Thiagi: The magic is in the debrief

Dr. Sivasailam “Thiagi” Thiagarajan is a game genius. He creates interactive learning activities (sometimes known as games) as if it were as easy as breathing. To be fair, he has practiced every day for years and essentially got a PhD in doing so. Thiagi is also full of magic - or at least magic tricks to teach reasoning, critical thinking, and just have a little fun.

I was fortunate to spend a full week in training with him at the 2018 Summer Institute for Intercultural Learning. Through walking the talk of interactive learning, Thiagi left quite a mark on me and the training techniques I still use today.

I brainstormed blog names for a couple months, but something Thiagi said kept rattling around in my head.

For me, this is about how we can go about our lives, watch a movie, or take a training, but the deeper learning and integration happens when we ponder it, reflect on it - when we debrief.

Of course there are times when just being and enjoying is preferable. And as theater director once exclaimed to me, exasperated, "Why must we always do things to learn?" Right now in this wild new chapter of my life, it is time for both - being and reflecting. These are tools for me to not let life just whiz by, but to engage it fully and whole-heartedly.

So, thank you, Thiagi. You rock.