_edited.png)
1.4
Understanding Your Identity in Collaboration
Submitted by Shannon Wheatley Hartman
There are different ways of thinking about identity ranging from personal to social or perceived to ascribed. This activity encourages participants to reflect on the type of person or identity they bring (or would like to bring) to a discussion.
Learning Goals
Recognize that all discussion participants bring and withhold parts of their identity.
Be more intentional about the identities we put forward (or hold back) in group discussion.
Instructions
Set Up: Prepare for the Activity
Organize the participants into pairs or small groups (5-6 ppl).
Begin by introducing the learning goals of this activity.
Step One: Individually Design Identity Capsules (10 min)
Share the following prompt with participants:
Imagine that you have the opportunity to live on another planet with an alien population. The interview process requires that you pack 5 items into a capsule that best represent you as a person. You decide which 5 aspects of your identity are most important and how you might represent them as objects in the capsule. Write down your answers, being mindful that you will share this information in pairs or small groups. Do not write down something that you are uncomfortable sharing.
Step Two: Share Capsules (20 min)
In pairs or small groups, invite participants to share their capsule items. Discuss these prompts:
Why did you include this item? What part of your identity does it represent?
How might this part of your identity show up (or not show up) in larger group discussions?
When are these identity traits most present and when are they invisible or held back in reserve
Step Three: Debrief as a Full Group (20 min)
Reconvene as a large group and ask participants to take inventory of their identity capsule contents. Prompts:
What sort of items were in your identity capsules? Any similarities? Anything that stood out? Anything in possible tension?
How do we know which parts of our identity we want to put forth in a collaborative discussion with others? Can we be intentional about this?
Which parts of our identity do we hold back? What is the cost of holding back parts of ourselves? Under what circumstances do we feel safe to put forth a more authentic or whole self?
TIME
50
min
MODULE
Introduction to Collaborative Discussion
This activity can be completed by any discussion group.
This activity can be used to build trust and interpersonal connection.
This activity is focused on developing or supporting listening skills. See Sample Listening Certificate Program Design to illustrate sample sequencing.
Tell us what you think. Rate and review this activity:
Have any helpful suggestions or modifications for this activity?
Share them in the comments below!
0 Comments
YD
November 28, 2022 at 9:13:29 PM
Activity 2.7 uses metaphors to explore the place of imagination and humor in exploring difficult or unfamiliar topics.
YD
November 28, 2022 at 9:10:50 PM
Activity 2.6 is another fun activity that encourages flexible thinking and a method of communication built on validation and respect, resulting in an environment of collaboration.
YD
November 28, 2022 at 9:02:30 PM
Activity 2.5 is fun activity that helps you let loose and unleash your playful side to help demonstrate how play is very useful to broadening perspectives.
YD
November 28, 2022 at 8:57:35 PM
Activity 2.4 helps encourage bold, imaginative thinking and looking at the risks involved in both action and inaction.
YD
November 28, 2022 at 8:54:27 PM
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.
YD
November 28, 2022 at 8:50:37 PM
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.
YD
November 28, 2022 at 8:47:31 PM
Activity 2.1 provides useful information to develop and use curiosity not just in a discussion space, but also in your everyday life.
YD
November 28, 2022 at 8:44:34 PM
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.
YD
November 28, 2022 at 8:41:05 PM
Activity 1.6 is very innovative. It helps demonstrate how the prioritization of different values we hold changes according to context.
YD
November 28, 2022 at 8:38:49 PM
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.