Do you need to explain a lot of technical terms to the participants in your seminars? Try the "term sponsor" teaching method. Participants take on the sponsorship of a term and introduce it to the others.
Write down all the terms individually on moderation cards. Pin the cards to the back of a pinboard and explain to the learners: "We are learning about lots of terms here. Before we do, I have a question for you: Are there any godparents among us? Godparents accompany a child. In today's course, you can all become godparents. And for a very specific term. The great thing about it is that you can choose your godchild yourself!
I'm going to turn the pinboard around and show you the godchildren. Take a look at them all and see if there is one that particularly appeals to you straight away. You can choose something you are familiar with. Or something completely unfamiliar. The important thing is that you definitely get hold of one of the godchildren. Are you ready?" Then turn over the pinboard with the term cards.
The participants compete for their technical terms
In some groups, things happen very quickly: the participants sprint to the front and grab a card. In some groups, there is even a real scramble
for certain terms. I always think that's great: the learners fight over technical terms! When everyone has a card, the participants name their terms. This is the first time they are heard - spoken by the learners themselves!
Now explain what happens next: "You have chosen a term. Now please familiarize yourself with the term. This will be easy for you - I have prepared a few sources for you." How much support you offer depends on your target group: For groups who are rather inexperienced in reading and researching, prepare copies with a short text for each term. Learners who are familiar with research can go off on their own.
Explaining is the best way to learn
"During the course, I ask all sponsors to talk about their concept. You don't have to come to the front or present anything. You simply report from your seat. It doesn't have to take long: Three minutes is enough. You can see exactly when you are asked to be a sponsor when you turn over your term card. It says at the bottom right when it's your turn." It makes sense to spread the terms over different dates if you are working with the learners over several weeks.
At each event, one, two or three participants have their say and present their terms. As a teacher, I used to explain the terms myself. And who learned the most? Me as a lecturer, of course! Explaining is a great way to learn! Now the participants do it. The individuals actively engage with "their" term and slip into the role of the teacher. It quickly becomes clear: "It's not just the lecturer working here - everyone is involved!"
Mentor teams instead of mentor parents for larger teams
You can also work with term mentors in other formats: For a two-day course, for example, you can distribute the terms on the morning of the first day. After the lunch break, give them time to work on the terms. In the afternoon and on the second day, the mentors then get their turn. Important for all formats: Don't give out too many sponsorships!It will be anything but lively if the 17th person wants to present their term! For larger groups, it is better to form mentor teams. This way, two learners work on a term together. I have had good experience of making the task as easy as possible for the learners - it shouldn't be a tedious presentation! Therefore, choose small terms and not large, complex topics.
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