Experiential Learning Activity

I create an experiential learning activity for my Innovation & Future Thinking masters class at Drake University that can be utilized as an ice breaker, team activity, or improv exercise. 

When to apply the exercise: To increase creative thinking and associating seemingly unrelated topics or things

Objectives of the exercise: To create connections to seemingly unrelated topics or things

Instructions for implementation: 
- Pair up or divide into small groups
- Choose someone to go first and talk in the format "When I think of A, it makes me think of B"
- The second person responds in the same format "When I think of B, it makes me think of C. When I think of C, it makes me think of D"
- Take turns with each person naming two new 'things' (ie: A, B, C, D above)
- Use topics/ things only once
- Continue for 1-2 minutes

Example: 
- Person 1: "When I think of school, it makes me think of homework"
- Person 2: "When I think of homework, it makes me think of resources. When I think of resources, it makes me think of research"
- Person 1 (or 3): "When I think of research, it makes me think of Albert Einstein. When I think of Albert Einstein, it makes me think of Germany"

Discuss:
- Where did the conversation start and where did it end?
- How did you get there?
- How do they connect?
​- Would you have made those connections before doing the exercise?