Critical Collaboration
Module Three
Critical Collaboration requires that participants take time to reflect on their habits of thinking, emotional responses, and default communication styles. Over time, we learn how to think and communicate about certain topics, which can act as a blinder and prevent us from seeing issues more fully. The activities in this module can help groups pause and critically question their assumptions, biases, and habits of engagement to improve collaboration.
At the conclusion of this module, participants will be able to
Reflect upon and question starting assumptions, sources, perspectives, and biases.
Reflect upon and better understand the role of emotional triggers in discussion.
Improve expansive thinking and comfort with multidirectional exploration and ambiguity in group discussions.
Encourage anticipatory thinking about unintended consequences.
Practice generous interpretation and seek out the complexity of issues.
MODULE DESIGN
This module is structured with a series of topics explored through activities. These activities give participants a chance to experience these concepts through hands on practice, often completed in small groups. Then participants reflect on their own experiences and how these skills or tools could be useful in supporting critical collaboration in small groups and thus advance collaborative discussion.