Team Building and Leadership: Create-Learning » School Activities http://create-learning.com/blog Organizational Development - Team Building - Leadership Training - Executive Coaching - Facilitation Wed, 16 May 2012 15:56:33 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 8 Variations of Infinite Loops. Team Building Book http://create-learning.com/blog/team-building/8-variations-of-infinite-loops-team-building-book http://create-learning.com/blog/team-building/8-variations-of-infinite-loops-team-building-book#comments Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:02:05 +0000 mike http://create-learning.com/blog/team-building/8-variations-of-infinite-loops-team-building-book Team Building and Leadership Expert Michael Cardus

8 Variations of Infinite Loops

Takes a fresh and creative approach to a common teambuilding activity. Each variation can be used as a stand alone, or can be sequenced into an experiential learning and team building program. These variations all focus on creating better teams that are able to work together to solve problems and innovate solutions.

Here is 1 variation ‘Partner Separation” which is the Team Building Activity that sparked the variations…for ALL 8 and they are very excellent you can purchase the entire Team Building Book. 

To Purchase the Paperback for $17.00 – CLICK HERE

Team Building consultant michael cardus

 

 

 

 

 

 

To purchase the Kindle e-reader version for $10.00 $3.99 – Click HereInnovation expert michael cardus

 

 

 

 

 

 

What others have said

“I admit it. I’m a big fan of the work Michael Cardus does with teams. I like what he does and how he does it. Michael is able to use simple activities to help individuals and groups make profound shifts. Case in point: Michael’s new e-book "8 Variations of Infinite Loops" provides you with a simple team building activity that you can now use to help the groups you serve learn powerful leadership lessons. The "Infinite Loops" game is a tried and true activity for a reason but oddly, few know how to get the most out of the activity – - luckily, Michael does. The variations he shares are wonderful and best of all, Michael provides detailed debriefing (processing) strategies which is so important. Thank you Michael!”

- Tom Heck of the International Association of Team Work facilitators (IATF)

michael cardus is create-learning

]]> http://create-learning.com/blog/team-building/8-variations-of-infinite-loops-team-building-book/feed 0 Photo Inquiry Friday: What do you need to be more effective? http://create-learning.com/blog/team-building/photo-inquiry-friday-what-do-you-need-to-be-more-effective http://create-learning.com/blog/team-building/photo-inquiry-friday-what-do-you-need-to-be-more-effective#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:36:35 +0000 mike http://create-learning.com/blog/team-building/photo-inquiry-friday-what-do-you-need-to-be-more-effective Team Building and Leadership Coaching + Consulting michael cardus

I have asked the same question to two different large team building & leadership groups this week. One group was Corporate HealthCare staff the other was High School teachers. Both groups developed great ideas and support that they need in order to be more effective in getting their work done.

With the HealthCare staff I asked What do you need from your patients in order to be more effective at getting your work done?

With the High School Teachers I asked What do you need from your students in order to be more effective in getting your work done?

Following the question, in both groups, we worked to define, create and develop continued training, coaching and consulting to work with the patients and students to make these ideas into reality.

 

On to the inquiry:

  • Choose who you directly affect through your work, meaning who do you serve in your role. For health care group it’s patients, for teachers it’s students, for managers it’s subordinates, etc… The challenge may come if you work internally, for example an accountant within a company who doesn’t see the customer, think about it…
  • Ask What do I need from them in order to be more effective in getting my work done? What else? What else?
  • Is any of this happening already? Even a little?
  • How did you manage to make that happen?
  • What is the next step you can take to implement what you need to make your work more effective?
  • When can we go-and-see what you have done?

Please share your responses and feedback.Team Building Leadership Innovation expert Michael Cardus

michael cardus is create-learning

image by kevin dooley

]]> http://create-learning.com/blog/team-building/photo-inquiry-friday-what-do-you-need-to-be-more-effective/feed 0 Experiential Education Train-the-Trainer http://create-learning.com/blog/challenge-by-choice/experiential-education-train-the-trainer http://create-learning.com/blog/challenge-by-choice/experiential-education-train-the-trainer#comments Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:02:51 +0000 mike http://create-learning.com/blog/challenge-by-choice/experiential-education-train-the-trainer Experiential Training & Development has its uses and abuses. Like any educational and training model people must understand when and how to use the tools. Create-Learning’s Train-The-Trainer program teaches you how and when to BEST use experiential learning and when not to. Contact Mike to enroll your team and yourself. 

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  • Lycra tube final sequence-focusing on creating a proper sequence of risk from trust circles to body movement to coordination and team-work.

One part of my work is facilitating Train-the-Trainer workshops. These workshops vary from corporate audiences, classroom teachers, non-profit organizations and colleges + universities. Here are some images and notes from a Train-the-Trainer Experiential Education for Physical Education Teachers at The College at Brockport, New York.

Team Building & Leadership with Physical Education Majors at The College at Brockport. www.create-learning (4)Team Building & Leadership with Physical Education Majors at The College at Brockport. www.create-learning (5)

Exploring Critical Thinking & the L>E>A>R>N model. Teaching these soon to be teachers low risk interactive ways to create community and critical thinking skills within their classroom. We began with some noodle innovation.Team Building & Leadership with Physical Education Majors at The College at Brockport. www.create-learning (10)

Physical education is about motion and learning to better understand how your movements coordinate with others. Above is an example of a great partner activity that creates – shared movement, connections and negotiation skills.

Team Building & Leadership with Physical Education Majors at The College at Brockport. www.create-learning (23)Team Building & Leadership with Physical Education Majors at The College at Brockport. www.create-learning (26)

HOOPDOM – is a always a favorite – a non-competitive version where the students must work together to solve a challenge. In our processing after this activity we spoke about applications to the classroom and how HOOPDOM can be used in Physical Education.

Team Building & Leadership with Physical Education Majors at The College at Brockport. www.create-learning (69)Team Building & Leadership with Physical Education Majors at The College at Brockport. www.create-learning (72)

Using metaphor cards to teach reflection skills. For teachers and students the ability to reflect and connect the activities to school and lives is necessary. The teachers really enjoyed exploring and learning many, many, many variations of using metaphor cards.

Team Building & Leadership with Physical Education Majors at The College at Brockport. www.create-learning (86)Team Building & Leadership with Physical Education Majors at The College at Brockport. www.create-learning (93)

With one team we used the Cycle Time Puzzle – VERY TOUGH. For Physical Education we were able to discuss how to handle challenging situations within the classroom and how to decide whether to modify or stop the activity all together.

Team Building & Leadership with Physical Education Majors at The College at Brockport. www.create-learning (94)

Using I2U2ME2WE as a closing and learning activity brings the students back together in small learning teams. Additionally we were able to use this time as a reflection and connection time.

Team Building & Leadership with Physical Education Majors at The College at Brockport. www.create-learning (106)

At one point I took out the “Putting It All Together” kits and one of the students said, “We have already done that!” That gave me a great opportunity to talk about how do you handle that in a classroom? The solution is variations!

Team Building & Leadership with Physical Education Majors at The College at Brockport. www.create-learning (31)

A nice closing discussion of Experiential Education and it application in a Physical Education Classroom – using the lycra tube.

 

Thank you The College at Brockport Physical Education Department and I will see you again soon!

To enroll your class, team, yourself in a train-the-trainer workshop;

Contact Me I travel to you and can develop a program to make your team and you better.

 

michael cardus is create-learning

]]> http://create-learning.com/blog/challenge-by-choice/experiential-education-train-the-trainer/feed 0 Innovation and 21st Century Learning http://create-learning.com/blog/buffalo-ny/innovation-and-21st-century-learning http://create-learning.com/blog/buffalo-ny/innovation-and-21st-century-learning#comments Wed, 07 Sep 2011 11:00:00 +0000 mike http://create-learning.com/blog/buffalo-ny/innovation-and-21st-century-learning Innovation & 21st Century Learning

I had the honor of giving a speech to Nardin Academy sharing some insight and lessons on Innovation and how it is or is not connected to 21st century learning.

Here were some of the benefits from the talk;

  • Determining where the organization currently is (Current Applied Capacity).
  • Setting action and ideas into what could be better.
  • Talking about the necessity of core pedagogy, while creating separate methods for innovative practices within the Organization, Classroom and personal levels.
  • Identifying blocks to innovation.
  • Learning a method to overcome the innovation blocks and grow the school to reach its potential.

 

This talk is valuable to corporate as well as school groups taking the time to determine what 21st century learning is, and how to drive innovation into your existing culture is a necessity for survival.

Quality is skilled knowledge of our practices; Quality is just what we do and what is expected from us.

Innovation is about identifying outliers from our quality work to continually improve and strive towards potential. For 21st Century Learners innovation MUST align with our quality – Being what we do, and what is expected from us.

 

Interested in Mike being a speaker at your next meeting, event or conference? Contact us and make your team and leadership better.

 

michael cardus is create-learning

]]> http://create-learning.com/blog/buffalo-ny/innovation-and-21st-century-learning/feed 2 Team Building & Leadership w/ Nazareth College http://create-learning.com/blog/team-building/team-building-leadership-w-nazareth-college http://create-learning.com/blog/team-building/team-building-leadership-w-nazareth-college#comments Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:11:58 +0000 mike http://create-learning.com/blog/team-building/team-building-leadership-w-nazareth-college I had the pleasure of working with Creative Themes facilitating a team building and leadership program with Nazareth College in Rochester NY.  The college brought all the Resident Advisors and Directors to Creative Themes Day Camp for a great day of Team Development. It ended up raining so I got to be under this large tent. 

 

Outcomes;

  • Students to meet and determine individual strengths.
  • From these strengths find people with different skills and develop a method of cooperation to make each other and the dorm better.
  • Increase resiliency (ability to handle adversity & challenge) of RA teams.
  • Develop a method for planning and decision making.
  • Have fun!

Below are some of the photos from our time together, to see more images.

Nazareth College Team Building & Leadership Program Rochester NY (37)

Team finished “Putting it all Together” this was led in a 2 team method that forced collaboration and real-time planning. Resulting in a process for giving and taking feedback, plus understanding that a clear and distinct goal is needed for successful college programming.

Nazareth College Team Building & Leadership Program Rochester NY (42)

Using “infinite loops level 2” to change the focus from individual to team systems. Resulting in understanding that the process / system needs to be explored and not the person. If we find people under-performing, is it the person or the system causing that?

Nazareth College Team Building & Leadership Program Rochester NY (48)

They were very happy they completed the challenge!

Nazareth College Team Building & Leadership Program Rochester NY (56)

Discussing what is needed for great work, allows people to share why they are part of the team and what they need for success.

Nazareth College Team Building & Leadership Program Rochester NY (79)

Once the fun stops and the work starts-using real-time processing we can create new habits and behaviors for solving problems.

Nazareth College Team Building & Leadership Program Rochester NY (84)Nazareth College Team Building & Leadership Program Rochester NY (104)Nazareth College Team Building & Leadership Program Rochester NY (108)Nazareth College Team Building & Leadership Program Rochester NY (122)Nazareth College Team Building & Leadership Program Rochester NY (127)Nazareth College Team Building & Leadership Program Rochester NY (133)Nazareth College Team Building & Leadership Program Rochester NY (138)Nazareth College Team Building & Leadership Program Rochester NY (148)

Thank you Nazareth College and Creative Themes for for pleasure of facilitating your Resident Advisors, Peer Mentors and Directors.

 

Would your college team benefit from increased team-work and communication amongst students and staff? Contact Mike to make your team and leaders better. 

 

michael cardus is create-learning

]]> http://create-learning.com/blog/team-building/team-building-leadership-w-nazareth-college/feed 2 Team Building & Leadership in Pittsburgh PA http://create-learning.com/blog/team-building/team-building-leadership-in-pittsburgh-pa http://create-learning.com/blog/team-building/team-building-leadership-in-pittsburgh-pa#comments Thu, 25 Aug 2011 22:24:00 +0000 mike http://create-learning.com/blog/team-building/team-building-leadership-in-pittsburgh-pa Team building and leadership expert michael cardus

I was in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania working with a corporate group and a teacher group. The corporate group was not alright with me disclosing who they were so, I will say it was great and we created an amazing process to solve problems and make decisions.

The teacher group okayed me writing about them.

The school was Young Scholars of Western Pennsylvania Charter School.

Outcomes included;

  • Get to know each other (this is a new school)
  • Develop a process for communication and listening.
  • Develop a process for collaboration (information sharing, best practices) within and between staff and departments.
  • Learn about the experience, diversity and talents of team members and departments
  • Develop an action plan to transfer ideas and skills gained from program into YSWPCS culture and practice

Here are some images and Team Development outcomes for our time together;

Young Scholars of Western Pennsylvania Charter School Staff Development Culture Building Workshop. Create-Learning Team Building and Leadership (2)

I2U2ME2WE to develop a shared knowledge of who each other is and why they are part of this team.

Young Scholars of Western Pennsylvania Charter School Staff Development Culture Building Workshop. Create-Learning Team Building and Leadership (5)

Sharing stories of success and how to make things just a little better.

Young Scholars of Western Pennsylvania Charter School Staff Development Culture Building Workshop. Create-Learning Team Building and Leadership (7)

Beginning the process of creating high performance teams, sharing why you are on this team and what skill sets you bring.

Young Scholars of Western Pennsylvania Charter School Staff Development Culture Building Workshop. Create-Learning Team Building and Leadership (23)

Processing the lessons and how each person and team applied to content on Innovation and trust to their team.

Young Scholars of Western Pennsylvania Charter School Staff Development Culture Building Workshop. Create-Learning Team Building and Leadership (25)

Young Scholars of Western Pennsylvania Charter School Staff Development Culture Building Workshop. Create-Learning Team Building and Leadership (30)

Moving into goals and commitment – using a planning model. Putting the content of the school planning model into action with Zoom.

Young Scholars of Western Pennsylvania Charter School Staff Development Culture Building Workshop. Create-Learning Team Building and Leadership (42)

Framing common words to develop a shared culture for the school. Defining what and how as a team our operations should move.

Young Scholars of Western Pennsylvania Charter School Staff Development Culture Building Workshop. Create-Learning Team Building and Leadership (55)

Group photo.

 

Thank you YSWPCS you are an amazing and talented group of teachers.

 

michael cardus is create-learning

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