A social media game without an evening lost laminating

November 7, 2008 by Tim
Filed under: Reflective Learning, Social Media, Techie things, Youthwork 

cardimages.jpg[Summary: Using Moo.com to make workshop resources]

(This post is mainly for those who have spent far too long laminating little bits of card late at night in preparation for a workshop the next day…)

I’ve used variations on the Social Media Game in workshops before. The game, which works by setting scenarios, and getting workshop participants to explore how they would use different tools or approaches to respond to those scenarios is a really effective way to encourage knowledge sharing and practical learning in a session.

However, preparing the game cards for a workshop always turns into one of those nightmare jobs. Simply printing them on paper or card isn’t enough – they’re too flimsy – and it’s always surprising how much the quality of a resource affects people’s interaction with. So, up until now – that’s always meant an evening of laminating little bits of printed paper to create good quality cards. And I know I’m not the only one who suffers this small but significant laminating challenge – @davebriggswife has rendered great services to social media in this country through laminating little bits of social media game card.

So, this time, as I started putting together the ‘Social Network Game’ for the Federation of Detached Youth Workers’ conference next Friday I though I’d try something different. And this morning a set of wonderful ‘Social Network Game’ postcards arrived on my doormat courtesy of Moo.com.


Picture 21.png

All I needed to do was to create each of the cards as an image, upload them to Moo, pay a few quid, and ta-da – high quality postcard-size workshop resources ready to go.

Why bother blogging this?

Well, asides from trying to save others who loose evenings to the laminating machine – I’m really interested by the potential that Print on Demand solutions like that of Moo.com can offer for:

  • Creating high quality resources – I’ve always been struck by how having good quality resources for workshops affects people’s responses. But often getting things professionally printed for a one-off workshop just isn’t viable… but can be with Print on Demand.
  • Resource sharing – Using the Moo.com API I could provide an easy way for anyone else to order a set of the Social Network Game cards I’ve designed. (In fact, once I’ve tested them out in a workshop I might try and create a set for others to get hold of…)
  • Promoting positive activities – Could the Information and Signposting project make use of the positive activities data and multi-media it’s collecting to make it really cheap and easy for activity providers to order promotional postcards to hand out?

Definitely something I’m keen to explore more. Would be great to hear about any other ideas or experience that you have…

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Comments

10 Responses to “A social media game without an evening lost laminating”

  1. shani lee on November 7th, 2008 6:43 pm

    What a great idea, Tim! Thank you for sharing it.

  2. Dave Briggs on November 7th, 2008 6:55 pm

    Beautiful!

  3. Tracey Todhunter on November 7th, 2008 9:19 pm

    Inspired, I’m off to design my set for an event at the end of the month.

  4. Socialreporter | Social Media Games with Moo on November 11th, 2008 10:29 am

    [...] Social Media Game, that I initially developed with Beth Kanter and Drew Mackie, is a great way to help people get to [...]

  5. Beth Kanter on November 12th, 2008 2:39 am

    Great idea – I’ve been using Kinkos and having them printed on card stock – but I love the idea of moo cards
    http://bethkanter.wikispaces.com/hawaii

  6. Tim on November 12th, 2008 12:53 pm

    Ah – if only we had the like of Kinkos here.

    I spent a good proportion of my only ever visit to the States so far in Kinkos making cards for a terribly complex ‘Organizational Change for Youth Participation Game’ (it had a game board and at least four different types of cards!)

  7. Steve Bridger on November 22nd, 2008 12:57 am

    Tim – I used moo’s text mini-cards for an April workshop on blogging – http://www.flickr.com/photos/mexicanwave/2404978535

    Your cards are spectacular. Thanks for sharing.

  8. Social Media game at NCVO | DavePress on November 24th, 2008 11:41 pm

    [...] has other ideas, of [...]

  9. New media for a new generation | DavePress on November 27th, 2008 10:06 pm

    [...] Cheverton, Steven Flowers and Tim Davies. Tim was running his social networking game, using his Moo.com printed cards. It was excellent – focusing in on one particularly relevant technology for youth [...]

  10. What have diets, 5-a-day and Ready Steady Cook got to to do with training, developing and supporting Digital Mentors? | Voicebox on December 5th, 2008 1:58 pm

    [...] Game’. It has appeared in many guises over the years because it has been shared, laminated, moo carded, changed remixed (Creative commons) NOT because it is a static resource, guarded at the gate on a [...]

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