The best computer game in the world!

Twelve students from Barnes Wallis Academy continued their Blue Skies 2 programme at RAFC Cranwell. This fifth session further focused on getting the young people to have the opportunities to develop their own leadership styles.

The first activity saw the team having to cross ‘lava’ using metal beams and mats. James (the nominated leader for this task) had to ensure that the team were fully briefed. We used two main systems to assist the leaders today. The first was using an acronym that would help them keep their brief clear and focused and the second was a leader’s checklist that would help remind them of things they could be doing throughout the task that would help their team.

Whilst reflecting on his leadership of the lava task, James, 14 said:

“I have learnt that you can’t hide as a leader. Where you stand is important.”

Callum led the team through the task again but this time with four team mates blindfolded. The team were also not allowed to speak. They would need to use other forms of communication. Callum had to ensure that his team were and felt safe as well as assisting his group verbally through the task. The whole team noted that with the group not being allowed to speak, they were more focused on the task and more receptive to listening to the leader. Something that they would hopefully carry forward throughout their learning.

Next the group was divided into two teams and given a communication task which involved drawing of a picture which then had to be verbally relayed to the next drawer and the next and so on; similar to Chinese whispers.  The challenge highlighted that key factors for the leaders were to ensure that each team member knew clearly what their role was and where they needed to be. This learning point was followed through after lunch when there would be a division of labour for the next task.

Callum and Josh used a rather democratic method for deciding roles. Amy had an idea who she thought would be best suited for each role and checked if her team were happy with her ideas.  The teams had to pass information in a chain that would ultimately end (all being well) with a drawing of a snowman. As a group we discovered that the accuracy and clarity of what information is passed and communicated is really important and how easily misunderstood it could be.

“Learning to prioritise communications for the task over their friendship and social expectations can be a real challenge for some of our young people but to help them see and realise what impact they can have both positive and negative is really powerful for them.” Nicola Ingamells, JETLO

In the afternoon, the group had the opportunity to go into the simulators. They were very excited to see what it would be like. It was an incredible experience for the students and we are very grateful to Flt Lt Fyfield for giving his time to the students.  The listening skills that the students had to practice in order to execute control of the simulator further embedded the earlier work we had done. Each student had a turn at taking off, circling the airfield and (trying) to land the aircraft. Of the twelve students who ‘flew’ the aircraft, congratulations must go to Josh and Amy who were the only two pilots to successfully land.

After their experiences in the simulator students agreed it was like “best computer game in the world…!”