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Your questions answered 0131-554-8880

future factory, Cork House
104 Constitution Street, Leith
Edinburgh EH6 6AW
tel: 44(0) 131 554 8880
fax: 44(0) 131 554 5880
email: office@futurefactory.co.uk

FAQ

Creating Dynamic Learning Environments - The Approach

We believe that people learn more and subsequently utilise their acquired skills more effectively if they:
  • can identify areas for personal improvement for themselves
  • can see personal benefits in applying their learning in daily life
  • develop their own strategies for improvement
  • receive appropriate encouragement and support
  • enjoy and are stimulated by the learning process.
  • want to learn and are actively involved
Therefore all the materials are based on experiential principals

Who are the principal users of the games and simulations we sell ?

Managers -Team Leaders -Trainers - Facilitators - HRD Practitioners - Educators - Management Consultants

What do the games and simulations do ?

The activities:
  • are stimulating, involving, relevant, memorable and fun
  • focus attention on and meet specific training needs
  • focus on the assessment, development and application relevant learning outcomes
  • are supplied complete with comprehensive manuals and facilitator notes
  • can be used across all job functions, ages, gender and cultures
  • can be run indoors or out
  • can be used over and over again: they don't wear out!
  • are designed to be non-threatening and have wide appeal

What are the topics covered ?

The topics the materials address include:
  • leadership and teamwork skills: e.g. planning, critical and creative thinking, decision making, communicating, sensitivity, valuing and capitalising on diversity, change.
  • making the most of business opportunities and resources: e.g. fundamentals of business, lean manufacturing, customer focus
  • personal attitudes towards others
  • working effectively with colleagues, customers, and suppliers
  • living alongside other people no matter what their background, interests or abilities
  • personal impact.

How does this approach work?

Although activity based & experiential, the approach appeals to a wide range of learning styles.

Learning is achieved through:
  • thinking and evaluation individual, one to one and group reflection
  • discussion: sharing and challenging ideas within facilitated groups
  • experimentation: trying out new approaches and assessing their impact.
Through their involvement in tasks, participants generate situations similar to those commonly encountered at work. They create genuine, tangible issues that provide the basis for personal learning. Questionnaires encourage each participant to analyse their performance and think through the impact of their actions before they discuss their answers. Through discussion they develop a greater understanding of what happened and why, and how they as individuals, team members or leaders could have been more effective. Finally participants consider the consequences of their learning and set themselves personal targets for improvement which can either be tested and enhanced in further training activities or transferred immediately to the work place.

How are real issues generated?

We replicate the work place by introducing tasks which participants tackle with, through or in competition with others. The tasks are very different in content, duration and difficulty but all are absorbing, stimulating and challenging. Most are based on plastic components to introduce interest and movement. Sometimes sub teams are given different but complementary briefs, but everyone is always asked to be his or herself, with no role playing or acting of parts.

What is the role of the Facilitator, Trainer or Teacher?

The role is to facilitate personal development , not provide theory, systems, answers or 'school solutions'. Wherever possible the aim should be to 'self teach', therefore facilitators must understand and and apply the principles of activity based learning, but they do not need  specialist knowledge, certification or training.

How long does an activity take?

Most tasks take between 10 and 45 minutes, but as the emphasis is on learning through reviews. A complete activity can take several hours. In some activities the task is broken into several stages separated by learning reviews.

Can the materials be seen in action?

Yes - We offer Facilitator Workshops, Breakfast Briefings and Train the Trainers days - contact us for details. Everyone has the opportunity to get involved as a participant as well as discussing all elements of the materials and their effective use.

Can the activities be run with large groups?

Each activity summary includes recommended group sizes, some can be adapted or several activities amalgamated for larger groups. We also provide activities suitable for very large numbers... 200 plus: please contact us to discuss specific requirements.

Are the materials re-usable?

All the components are very durable. Consumable items - e.g. review sheets - may be copied for use within the purchasing organisation. we usually supply them digitally to purchasing individuals or organisations if required.

Can the materials be hired?

Unfortunately we do not hire out our products.


What happens if a component is lost?

We carry stock of all components and can supply replacements in whatever quantity you require.

Is there any additional support for trainers?

To enable our activities to be used effectively ,we offer the facility to provide support and share our ideas we are more than happy to provide a customized service contact us for details.