Details about AHA

What is AHA?

It's a board game that deals with creative thinking. It helps you profit from opportunities and solve problems by applying the creativity process. You learn about the strategies, tactics, behaviors, attitudes, thoughts, and perceptions associated with the six stages of the creativity process.

How do I play AHA?

It's easy to play this board-and-card game! You play AHA in six deals, each deal corresponding to one of the six stages of the creativity process.

During a deal, you receive 10 cards. Pick out a card that belongs to a specific stage. Present the card, and if nobody objects, throw a die, and move forward on the game board.

If somebody objects, talk it over with the objector. If neither of you can persuade the other, check the Feedback Table for the official answer. If you are right, the objector moves back two spaces. You throw the die and move forward. If you are wrong, you move back two spaces. The objector throws the die and moves forward.

Follow the same procedure with each of the six deals.

CHANCE cards add excitement to the game. When you pick one up, you may move farther forward or move someone else's piece backward.

Win the game by being the first player to reach the FINISH space on the game board.

What does this package contain?

Game board. Six tiles with a total of 30 spaces for keeping track of the players' progress
Game cards. 108 cards, each with a statement about different strategies, tactics, behaviors, and perceptions associated with one of the six stages of the creativity process
CHANCE cards. 12 cards, each with good news to the player who receives it
Game pieces. Plastic pieces of four different colors, one for each player or team
Selection die. A die with the numbers 1-6 is used in a game variation
Movement die. A die with the numbers 1-3 is used for determining how far the player moves
Reference Card. A one-page job aid that summarizes the key features of the six stages of the creativity process
Feedback Table. A reference table which lists the card numbers and the correct stage (or stages) associated with each
Game Flow Summary. A one-page checklist with the basic rules of the game
Classification Exercise. A 5-page handout for a follow-up activity that requires the players to classify all statements from the game cards
Transparency masters. 18 reproducible pages, including six graphics depicting the stages in the creativity process and 12 bullet charts explaining the flow of the game

What's in this Facilitator Guide?

Basic information about the game
List of supplies
Detailed instructions for procedures before, during, and after the game
Debriefing questions
Variations
Copies of all reproducible materials

How many people can play the game?

AHA is typically played by 2-16 players. With fewer than 5 players, each plays individually. With five or more players, they play in teams.

How long does the game last?

A typical game requires 30-45 minutes. The play time can be shortened or lengthened easily.

What are the steps in the creativity process?

The creativity process featured in this game is based on an analysis of the literature combined with Thiagi's field-based synthesis. It consists of the following six flexible steps:

Initialize. Recognize an opportunity, a problem, or a curious phenomenon.
Investigate. Collect background information about the opportunity or the problem.
Specify. State your goals and objectives. Also specify criteria, standards, and constraints for the new product or process.
Ideate. Generate a large number of ideas for profiting from the opportunity or for solving the problem.
Integrate. Identify the core idea or a new way of looking at things. Select the best ideas and combine them into a coherent action plan.
Implement. Market the new product or process. Put into effect the plan for the solution.

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