The Canadian Knowledge Transfer and Exchange Community of Practice (KTE CoP) has developed an exciting new teaching tool, called the Knowledge Translation (KT) Game, to facilitate learning of KT principles and promote KT planning and collaboration. 
On Tuesday, November 4, 2014, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario attended a KTE CoP seminar to learn about the KT Game and try it out.
Here’s how it works. The KT Game consists of 57 cards, which include instructions, planning guides, KT scenarios, audience and strategy cards. Using the cards, players first choose a scenario. Scenarios could include a problem where the solution requires greater public awareness, such as the proper use of booster seats, or a policy that needs to be shared. Players then create a KT plan, identifying who needs to be aware of the knowledge with the ‘audience’ cards, what messages will be most relevant to them, and promising methods for delivering the messages using the ‘KT strategy’ cards. Players are also encouraged to think about implementation and evaluation of their KT plan.
Although the game doesn’t take into account resources or time constraints, it provides players with insight into the complex and iterative KT process in a fun and collegial setting. It is a great way to develop KT planning skills or bring a project team together to begin the KT planning process.
The project team can then build on their initial plan by considering potential partners, available resources, the political context and time allocation for implementation of the KT plan.
CMHA Ontario is involved in a number of knowledge exchange projects and partnerships. Find out more about our work in this area on the CMHA Ontario website.