[ instigate change ]

If I were to fit this activity into one of the stages of group formation - it would likely be the norming stage of group formation. So we've gone through the forming and storming stages - we had some conflicts and disagreements and have survived to tell the story. The group still has some kinks to work out but all in all - you're starting to see some good stuff come to the surface. Things that you will start seeing - idea sharing between participants, supporting each other, creativity, and trust building. To encourage your group during this stage - activities like Pile On! are perfect. It allows group members to still plan and strategize with each other and continue to build trust. It does introduce physical contact so that is something you always have to be aware of and watching as your participants interact with each other. Note their comfort levels and how the activity progresses. While I go through this debrief - I want to outline a pretty standard framework for process...

How do you start one of these blogs? I was so excited to paint the walls of this new/old blog and have a place to share ideas and philosophies with folks - maybe meet new people who are on the same journey as me. But I was suddenly struck last night with the overwhelming feeling that I'm a nobody in this world full of facilitators, shakers, and movers. Who am I to be writing about these things... I was reminded of a point about 9 or so months ago when I encountered my old gym teacher at a teacher's convention where I had an exhibit. I was going to be teaching some workshops on how to integrate team building exercises and cooperative games into school curriculum. We talked briefly about this and she looked up sharply and asked when I had gone out and gotten my Ed. degree. I said that I hadn't but that I had been instructing outdoor education and experiential education at a camp for almost a decade. She laughed, responding - "Who do you think you are...teaching teacher...