Creative Facilitation Session 3

Dear All,
Today we had our third Creative Facilitation Training. It was very interesting as we learnt some new techniques with their ins-and-outs in addition to some perfectly executed ice-breakers (Human knot and 'SHOOT!')

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As you can see, all the walls were covered with notes and "lessons learnt". We even had to improvise sticking flipovers to pillars of the room and use the floor...

As it seems to have become a tradition, no CF day without a fire alarm going off! Here are some pictures of it...

Jan Buijs and Jan Schoormans watching the crowd

Our very energetic Facilitator-Instructor

After the break, the kick-off of our first 2-hour event happened. We had to solve a problem. It was defined as to design a device which would store tips (money) during a festival dedicated to four different charities. The device was supposed to be inviting for people to open their wallets while satisfying them about their generous act.

The groups (which formed naturally during the morning) were assigned to come up with a concept design and to present it to the group. The winning team (e.g. the proposed concept answering best the problem's owner problem) would win a bottle of wine. The fact that we were all competing and knowing that a potential trophy was to be won stimulated all teams.

Last minute preparations and questions just before starting the teamwork. We decided to leave the room (in which we were since 8.45am) to head for a more inspiring place. This happened to be "the Pit" (or open-air basement) in our faculty!

During this event, a facilitator was designated and a game-plan was designed. No need for an icebreaker, but we did use the following techniques:

1. Brainwriting Exercise [diverging stage]
   
2. Criminal Mind Exercise (find ways how to illegally collect money (at first) and then think how to legalize them) [diverging stage]
   
3. Dotting technique [contemplation stage] in which the options which scored lowest were set aside
4. C-Box technique [convergence stage]. The various options developed here were looked at on 2 axes: feasibility and effectiveness (of collecting money). Our concept with the balloons was developed and refined here.
   

The 2-hour deadline struck and we had to present a 'blitz-presentation'. The problem owner would decide which team would win the design contest.

The device (backpack) to carry, weigh and visualize the amount of donations...

While Henry presented his group's idea, everyone listened very carefully...

Victor presented our group's idea: A globe with the 4 countries (charities) on it with money slots. People would donate by country they would like. All the coins inside of the globe were mixed. When people donated money, they would indirectly buy a helium inflated balloon. A massive balloon cloud would be released in the evening to celebrate and thank all the people for their donations...nice innit?

3rd Group then presented the following:


The Group of Novi then presented their idea:

Once again, during these presentation, everyone (almost...) paid close attention.

It was now time to give the problem owner the floor as a winner had to be announced.

The tension was rising when Laura was explaining her thought process and how she assessed all four ideas...

Who was the winning team? The next picture will speak for itself...

The Globe Team (we) won! :D

The closing element of today's session was a small note to our teaching assistent which was sick. Hopefully these post-its and messages will help her feel better...



As you can see, this day was full of events. Besides being learnful, the casual atmosphere helped everyone to participate and open-up.

Cheers!
Michiel