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About the toolbox

Methods & Tools curated by Hyper Island

This is a toolbox for anyone who wants to do things more creatively and collaboratively in their team or organization. It’s a collection of methods and activities, based on Hyper Island’s methodology, that you can start using today.

LEARNING-BY-DOING

Learning-by-doing (or Experiential Learning) is the process of learning new skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes through active reflection on direct experienced. It is a widely used learning approach that centres around a four-step process: first, a concrete experience; second, reflection on that experience; third, drawing conclusions and insights; and finally, applying new learning.

Hyper Island’s methodology is built on a learning-by-doing approach. The tools in the Toolbox emphasize experimentation, participation and action and designed to be applied with a learning-by-doing approach.

Read more: David Kolb, Experience as the Source of Learning and Development

REFLECTION

Reflection (or Reflective Practice) is the practice of actively reflecting on one’s experiences in order to continuously learn and develop. Reflection is a natural human activity, of course. But by making reflection more intentional and regular, people learn more and develop more quickly. Practicing reflection in teams and organizations helps people learn collectively.

The key to reflection is asking: “What does this experience mean to me?” Here’s a simple yet powerful set of reflection questions that can be used in almost any setting for individuals and/or groups.

  • What happened?

  • How did I feel and what were my reactions?

  • What insights or conclusions can I draw from the experience?

  • What actions can I take based on what I learned?

Use reflection as a way to support people to harvest the most possible learning from their individual and shared experiences.

Read more: Donald A. Schon, The Reflective Practitioner

Designing a workshop

A workshop is a group process that has a specific purpose, involves participatory activities, and results in specific outcomes. The tools in the Toolbox are designed to be used individually or in combinations within workshops.

When planning a workshop, there are a number of important things to think about and prepare. The IDOART model, is a simple tool to use when starting to plan a workshop. It walks through the Intention of the workshop, the Desired Outcomes, the Agenda, the Roles and ground Rules, and finally the Timings. Working through each step of this model in detail will generate a solid foundation for any workshop.

Great workshops have a balance of structure (the plan set by the person leading) and chaos (the unpredictable creativity of people engaging together). When planning a workshop, make a clear and detailed plan, that both provides structure and leaves space for creativity to emerge through participation.

Read more: Nikki Highmore Sims, How to Run a Great Workshop

A growing collection of creative and collaborative methods

Hyper Island is a creative business school which also offers consulting services. Since 1996, Hyper Island has been helping individuals and organizations seize their potential, develop and be leaders in a world of constant change.

Hyper Island has always used a unique approach to learning that focuses on collaboration, creativity, and learning-by-doing. We’ve seen over and over again, that this approach builds competence and confidence, helps teams grow, and leads to better outcomes.

This is a Toolbox for the Hyper Island approach. It’s a collection of methods and ideas for anyone who wants to apply it in their own work.

The Toolbox grows over time. We’re constantly developing and discovering new tools and methods and adding them. If you have suggestions or would like to contribute to the Toolbox, please let us know.

The Toolbox includes methods created by Hyper Island and many that come from other sources. We’ve done our best to give accurate credit, and link to references, but in some cases we have not been able to identify original sources. If you can help clarify sources of methods, please write to us.

HI-toolbox logo

Welcome to the Hyper Island Toolbox

A resource kit for anyone who wants to apply creative collaboration to unleash potential in their team or organization. It’s a collection of methods and activities, based on Hyper Island’s core methodology, that you can start using today.

toolbox main

Guidelines

To apply the methods in the Toolbox there are some important concepts and guidelines that you should feel comfortable with. Read on to learn more.

Learning by doing expand_more expand_less

Learning-by-doing (or Experiential Learning) is the process of learning new skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes through active reflection on direct experienced. It is a widely used learning approach that centres around a four-step process: first, a concrete experience; second, reflection on that experience; third, drawing conclusions and insights; and finally, applying new learning.

Hyper Island’s methodology is built on a learning-by-doing approach. The tools in the Toolbox emphasize experimentation, participation and action and designed to be applied with a learning-by-doing approach.

Read more: David Kolb, Experience as the Source of Learning and Development

Reflection expand_more expand_less

Reflection (or Reflective Practice) is the practice of actively reflecting on one’s experiences in order to continuously learn and develop. Reflection is a natural human activity, of course. But by making reflection more intentional and regular, people learn more and develop more quickly. Practicing reflection in teams and organizations helps people learn collectively.

The key to reflection is asking: “What does this experience mean to me?” Here’s a simple yet powerful set of reflection questions that can be used in almost any setting for individuals and/or groups.

  • What happened?

  • How did I feel and what were my reactions?

  • What insights or conclusions can I draw from the experience?

  • What actions can I take based on what I learned?

Use reflection as a way to support people to harvest the most possible learning from their individual and shared experiences.

Read more: Donald A. Schon, The Reflective Practitioner

Designing a workshop expand_more expand_less

A workshop is a group process that has a specific purpose, involves participatory activities, and results in specific outcomes. The tools in the Toolbox are designed to be used individually or in combinations within workshops.

When planning a workshop, there are a number of important things to think about and prepare. The IDOART model, is a simple tool to use when starting to plan a workshop. It walks through the Intention of the workshop, the Desired Outcomes, the Agenda, the Roles and ground Rules, and finally the Timings. Working through each step of this model in detail will generate a solid foundation for any workshop.

Great workshops have a balance of structure (the plan set by the person leading) and chaos (the unpredictable creativity of people engaging together). When planning a workshop, make a clear and detailed plan, that both provides structure and leaves space for creativity to emerge through participation.

Read more: Nikki Highmore Sims, How to Run a Great Workshop

Copyright Hyper Island - All methods & tools © their respective owners. Are you an owner to a method/tool, please contact us.