Games or Dynamics?

from Balkan Beats 45 - Volunteers' Life

Capturing the Spirit of Solidarity: Anagnostara E-Book

Another way to learn through non-formal education.

by Rodrigo Perezagua Escobar

Everyone knows what a game is and almost everyone has good memories about it. But, have you ever asked yourself why, when you are going to a training course or a Youth exchange, the trainers/facilitators propose a game to start the day or to finish it? Is there any hidden intention in that? What about during a workshop? Have you ever felt like you are not doing anything related to the topic and you are just having fun?

I n this short article we are going to try to open this door to and for you. Now it is so common that you find a programme of any training course with energizers, dynamics, role-play games… and you could think that this is not related to it or that is not serious enough, but there is a difference between games and dynamics and the actual meaning defines the differences:

A game is just an activity to enjoy and have fun although different tools or ways but the goal is just to enjoy.

A dynamic is an activity where the goal is to learn something although a game, or gamification of the activity.

So, the thing is, a dynamic is one activity that the organizers of the programme put there because it represents another way to work on the topic of the day. It can be used to put in practice the theory that we are learning during this day, or just to be a practical introduction of something, in which no one has experience about. This safe space is the time to make mistakes that help you realize so many things that you need to experience to realize.

Here I’ll share with you a list of dynamics by categories, but don’t forget that you could adapt any dynamic to any situation you’ll have. These are the main categories where you could split these dynamics. If you can manage it’s also possible to adapt them to other goals. So, don’t close doors to yourself and always try to adapt everything that you prepare in advance, specifically for the group you will have. Because it is not possible to repeat the same “game-dynamic-activity…” with different groups and having the same result.