Unique training approach thanks to Miro: exercises and games in online practice

So we wanted these practical exercises to continue at all costs when, like the rest of the world, we were forced to make the switch to online. And they could, thanks to Miro. This is an online collaboration platform where training participants can work together on an assignment or simulation game. In recent months, a team from Symbol has set up a dozen different exercises and games in this platform.

Miro, ever expanding

Consultant and trainer Thom Luijben: “Soon after the start of the pandemic, a few of our colleagues started actively looking for an online platform to support our training courses. Eventually we ended up at Miro and we continued to expand the applications in that platform. By now, all our exercises and games are in the platform. From the coffee cup game to the number game (for insight into lead time reduction and workplace organization). From the canoe model (for identifying customer expectations, priorities and explicit needs) to process descriptions on brown papers. We also do a day start and a day evaluation: key topics of the training that allow us to set an immediate example ourselves. And yes, I am proud of that. We managed to do it after all and both we and our participants are enthusiastic. It has even exceeded expectations. The other day during an evaluation I received reactions like: ‘I was very reluctant to do this online beforehand, but I had no points for improvement’. This was great.”

Linking theory to practice

Sean Ooteman of Waterschap Limburg is a satisfied participant. “Often trainings do include a ‘self-experience’ part. In retrospect, I often find that a waste of time and would have preferred more theory instead. The game in Miro, on the other hand, I found to be a very nice way, because the ‘self-experience’ is immediately linked to the theory. A keeper, as far as I’m concerned.” And therein lies the added value, according to consultant Annemiek Verschuuren, who, like Luijben, is one of the instigators and developers of our training courses using Miro. “The platform supports our didactic process. Because we simulate real work processes, it is a playful and very effective way for participants to absorb theory. In this way we have also created an active way of learning, where participants connect with each other and with us as trainers. This allows them to post homework, see each other’s homework and thus learn from each other. That’s really deepening the learning. And because of all these things, participants become even more proficient with our trainings and can more easily apply what they have learned in practice after the training.”

Impression practice simulation in Miro

“The practice is badly needed.”

Atradius participant Wei Chen is also satisfied. “We have been taking Green Belt and Black Belt training courses from Symbol for a long time, so we know how well they work as physical, classroom training courses. Yet we did not hesitate about the online variant. We couldn’t, because ours involves people from different countries. Physical training is simply not possible for us now, in corona time. If we wanted our people trained – and we wanted that – we had to do it online. Moreover, the people who had to decide, including myself, already had enough experience with collaboration tools to see the value. Opting for online training with only theory, without exercises and real-life examples, was not an option for us. You desperately need that practice. Only then it comes to life and the knowledge sticks. So we quickly launched Miro, together with Symbol. Training now takes place partly in Teams, for the theory, and partly in Miro, for all the exercises. This combination works very well for us, which has also been shown by the participants’ appreciation for both the way Thom delivered the training and the interactive exercises in this online format.”

The next best thing

That, according to Chen, is in several things. “The break-out rooms in Teams combined with different workplaces in Miro are seen as very positive. Different online spaces are then set up so that participants can work together in smaller groups. Then everyone is brought back into the central session to present the findings. And of course, the simulation games are also very instructive. The Lean Office Game, for example, is played entirely online in Miro. This simulates a situation in which participants receive orders that have to be processed by different departments. How do you organize the process as efficiently as possible? This game is played in three rounds and the time I participated myself, things went completely wrong in the first round. But during the rounds learning and improvement points emerged, which we implemented with the help of theory until the third round. And yes, of course the experience was slightly different than if we were to play this game physically. But the purpose of the game – to discover those learning and improvement points in a process – was certainly achieved. Not only that: there was also humor during the game. We had a lot of fun. So this lively online experience is really the next best thing as far as I’m concerned.”

Taking time – together with Symbol

One tip for other organizations Chen still has. “It takes some time to get to know Miro. So it also takes some time before you can apply it effectively in training. Realize that and take that time – together with Symbol. For example, set up a practice environment in which participants can already practice the basic activities within Miro, such as typing text in the tool and pasting digital Post-its. If you tackle these kinds of basic actions in advance, you get the most out of the training.”

An additional profit

The fact that people get to know Miro well provides an important side effect, according to Verschuuren. “We chose a collaboration tool because this is – as far as we are concerned – the way to best use exercises and games in training. The cool thing is that we are currently unique with our game. The participants also learn to work well with Miro in the training. I have already had course participants who were so enthusiastic that they are now using Miro for their day starts, project plans and/or scrum boards. This saves them a lot of (travel) time, because they don’t have to meet physically with their team for every little consultation. So Miro is not only the tool for our training sessions, but it also facilitates our clients to start the conversation within their organization. Online, so quickly and efficiently. That’s an added bonus.”

Want to know more about the possibilities?

Then contact us using the form below or contact our training advisors at 053 – 20 30 240! Want to know which Lean and Lean Six Sigma training courses you can take with us and when the next start date is? Then click on the buttons below.