Grab a Metaphor

Live online training sessions do not have to be limited to the computer screen and the keyboard. This kinesthetic LOLA activity gives the participants a change of pace by requiring them to walk away from the computer and grab any convenient object for use as metaphor.

Synopsis

Ask the participants to grab any object and display and describe it. Ask the other participants to connect the object as a metaphor for the training topic.

Purpose

To identify the key attributes associated with the training topic.

Participants

  • Minimum: 2

  • Maximum: Any number

  • Best: 5 to 10

Time

15 to 30 minutes

Supplies

Common objects found in an office room

Technical Requirements

Mic

Video

Flow

Give instructions to the participants. Ask the participants to remove their headsets, walk away from the desk, and grab any small object in the room. Instruct the participants to return back to their seat with the object in their hand.

Show and describe the object. Ask the participants to switch on the mic and the camera. Select a participant at random and have them hold the object to the camera and give a quick description. Ask the other participants to look at the object and listen to its description.

Repeat show-and-tell. Invite two or three other participants to display their object and describe it.
Relate the object to the training topic. After the next participant displays and describes an object, ask the other participants to connect the object to the training topic as a metaphor.

Example:
Object: A small pair of scissors

Training Topic: Conflict Management

Metaphorical Connections:

  1. You can hurt yourself by mishandling the pair of scissors. You can hurt yourself by mishandling the conflict management process.

  2. You can use a pair of scissors with different materials such as paper, fabric, or cardboard. You can use the conflict-management process with different types of disputes: between two people, two groups, two teams, or two cultures.

  3. You can use the pair of scissors to remove unwanted parts of the paper or fabric. You can use the conflict-management process to remove unwanted assumptions and arguments.

  4. You need both blades of the scissors to move at the same time to make it work. You need both parties to the conflict to resolve the dispute.


Repeat the metaphorical connection. Ask a few more participants to display the objects they grabbed and the other participants to connect them metaphorically with the training topic.

Conclude the session. Ask all participants to identify key attributes of the training topic. Thank the participants for their contributions.

Reuse this LOLA

Grab a Metaphor is based on a LOLA template called Metaphor. You can use this template to create your own LOLAs. For example, we have used these of objects as metaphors for training topics:

Stapler: Critical Thinking

Cup: Giving Feedback

Pencil: Financial Management

Book: Decision-making

Key chain:: The Internet