Questions
Because we are an innovative company with no comparison in the market, people need to ask questions to understand what we do and why it is effective.
While we're more than happy to meet up with you over a coffee/herbal tea to discuss what we do, we've complied a list of our most frequently asked questions for your convenience.
i) What is experiential learning?
ii) Isn't experiential learning just playing games?
iii) Is everyone suited to this kind of learning?
iv) What do you teach?
v) What is Improv?
vi) What's the history of Improvisation?
vii) Do people have to perform in front of others?
viii) How do you handle unwilling participants?
ix) Do you do role-plays?
x) Is experiential learning similar to outdoor pursuit training?
xi) What is your point of difference from other training organisations?
xii) Do you travel?
i) What is experiential learning?
Experiential learning is interactive and engages all of our sensory elements. We see, hear, experience and as a result truly learn.
ii) Isn't experiential learning just playing games?
No. When you do an activity you are engaged on four levels – intellectually, emotionally, physically, and intuitively. This is the learning equivalent of mind, body and spirit.
iii) Is everyone suited to this kind of learning?
Yes. It suits the way our brain is designed to learn and keeps us engaged.
Not sitting down listening to speech after speech or watching PowerPoint slide after slide.
iv) What do you teach?
Our speciality is Creativity and Storytelling, which covers a broad spectrum. We don't teach per se but create a safe environment and facilitate creative exercises and interactive learning modules that allows people to experience and learn for themselves.
v) What is Improv?
Improv is a term for Improvisation, an art form that brings people closer to themselves through eliciting freedom of creative expression. Improvisation frees one's imagination from the handed-down frames of reference that block self-awareness. This freedom results in personal insight of one's true self. Improvisation develops essential life skills at the individuals' own pace through fun activities and story telling exercises in an environment that is conducive to learning.
vi) What's the history of Improvisation?
Improvisation is a centuries old art form that has been used mainly in the performing arts, the acting and music traditions.
The three main pioneers of modern improvisation for the theatre in the 20th century are Viola Spolin, Keith Johnstone and Del Close.
From their work, improvisation has developed into a professional performed art form in its own right. Spolin and Johnstone are largely responsible for the modern short-form improvised performances, which has influenced television shows such as Whose Line Is It Anyway and Close is recognised as the creator of the Harold, a style of long-form improvisation.
vii) Do people have to perform in front of others?
No. In our sessions, status is levelled and a safe environment created. Everybody participates interactively so it takes away the pressure of performance. Our sessions are about having fun while you learn not about being funny!
viii) How do you handle unwilling participants?
We have found more times than not, that after being warned that particular groups/people won't do this kind of training, they actually fully embrace this style of learning. On the very rare occasions that someone doesn't want to participate, they have the option to sit out an exercise and then jump right back in again at their choice.
ix) Do you do role-plays?
No. We do have an exercise called Scene Plays™ that brings fiction into the scene rather than real-life scenarios. The make believe element allows participants to relax, drop inhibitions and the 'work mask' and as a result true behaviour is exhibited.
x) Is experiential learning similar to outdoor pursuit training?
No. There's no swinging from ropes so you don't have to be Tarzan to participate. There are very little physical challenges in our programmes. We engage the emotional and intellectual elements of an individual so people are able to perform at their own level of comfort and abilities. Everyone, including pregnant women, people with injuries and many of those with physical disabilities are able to fully participate.
xi) What is your point of difference from other training organisations?
We are experts in the art of improvisation, which is the ideal tool for developing one's self-awareness and imparting the benefits that arise from experiential learning.
We devise tailor-made programmes for each organisation that are fun, interactive and effective! So we don't offer off-the-shelf one size fits all programmes.
Our programmes follow the time-spaced self-directed learning theory.
This means that it's not just day courses (behaviour doesn't change after a day course!) and we aim for the participants to discover the learning for themselves rather than us telling it to them.
xii) Do you travel?
Yes. We are available to bring our expertise throughout the world.
Please feel free to contact us [info@improvsolutions.com] if you have any other questions that aren't answered here.