Serious Play Pro

Register now for one of our upcoming facilitator training sessions using the methods and materials of LEGO SERIOUS PLAY:

May 14-16, 2012 in Hamburg, Germany

http://de.amiando.com/spFUNmay2012

or

June 26-28, 2012 in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada

http://www.strategicplay.ca/article/facilitator-training-with-lego-bricks-119.asp

Limited seats available in each session so please register now.

I have been strongly encouraged to do a certification program over the summer. Thus, I have added a session in Brussels to my 2012 schedule.

You can see it here

On March 7, 2012, Canadian Fellows of the Royal Society for the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA) and Friends of the Society met in Vancouver to discuss the strategic direction for the group going forward. The evening was kindly sponsored by University Canada West. “It was a splendid evening that sparked a great deal of solid, forward-looking discussion from everyone,” stated Dr. Charles McCaffray, who helped to organize the event.

Approximately fifty five people participated and Lynn Broadbent, Fellowship Director from Washington, D.C., joined the group for the occasion.  “It was lots of fun and a really interesting approach to creative thinking,” said Ms. Broadbent.

Around the world, fellows are utilizing design thinking to address social issues ranging from prison reform to revitalization of local libraries. LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY™ is a great tool to facilitate design thinking processes.  Stephen Murgatroyd and Charles McCaffray reviewed pressing issues being addressed globally, and narrowed the list to nine hot button topics they felt were relevant today in Canada.

Graphic posters displayed around the room indicated the nine areas for discussion. The groups self-sorted by selecting a topic they felt passionate about for small group work. The topics included:

1. Public Engagement and Collaboration: To enhance neighborhood police services

2. Improving Substance Abuse Services: Through the engagement and support of drug users

3. Making Connections for New Canadians:  Working to ensure a sustainable future

4. Transformation of Local Libraries: Creating business hubs for lifelong learning

5. The Social Enterprising Prison: Creating programs for inmates to give back, while building needed skill sets

6. Rethinking Education: Creating systems and practices that are truly learner centered

7. Easing Social Isolation and Loneliness of Seniors: Through service redesign

8. People Centered Cities: Creating better public space that’s lively, healthy, attractive, sustainable, and safe

9. Energy and the environment: The path forward

Small groups, comprised of five to seven people, were formulated and worked together using systematic creativity facilitated by members of the Strategicplay® Group from Vancouver.  Individually and also in teams, the groups used LEGO® bricks to build 3Dimensional metaphors to gain a deeper understanding of these complex issues.  The facilitated discussions allowed participants to see, hear, and experience rich conversations, to unearth perspectives from all participants.

Clearly, from the participation and energy in the room, there was great interest in the topics. Next steps include the formulation of a planning committee, which will work with the larger group to narrow the focus areas down to three topics with the aim of putting serious action projects together. The group also hopes to attract new members. So if these topics interest you, please review the RSA website and consider joining their next discussion: http://www.thersa.org

For more information on Strategic Play with LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY™

In the America’s visit: www.strategicplay.ca

In EU visit: www.strategicplay.de

A couple of days ago I returned to Denmark from France. Meeting with people interested in LEGO SERIOUS PLAY . They had “found out about LSP on the internet”. I love that!  It is always extremely wonderful “to be found”. On the plane home I was contemplating: There is still  lots of work ahead of us spreading the word about this amazing method. BUT at the same time I was thinking:  -   It is rather fantastic what 11 years (and lots of work) have done.  –  I have been lucky enough to be there from the start (when LSP was a “test set” of bricks in a freezer bag!) and I think it is simply wonderful to “google LEGO SERIOUS PLAY” today – and then see the amount of results popping up!

Our next training will be in Vancouver, BC, Canada from March 20, 21, and 22, 2012!
This training has been designed to meet the needs of people working with teams and groups, specifically great for team development, economic development, business development, board work, project management, and strategic thinking with groups.  If you are looking for an effective way to get a group of people engaged, focused, aligned, and activated – this is the perfect training.

Visit us at:http://www.strategicplay.ca/article/facilitator-training-with-lego-bricks-119.asp
email us at: info@strategicplay.ca
call us at +1-778-294-5500
Toll Free in North America:  1-888-238-2608
please call today to book your spot!

You can also watch our latest video on why this method works.

Looks like it would be fun to be in Oakland today

“Playing to Change the World”

Here is a bit from their website:
“…afternoon with Edgard Gouveia. He is a master teacher of Cooperative Games, and we will begin the afternoon with play, discovering how games unlock the best qualities in human beings.”