Teaching tip: the Postcards activity

Why am I using this technique?

For my learners...

An activity like postcards is a great engagement tool. It doesn't cost much time to set up and it is very fun.

For learners, receiving a written card corresponding to a moment in the past training allows them to validate and become aware of their commitment at that moment.

For me, teacher or trainer...

For the fun and playful side of the activity. One can also imagine using the reception of these cards to have a discussion/debate with the learners, if they have respected the written commitments.

Framework and steps / Instructions

The framework

This tip clearly belongs in the fun activities of a training course, event, etc.

The preparation

Plan to buy enough postcards and think about the question to ask the learners.

The process

1. Lay out the postcards on the desk
2. Have each learner choose one card
3. Announce the question to be answered, it can be in the form of "What did you learn from the training?", or "What do you commit to do as a result of this training?", or "What skills do you think you have acquired during the training and why?" or "What was, for you, the best moment of the training?
4. Learners write down their answers and postal addresses
5. 1 or 2 months (depending on needs), send the postcards to the learners
   
   

Evaluation

This is not an exercise for evaluation.

Variants

There are many possible variations on this activity.

If you have in-house illustration skills, you can create drawings that you print on the cards (for example, the visual on this sheet was made during the Escapade Summer School, and is used as a visual on the postcards sent to students).

The choice of cards remains important, as it allows you to leave a trace and memories for the learners.

Points of vigilance

For the activity to be effective, the question to be asked of the learners must be well prepared

What if it doesn't work?

It is unlikely to happen.