LOLAs are live online learning activities incorporated in a virtual training session. Here are some characteristics of effective LOLAs:
LOLAs require the participants to actively process, recall, evaluate, and apply the content presented to them in the training session.
LOLAs can be inserted in the beginning, middle, or end of a virtual training session.
A single LOLA can be used to add interactivity to the entire virtual session. Alternatively, several short LOLAs can be inserted at different places in a virtual training session.
In the previous issue of the GameLetter, we briefly described three different types of LOLAs. Here are three more types:
4.Improv LOLAs
These LOLAs are based on activities adapted from improvisational theater. The participants do not follow a script, but spontaneously create dialogs and action. These LOLAs facilitate the mastery of creativity, collaboration, communication, and change.
Double Reversal is an improv LOLA that requires the participants to brainstorm ideas for reaching a negative goal (such as inflexible management) and then invert these ideas to achieve a positive goal (such as resilient management). The facilitator provides examples of ideas for achieving a negative goal and ask the participants to type in additional ideas. Then, the facilitator presents examples for inverting one of these ideas and asks the participants to type in other inversions.
5. Job Aid LOLAs
These LOLAs provide the participants with a job aid (such as a checklist, decision table, or flowchart) and require them to perform a specific task. In a typical Job Aid LOLA, different participants master different segments of the job aid and share what they learned with the other members of the team.
Magic Squares is a job aid LOLA that enables the participants to create hundreds of 5 x 5 magic squares each with 25 different numbers. In a perfect magic square, the numbers in all the columns, rows, and diagonals add up to the same total. The facilitator distributes a flowchart, and a checklist for making magic squares. The facilitator asks the participants to independently learn to make a magic square by using these job aids. Later, 3 to 5 participants are sent to different breakout rooms and asked to collaboratively create additional magic squares.
6.Kinesthetic LOLAs
These LOLAs require the participants to use a physical object to explore some aspects of a training topic or learning strategy.
Grab a Metaphor is a kinesthetic LOLA that uses typical objects found in an office room (example: a stapler) as a metaphor for the training topic (example: giving feedback). The facilitator asks the participants to move away from their computer and pick up any small object found nearby. The facilitator invites a random participant to show the object and describe it. The other participants to open their mics and makes statements relating the features and functions of the object with the training topic.