Here is an interactive interlude that can be inserted after different section of a lecture. This activity involves the preparation of a poster that taps into the listeners’ linguistic and visual intelligence.
Purpose
To review the content presented in different sections of a lecture.
Participants
8 or more, divided into four teams
Time
10-15 minutes for each round of the activity.
Handout
Contest Instructions, two different versions
Supplies
Flip charts, one per team
Felt-tipped markers
Flow
Brief the participants. At the beginning of each section of your lecture, encourage the participants to listen carefully and take notes because there will be a contest at end. Proceed with your presentation.
Organize teams. After your presentation, organize the participants into four teams so that each team has two to six players. (If you have more than 24 participants, organize them into six teams.) It does not matter if a team has one more member than the other teams. Ask each team to stand around a flip chart.
Give instructions to the teams. Give the following "Words Only" handout to two of the teams. (If you have six teams, gives the instructions to three of the teams.)
Poster Contest Instructions
Your job is to design a poster that presents the key points of this section of the lecture.
Here are four rules:
Page limit. You are limited to one sheet of flip chart paper.
Text only. Your poster must only use words. You may not use any graphics, pictures, or diagrams.
Joint effort. All team members should contribute to the creation of the poster.
Time limit. The final version of the poster should be ready in 5 minutes.
Give the following "Pictures Only" handout to the other two (or three) teams.
Poster Contest Instructions
Your job is to design a poster that presents the key points from the presentation.
Here are four rules:
Page limit. You are limited to one sheet of flip chart paper.
Graphics only. Your poster must only use pictures (including graphics, symbols, and diagrams without words). You should not use any letters, words, or numbers.
Joint effort. All team members should contribute to the creation of the poster.
Time limit. The final version of the poster should be ready in 5 minutes.
Ask team members to read these instructions. Briefly answer any questions. Emphasize the 5-minute time limit.
Begin the activity. Start your timer and blow the whistle to indicate the beginning of the poster-preparation activity. Keep announcing the remaining time at the end of each minute.
Conclude the activity. After 5 minutes, blow the whistle to indicate the end of the time limit.
Compare the posters. Place the "Words-Only" posters side by side. Invite all participants from the "Pictures-Only" teams to study the posters. After a minute, ask the participants to indicate their preference (by raising their hands or through applause) as you point to each poster in turn. Repeat the same procedure with the "Pictures-Only" posters by polling members of the "Words-Only" teams.
Combine the posters. Ask the participants to return to their original seats. Place all posters in front of the room. Conduct a brief discussion on how elements from all posters can be combined to create a single poster.