Ice Breakers are ideal to get people interacting early on in an activity and are particularly helpful for new groups coming together. In addition, they help take the group members mind off the content, whilst concentrating on working with each other in a light-hearted way. The icebreaker activity will make each group member feel included and provide a bridge into the meeting itself. When selecting an icebreaker, it should be: • Fun and engaging for the participants • Short and simple • Bring relevance to the subject matter of the meeting or training Questions and Answers Question and answer is the most basic engagement tool. The simplest question and answer technique is by asking questions, getting answers, then clarifying the response. This method is best used if the participants have a basic understanding of the problem being discussed or understand the connection between one problem and the other. If the participant does not understand, the facilitator can still formulate questions by using analogies or taking examples from everyday life. How to question? • Give an introduction to the topic to be discussed. • Start with general questions. • Use as many open questions as possible When using questioning as a method avoid: • Asking many questions at once • Questions that lead directly to an answer • Closed questions, "yes" or "no" questions. • Questions that are too difficult and require deep analysis, which can discourage learning; • Questions that are too easy and trapping because it can be considered insulting the intelligence of participants; • Rhetorical questions. Case Study Case studies are participatory methods by presenting written material containing background, chronology or description of certain condition, with supporting data. With case studies, participants learn to analyze materials or think about problem solving. Brainstorming • Have a facilitator lead the brainstorming and one or two persons record the ideas (if possible) • Narrow or limit the issue or problem being addressed • Encourage ‘quantity’ of idea. Out of quantity will come quality • Allow participants to take a few minutes to write down their ideas individually 13