper map).

The example for kids that guessing a Banana Tree is like this:
Facilitator: It is a living creature
Q1 : Is it an animal? A1 : No
Q2 : Is it moving? A2 : Yes - No
Q3 : Is it a plant? A3 : Yes
Q4 : Is it have a fruit? A4 : Yes
Q5 : Is it a tropical plant? A5 : Yes
Q6: Is the fruit have a hard skin? A6 : No
Q7: Is their fruit have a green skin? A7 : Yes - No
Q8: Is their fruit consist a lot of water in it? A8 : Not Clear
Q8 : We mean, when we eat it, there is a taste a lot of water in it? A8: Not sure, but Yes
Q9 : Is the fruit flesh is generally red? A9 : No
Q10 : Is the fruit flesh is generally white / yellow? A10 : Yes

Facilitator : Ok, let guess !
Answer : It's a manggo tree (wrong answer). Then the other group show the picture of Banana Tree. 0 - 1 to the answering group!

Some example of animal topic card

For beginner, play with more question limit (maybe 15 question or you can make a time limit (example 5 minutes, rather than 2 minutes). Remember, you can also play this nature game with modifications:
- Play with single player versus groups (as who will guess or answer the question). If the single player play as the "guesser" he/she can stand in opposite direction with the picture in his/her back.
- Play with more topics, like geography, profession, science, and still you can make relation with environmental issues (or not). Just keep the first clue "environmental friendly" ; like "this thing can make you easier doing your environmental proposal" (answer: computer) ; or "this tribe have local knowledges in farming method" (answer : Dayak Tribe in Borneo).
- Even you can play this game with local languange to integrate it with your culture
- Have fun, integrate this environmental education into a sustainable development issue :) !!!

Animal Instinct

Animal Instinct
-(Nature Game, Facilitation Technique, Ice Breaker, Grouping)-

"Animal Instinct" is an ice breaking game that we can do to energize children or adults when we study environmental education / else. The story behind this nature game is to to tell that animals generally live in the same species groups, not other groups because they need group protection, and other related things.

Needs:
Handkerchieves

First, in circle (or line) we count 1 to 5, and then we start counting the same number again until everybody got their number.

After finish counting, every children in same number stay in the same group. Name that group with animal name like chicken, bear, cat, cow and so on. Practice how the animal will sound, so it's like the cat "meooww" or the cow "moooo"

Then we use handkerchieves to make sure they can't see. Randomised their position / split the groups, and make sure that they are disoriented.

Then in your command, 1...2...3, they start to looking their animal groups by vocalize their animal sound. Be sure that nobody sounding except their animal sound, with eyes closed. The class wil be full with a lot of meooww, mooo, and roar and the games will be stop after each group had their member. The winner will be the fastest group get all their member.

For a larger groups, we can make more than 5 animal groups.