The Big Book of Brain-Building Games: Fun Activities to Stimulate the Brain for Better Learning, Communication and Teamwork (Big Book Series)

Games for better brains! Use the secrets of brain science to improve communication, interpersonal relations, and productivity in any team or group Jump-start any training session, workshop, or retreat with dozens of interactive games that build brain function in fun and engaging ways. The Big Book of Brain-Building Games offers all kinds of stimulating games to help your team improve information retention, camaraderie, and productivity--and requires few or no props. You'll learn what triggers to pull to help your group think and work better with these play-anywhere, crowd-pleasing interactive games. Can your brain handle the fun? Speakers and facilitators know that if you don't engage participants every five to seven minutes, you'll lose them! The Big Book of Brain-Building Games adds the spark you need for a successful meeting and keeps your team alert and connected, whatever the task. With just a handful of materials required, these brain-boosting games will help participants: develop leadership skills and build self-confidence enhance problem-solving strategies and boost creativity learn cooperation and effective teamwork dramatically improve communications skills--from public speaking to active listening Plus the icebreakers are guaranteed to grab--and hold--any group's attention! You'll find it all in this latest collection from the trusted Big Books series. Contents......Page 4 Acknowledgments......Page 8 Introduction: Games and Brains......Page 10 1 The Use of Games and Activities in the World of Meetings......Page 14 Time-Tested Tips for Better Meetings......Page 17 Characteristics of Games and Activities......Page 20 Suggestions for the Use of Games......Page 21 Some Caveats......Page 22 Games: Brain Teaser #1......Page 24 Brainstorming......Page 28 Creative People I Have Known......Page 30 Six Thinking Hats (Group Perspective)......Page 32 Six Thinking Hats (Individual Perspective)......Page 36 Who’s on First?......Page 40 2 Brain “Very” Basics: What Does It Look Like?......Page 46 Basic Structure of the Brain......Page 49 Left Brain–Right Brain Specialization......Page 52 Games: Disney’s Four Cs of Creativity......Page 58 All in the Family......Page 60 Wanna Go for a Ride?......Page 64 Take a Letter......Page 66 One Word at a Time......Page 68 Stand Up–Sit Down......Page 70 3 Brain Myths: Separating Fact from Fiction......Page 72 We Use Only 10 Percent of Our Brain......Page 74 Some People Are Left-Brained; Some People Are Right-Brained......Page 75 Multitasking Saves Time......Page 76 Drinking Alcohol Kills Brain Cells......Page 77 You Can’t Grow New Brain Cells......Page 78 Fact or Fiction?......Page 79 Games: Brain Teaser #2......Page 80 You Can’t Teach an Old Dog . . .......Page 84 IQ vs. EQ......Page 86 Right Brain, Left Brain?......Page 88 What If?......Page 90 The Dead Moose Society......Page 92 4 May I Have Your Attention! Make the Move from Attention to Memory......Page 96 Models and Theories of Attention......Page 99 Improving and Enhancing Attention......Page 101 Games: Brain Teaser #3......Page 104 Just Leave Me Alone......Page 108 The Alphabet Game......Page 110 The Official Stand-Up Person......Page 112 5 Where Did I Put My Keys? Help Your Brain Capture and Store Information......Page 114 The Memory Process......Page 116 Memory Retrieval......Page 119 Tip of the Tongue......Page 120 Use It or Lose It!......Page 121 Tips for Promoting Memory Retention......Page 122 Games: Are You Smarter than a Ten-Year-Old?......Page 126 I Can Dream, Can’t I?......Page 128 Hi, There—Next! Part 1......Page 130 Hi, There—Next! Part 2......Page 132 Thanks for the Memories......Page 134 When I Was a Kid . . .......Page 140 6 Adult Learning: Help Your Brain Adapt to Changing Situations......Page 142 Effective Meetings......Page 145 Theories of Adult Learning......Page 146 Laws of Adult Learning......Page 149 Generational Learning Styles......Page 152 Ready, Set, Action......Page 154 Games: Sooo, Howyadune? (Verbal Feedback Version)......Page 156 Sooo, Howyadune? (Visual Feedback Version)......Page 158 I Wish, I Wish......Page 162 The Law of Effect......Page 164 Actions Speak Louder than Words......Page 166 Instant Experts......Page 168 Dealing with Change......Page 170 7 He Said, She Said: Explore Gender Differences in Learning......Page 172 Structural Differences......Page 175 Functional Differences......Page 176 Games: Brain Teaser #4......Page 184 Male-Female Brains......Page 188 Male-Female Perceptions......Page 190 Circle of Inclusion......Page 192 My, How You’ve Changed!......Page 194 Made to Stick......Page 196 8 Full Brain Fitness: Enhance and Enrich Brain Function......Page 200 Gifts to Give Your Brain......Page 203 Brain Aerobics......Page 212 Games: Mind Mapping......Page 214 Want to Be a Genius?......Page 216 Stress-Stress-Stress!......Page 222 The Psychology of Change......Page 224 Take a Card, Any Card......Page 226 Communication Styles......Page 228 Top of the Morning......Page 234 Bibliography......Page 236 Contents 4 Acknowledgments 8 Introduction: Games and Brains 10 1 The Use of Games and Activities in the World of Meetings 14 Let’s Look at Meetings 17 Time-Tested Tips for Better Meetings 17 Characteristics of Games and Activities 20 Suggestions for the Use of Games 21 Some Caveats 22 Games: Brain Teaser #1 24 Brainstorming 28 Creative People I Have Known 30 Six Thinking Hats (Group Perspective) 32 Six Thinking Hats (Individual Perspective) 36 Who’s on First? 40 2 Brain “Very” Basics: What Does It Look Like? 46 Basic Structure of the Brain 49 Left Brain–Right Brain Specialization 52 Games: Disney’s Four Cs of Creativity 58 All in the Family 60 Wanna Go for a Ride? 64 Take a Letter 66 One Word at a Time 68 Stand Up–Sit Down 70 3 Brain Myths: Separating Fact from Fiction 72 We Use Only 10 Percent of Our Brain 74 Some People Are Left-Brained; Some People Are Right-Brained 75 Multitasking Saves Time 76 Drinking Alcohol Kills Brain Cells 77 You Can’t Grow New Brain Cells 78 Fact or Fiction? 79 Games: Brain Teaser #2 80 You Can’t Teach an Old Dog . . . 84 IQ vs. EQ 86 Right Brain, Left Brain? 88 What If? 90 The Dead Moose Society 92 4 May I Have Your Attention! Make the Move from Attention to Memory 96 Models and Theories of Attention 99 Improving and Enhancing Attention 101 Games: Brain Teaser #3 104 Just Leave Me Alone 108 The Alphabet Game 110 The Official Stand-Up Person 112 5 Where Did I Put My Keys? Help Your Brain Capture and Store Information 114 The Memory Process 116 Memory Retrieval 119 Tip of the Tongue 120 Use It or Lose It! 121 Tips for Promoting Memory Retention 122 Games: Are You Smarter than a Ten-Year-Old? 126 I Can Dream, Can’t I? 128 Hi, There—Next! Part 1 130 Hi, There—Next! Part 2 132 Thanks for the Memories 134 When I Was a Kid . . . 140 6 Adult Learning: Help Your Brain Adapt to Changing Situations 142 Effective Meetings 145 Theories of Adult Learning 146 Laws of Adult Learning 149 Generational Learning Styles 152 Ready, Set, Action 154 Games: Sooo, Howyadune? (Verbal Feedback Version) 156 Sooo, Howyadune? (Visual Feedback Version) 158 I Wish, I Wish 162 The Law of Effect 164 Actions Speak Louder than Words 166 Instant Experts 168 Dealing with Change 170 7 He Said, She Said: Explore Gender Differences in Learning 172 Structural Differences 175 Functional Differences 176 Games: Brain Teaser #4 184 Male-Female Brains 188 Male-Female Perceptions 190 Circle of Inclusion 192 My, How You’ve Changed! 194 Made to Stick 196 8 Full Brain Fitness: Enhance and Enrich Brain Function 200 Gifts to Give Your Brain 203 Brain Aerobics 212 Games: Mind Mapping 214 Want to Be a Genius? 216 Stress-Stress-Stress! 222 The Psychology of Change 224 Take a Card, Any Card 226 Communication Styles 228 Top of the Morning 234 Bibliography 236 The use of games in the world of meetings Brain "very basics" : what does it look like? Brain myths: separating fact from fiction May I have your attention, please!: games to make the move from attention to memory Where did I put my car keys?: games to help your brain trap and store infomation Adult learning: games to help your brain adapt to changing situations He said-she said: games to explore gender differences in learning Full brain fitness: games to enhance and enrich brain function. Perfect for jump-starting any training session, workshop or retreat, a resource with dozens of interactive brain-boosting games will help participants develop better information retention, improved interpersonal understanding and increased productivity. Original. 15,000 first printing. Aims squarely at faciliators, speakers, trainers and meeting planners looking for materials on learning how to improve brain functioning in fun and engaging ways "Quick group exercises to get your team talking, build excitement, and keep morale high"--Cover