At the end of a training course or sequence, it is essential to help participants take a step back, clarify what they have learnt and give meaning to their journey. The Coat of Arms activity is perfectly suited to this objective. Using both a collective and individual approach, it allows participants to summarise what they have learned in a fun and visual way, by co-constructing a symbolic coat of arms. This declension activity provides a structured moment to take stock, express yourself, memorise… and leave inspired.
Objective of this activity
The Coat of Arms activity is designed to anchor what has been learnt at the end of a sequence or training course. It invites participants to represent in the form of a coat of arms the concepts they have understood, retained or need to learn more about, in several collaborative stages. This collective intelligence work encourages awareness, memorisation and appropriation of knowledge.
Benefits
For the facilitator:
- Obtain a clear view of the concepts that have been understood, misunderstood or that have had a significant impact on the group.
- Qualitatively assess the effectiveness of the training.
- End the session with a positive, participative and structured dynamic.
For participants:
- Review, structure and prioritise what has been learned.
- Clarify what has been understood, retained or needs to be reviewed.
- Express themselves freely in a supportive and creative environment.
- Leave with a concrete, personalised record of the training.
How does it work?
Total duration: Approximately 1 hour (flexible depending on the number of subjects and participants)
1. Activity presentation (10 min)
The facilitator sets the scene: objectives, 4 rounds (1 round = 1 subject to be dealt with), rules of good listening. Each table deals with one subject, and the groups rotate at each turn to co-construct The Coat of Arms.
2. First round (5 min)
Each group works on one subject: identify the key points, ideas or lessons to be retained and rank them by importance.
3. Second and third rounds (2 x 5 min)
The participants change tables each round to complete the crests of the other groups. The exercise is the same: enrich, structure and prioritise.
4. Fourth round and summary (10 min)
Final round: the groups finalise the crest, write a summary and create a slogan. A spokesperson is appointed for the presentation.
5. Feedback and ownership (25 min)
Each spokesperson presents their group’s summary in 2 minutes. Each participant then completes a personal note (the ‘shopping list’) based on the content produced collectively. The activity ends with an assessment via interactive polls.
Examples of use
1. Within a company
As part of an internal training programme, the crest can effectively conclude a skills enhancement session (e.g. new managerial practices) by helping each employee to visualise what they have learnt and to plan how to put it into practice.
2. Within a training organisation
At the end of the module, The Coat of Arms is an excellent tool for anchoring the key concepts covered, while allowing trainers to adjust their teaching methods based on the feedback they receive.
Testimonial from Sonia Mangin, trainer specialising in edutainment, founder of Alegriagogia, creator of the Glowbl The Coats of Arms sequence
“I regularly use The Coat of Arms in training, because it's a very versatile and customisable metaphorical tool. I use it both at the beginning (inclusion) and at the end of the session (declension), to measure participants' progress. The Coat of Arms works equally well for individuals and groups, both face-to-face and remotely, and can even be co-created with the participants. I've tested it as a positioning activity, a reflection on an experience, an ideation activity or a training summary. In short, The Coat of Arms can be adapted to all the key moments of a training course: a real safe bet!”
3. Within a school
For students, this fun, structured activity encourages reflective thinking, which is essential in a long-term learning context (e.g. at the end of a semester or group project).
Glowbl, the ideal platform for this activity
Glowbl offers an immersive virtual space perfectly suited to the The Coat of Arms activity, thanks to several key features:
- Independent virtual tables, ideal for small group sessions.
- Whiteboard sharing and collaborative note-taking, to build and enrich the Coat of Arms together.
- Integrated timers and automated announcements, making it easier to keep to the timetable without friction.
- Live polls to assess feedback and learning in real time.
- Export of individual notes, for personalised learning.
Want to give it a try? Organise your first session on Glowbl today!
Conclusion
The Coat of Arms is much more than a simple summary tool: it’s an end-of-course ritual that promotes reflection, co-construction and the commitment of participants. By combining symbolism, memorisation and interactivity, it enables you to end your training courses on a strong, participative and lasting note. And with Glowbl, the presentation becomes fluid, structured… and terribly effective.