Group Puzzle

This is a more advanced social form that allows you to cover a lot of content. Here is how it works:

Preparations

You need:

  • a moderately complex task that requires combining multiple topics (e.g. “modify the colors in a photograph”)

  • 3-4 topics (e.g. *”RGB colors”, “modifying Numpy arrays”, “reading and writing images”, “image formats”)

  • some reading material for each topic (1-2 pages, an example script etc.)

Ideally, the task is open-ended and tolerates some creative tinkering.

Part 1: Task Teams

  • Assign people to teams of (3-4) people

  • All teams get the same task (a more complex one)

  • Let them chat for 5’ to clarify the task

  • Do a short Q & A

  • Announce the topics and ask each group to assign at least one person to each topic.

Part 2: Topic Teams

Now comes the puzzle aspect. The teams regroup:

  • the people for each topic get together

  • they work on the material and work on a simple task (e.g. “read the text and create RGB colors for the rainbow”)

  • let them work on the task for a while (30’ at least)

  • be ready to troubleshoot

The trick is that every student now carries a lot of responsibility for their own team. At the same time, they are never alone!

Part 3: Coming back

Finally, everybody goes back to their original team:

  • everybody summarizes what they learned to their teammates

  • start solving the task

  • give them plenty of time for that

Following the idea ‘the best teacher is someone who just learned himself.’ Course trainers orchestrated the process.