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Developing Collaborative Perspective

Submitted by Lori Britt

This activity opens up the conversation and makes visible the need to gain a broader perspective of issues in order to effectively explore and address them. What we individually know and experience is important, what we can’t see is just as important in understanding a complex issue.

average rating is 5 out of 5, based on 4 votes, rating(s)

Learning Goals

Acknowledge the limitations of individual vantage points and develop appreciation for the perspectives of others.

Instructions

Set Up: Prepare for the Activity

As the facilitator, bring a puzzle with large pieces (preferably under 50 pieces).

Organize participants into small groups (5-6 ppl).

Begin by introducing the learning goals of this activity.

Step One: Individually Reflect on a Puzzle Piece (5 min)

In small groups (5-6 ppl), a puzzle piece will be given to each participant. Use pieces from a puzzle with a recognizable image but large enough that any one piece will only have a fraction of the total image.

Instruct participants to not show the puzzle piece to anyone else.

Invite participants to reflect on their piece. Prompt:

Look at your individual puzzle pieces and write down what you think the image may be.

Step Two: Describe and Discuss Puzzle Pieces (10 min)

Members of each group will describe and discuss their puzzle pieces, but without showing them to one another. Invite participants to be descriptive. Participants can ask questions about others’ puzzle pieces. The group will start to identify what the puzzle image might be based only on descriptions.

Step Three: Groups Offer Guesses (5 min)

Next, invite participants to show pieces to others in their small group and look at them all together. Discuss what they can now see and as a small group.

Invite each group to put forth guesses of what the overall image might be.

Step Four: Debrief as a Full Group (15 min)

Hold up or show the image of the completed puzzle. Discuss:

How did descriptions of other people’s puzzle pieces alter your initial views of what the picture might be?
Could you understand what each person was describing or did you have to ask clarifying questions?
How did your perspective change when you saw others’ puzzle pieces?
After being shown the full image, what were you not able to see that would have helped you identify the image?
Twist: How does this puzzle activity relate to situations that you experience at work, class, or you see nationally where people intentionally use misinformation?
Twist: What happens to the power of the group when one person is deliberately trying to mislead others?

Reflection Journal

Think about an issue that you care about. From your perspective, what is at the core of this issue? How would you address it?
Now, try to imagine how someone with very different lived experiences from you might think about this issue. What might they ask you? How would you respond?
Bring in a third person to your imagined conversation. Perhaps a person who holds very different values. Ask this person how they would frame and solve this issue. What do they say?
Playful twist: try writing up this reflection as a conversation, play, or short story.

Practice Journal

This week, before you share your opinion about an event or situation (maybe an issue at work, home, or a public concern), pause and ask at least 2 other people their opinions about the topic. You might ask: How do you understand this issue? From your perspective, what is the core issue or concern? Then reflect upon how your opinion may or may not have changed based on the perspectives of others.

TIME

min

MODULE

Introduction to Collaborative Discussion

Download PDF

Beginner

This activity can be completed by any discussion group.

Facilitation

This activity can be used to support facilitation skills. See Sample Facilitation Certificate Program Design to illustrate sample sequencing.

Playful

This activity might be considered high energy or more playful than other activities.

Tactile

This activity is best implemented with in-person learning groups, requiring hands-on techniques that may not be easily replicated online.

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average rating is 5 out of 5

November 29, 2022 at 1:57:35 AM

Activity 2.4 helps encourage bold, imaginative thinking and looking at the risks involved in both action and inaction.

average rating is 5 out of 5

November 29, 2022 at 1:54:27 AM

Activity 2.3 uses mind mapping to flex your creativity in a fun and engaging way and apply it to developing innovative thoughts and solutions.

average rating is 5 out of 5

November 29, 2022 at 1:50:37 AM

Activity 2.2 is another innovative and useful activity that helps us explore, engage, work with a topic that can be frustrating or difficult for many, i.e. contradictions in the world and ourselves.

average rating is 5 out of 5

November 29, 2022 at 1:47:31 AM

Activity 2.1 provides useful information to develop and use curiosity not just in a discussion space, but also in your everyday life.

average rating is 5 out of 5

November 29, 2022 at 1:44:34 AM

Activity 1.7 is provides a useful inventory of collaborative discussion skills. It can be used to bring awareness to your skill level as you begin and to keep track of your progress as you move through this toolkit of activities.

average rating is 5 out of 5

November 29, 2022 at 1:41:05 AM

Activity 1.6 is very innovative. It helps demonstrate how the prioritization of different values we hold changes according to context.

average rating is 5 out of 5

November 29, 2022 at 1:38:49 AM

Activity 1.5 helps look at discussions from a different lens, moving away from just right or wrong and taking a deeper look at the values that drive different perspectives and opinions.

average rating is 5 out of 5

November 29, 2022 at 1:35:42 AM

Activity 1.4 is a fun activity that engages your imagination to explore your identity.

average rating is 5 out of 5

November 29, 2022 at 1:34:01 AM

Activity 1.3 is a good activity that helps develop a sense of cohesion and psychological safety in the group.

average rating is 5 out of 5

November 29, 2022 at 1:31:54 AM

Activity 1.2 is a fun and engaging activity making use of puzzle pieces to clearly demonstrate the importance of developing collaborative perspective.

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Developing Collaborative Perspective

Learning Goals

Instructions

Set Up: Prepare for the Activity

Step One: Individually Reflect on a Puzzle Piece (5 min)

Step Two: Describe and Discuss Puzzle Pieces (10 min)

Step Three: Groups Offer Guesses (5 min)

Step Four: Debrief as a Full Group (15 min)

Reflection Journal

Practice Journal

Dive Deeper: Additional Resources

Activity Cluster

Dive deeper by pairing or clustering activities together.

Tell us what you think. Rate and review this activity:

1.2 Developing Collaborative Perspective

Learning Goals

Instructions

Set Up: Prepare for the Activity

Step One: Individually Reflect on a Puzzle Piece (5 min)

Step Two: Describe and Discuss Puzzle Pieces (10 min)

Step Three: Groups Offer Guesses (5 min)

Step Four: Debrief as a Full Group (15 min)

Tell us what you think. Rate and review this activity:

1.2
Developing Collaborative Perspective