SNAKES AND LADDERS

Description of the tool

Step by step description:
1.Prepare a snake-and-ladder board and several snakes and ladders.
2.Explain that the aim of this exercise is to create a board game in which it gets clear what stages of a project there are, and what problems or stimulants you might encounter.
3.First, set a starting point and a final goal in the first and last square. Most people won't have any problems defining that, but don't forget that the actual activity is only half of the project and that the evaluation part should also be added somehow.
4.Then, discuss the different stages of the project from start to end; preparation, activity and evaluation. Split up the group in smaller groups if necessary. What are the things you should think about during all these stages? What obstacles do you expect? What events might be a catalyser for the whole project? And to what extent? (Or, if the exercise is used as an evaluation, how did you experience the different stages and what have you encountered). List all subjects you should think about and put them in chronological order and arrange the blockades and catalysers in order of importance. Take a look at the list and see if everyone agrees and understands all the points mentioned.
5.Then, select several of the events, catalysers and blockades (you probably won't be able to use all, since then the game would get infinitely big and terribly boring to play) and place them on the board. The events fill -in chronological order- the squares, the catalysers become ladders (the more positive influence it might have on the project, the longer the ladder gets, but don't make the jumps too illogical), and the barriers become snakes, dragging you down one or more squares.
6.Add conditions for using the snakes and ladders, so people first need to answer a question or perform a task connected to the place in the project cycle they are at that moment, which, in case of a ladder, must be answered or performed satisfactorily or creatively (group can be judge) to use the ladder, or, in case of the snake, forces a person down the snake if answered or performed insufficiently.
7.Before starting the game, everyone makes a pawn out of the coloured cardboard representing them self. The game is played according to the normal rules; the number of points you throw with the dice is the number of squares you may move; ladders take you up, snakes down. The aim is to reach the last square first. You might add new rules like adding 'task squares' which oblige the player to perform a task concerning the project he is into before being allowed to move on, and giving points for the performance of these tasks, add rules about more than one person on a square (group tasks?) or invent other rules with the group.

Reflection and evaluation:
·how does the game reflect the reality?
·was the final goal for you the activity itself or the evaluation?
·did you manage to think of barriers and catalysers?
·was it hard to think of creative solutions for the tasks?
·did you manage to reach a consensus on which events, catalysers and obstacles needed to be included in the game?
·did everyone participate in discussing?
·did you feel like people were listening to what you were saying?

Comments:
The game has been played on a multilateral summer meeting as a part of the national presentation. Not Snakes and Ladders was used as a starting point, but a national version. Also, the theme of the meeting had been integrated in the game. The whole game was chalked life size on the playground, and people were life pawns. Actually, it was extended during the game as people from other countries started to add things; we soon turned it into a rule that people who had finished the game, could make up another blockade or catalyser, and add it to the board.