TEAMWORK : PLAYING GAMES

TUESDAY...
9 FEBRUARY 2010
PLAYING GAMES AND HAVING FUN :

Today was all about communication and asking the right questions. When handed a task it is very important to find out exactly what is wanted from you.


So the first and most important thing you need to do before your handed an assignment, is to ask the right questions. You need to know what you need to do, how you need to do it, what are the circumstances, how it needs to be implemented and whether there are any specific things that nee to be done. Without asking any questions or in fact all questions there is to ask and asking the right questions, you will never know what is expected from you. So always be sure to ask all questions you can possibly think of, no matter how stupid they are it might be very important.


Today was all about learning how to work in a group and how to share the responsibilities that were given to you. The objectives were to listen and interpret, to follow instructions, to do the planning, to ask all the possible questions, to implement the plan, to give everybody a chance to take part, to deliver, to discuss and also most important to have some fun..



FIRST TASK : DRAW A CAT

A cat is basic, but when you don't ask all of the questions you wouldn't know exactly what is wanted. We all needed to give our cat a name and also to give a little background about him. Then after we draw the cat we had to discuss our cat with the class. The lesson here is, don't just assume what is wanted from you. Always make sure exactly what the person wants, because everybody has a different opinion and image of things.



SECOND TASK : CREATE A HA-KA

We got divided into groups of four and we had to come up with our own ha-ka. This was really funny to see. Everybody had different ideas, some funny and some boring but in the end it came out great. This just shows you each person is different. Doing tasks like these teaches you more about your team mates. Doing this routine taught us to work well in a group, to see every bodies viewpoint, to listen to others and also how to put everything together. The lesson here as well is not just to be serious and organised in a group but also it teaches us how to have fun together.



THIRD TASK : GET THE KEY IN THE CUP

It is a well planned game that is to be done with 4 team members. I was chosen as the leader, so my other 3 team members had to be blind folded. After they were blind folded all 3 of them had to be tied on a piece of rope. Our objective was to get the key that was hanging in the middle into a small cup. I needed to guide my team mates from point A to point B. I had to give directions, where to move, how far to move and when to move. The lesson here is how to work well in a group, to listen carefully, to lead properly, to trust one another, to ask questions when unsure and just to relax and have fun. Always remember to simplify things when your giving instructions, because you team mates cant see what they are doing or whats going on around them. The other lesson is also not to follow what others are doing, but to simplify the task and to follow your own head and ideas.



FOURTH TASK : BUILD A BUILDING OR A TOWER
OUR EQUIPMENT :

• x2 sheets of paper
• x4 thumbnails
• x2 strips of electrical tape
• x1 strip broad sellotape
• Glue
• Scissors
• x1 A4 yellow page
• x1 piece of string

Our objective was to build a strong building or tower that can uphold 500g. It could have been any size or shape. After we got the supplies we started to form a plan of action. We decided on a square building. The reason for this is so that we can stuff the inside with lots of paper for more support. This idea did indeed work and it was very strong. But yet again we didn't ask the right questions , we never asked whether the 500g was going to be placed on the building or dropped. So this caught us all up in a situation, this was to teach us a lesson. The lesson, to always find out all the information before starting with your tasks. Always ask all the questions that are possible. This was a fun experience to see what each group came up with, and which methods were used by them. This once again showed that every person, well in this case every group had a different view on this task. Every group had a different image of what needs to be done. All of the groups did succeed in this task.



FIFTH TASK : PROTECT YOUR EGG
OUR EQUIPMENT :

• x1 egg
• x1 polystyrene cup
• x1 piece of electrical tape
• x1 straw
• x2 small piece of papers
• x1 tooth pick
• x1 piece of string
• x1 piece of foil

The objective of this game is, to protect your egg. We had to use the equipment given to us, to provide a safe place for our egg. We needed to put the egg inside the polystyrene cup and make a protected area, so that the egg can't fall out or break. After we did our planning as a group we put everything as discussed into place. After everybody was finished, we took our egg in the cup to the commentator's stand at the caravan park. Here one of team member of each group had to go up there and drop the cup from up top. The aim of the game was to see who's egg didn't break. All 3 groups did achieve, none of the eggs broke. The lesson here is brainstorming is very important. Everybody needs to provide a plan to succeed in having the best plan thought of.