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2.5
Cultivating a Willingness to Play
Submitted by Lori Britt
This activity encourages participants to take themselves less seriously and play with ideas (and one another). When we play, we explore—which offers an opportunity to let down our analytical guard and see with fresh perspectives.
Learning Goal
Learn how to use techniques like “limiting allotted time” or “creating playful competitions” to enhance creativity.
Instructions
Set Up: Prepare for the Activity
Organize participants into pairs or small groups (3-5 ppl).
Begin by introducing the learning goals of this activity.
Step One: Introduce Monroe’s Motivated Sequence (5 min)
In small groups, introduce a common persuasive “pitch” formula called Monroe’s Motivated Sequence. Participants may recognize this sequence from the format of many television ads and infomercials.
5 Steps (in this order):
Grab audience’s attention.
Present the need– Discuss the current situation and why something needs to be done. Appeal to emotions.
Offer a product/solution that addresses the need.
Describe how the world will look if this product or solution is implemented, help the audience visualize.
Call to Action – Ask them to buy or support the product/solution and why they must do it now.
Step Two: Develop a 2-minute Pitch (10 min)
Challenge the groups to quickly come up with a product or idea that will address a public need. Follow Monroe’s sequence to develop a quick 2-minute pitch. Remind the groups to name the product or idea with a catchy name. Explain to them that they will each be playing a part in the commercials they create. Encourage them to have fun with this and think outside the box.
Step Three: Present Pitches to the Full Group (15 min)
Invite each small group to present their pitch with everyone in the group delivering a part. For fun, the full group can vote on the top pitch.
Step Four: Debrief as a Full Group (10 min)
What did it feel like to do this so quickly? Did you feel like you were free to be playful or silly? Did the format of creating a commercial or infomercial allow you to be less serious?
How difficult was it to come up with an idea originally?
Once you had your idea, how easy or difficult was it to develop a pitch to persuade others to buy or support your idea?
TIME
40
min
MODULE
Creative Collaboration
This activity can be completed by any discussion group.
This activity might be considered high energy or more playful than other activities.
This activity can be easily modified to serve as an introductory exercise and completed in less than 10 minutes.
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0 Comments
YD
December 3, 2022 at 1:58:08 AM
Activity 4.8 provides useful phrases and techniques, as well as helps participants develop their own, to join in during discussions and express their views according to the goals they choose for themselves on what they want to offer to the discussion and how they want to be perceived.
YD
December 3, 2022 at 1:52:48 AM
Activity 4.7 uses a tactile and fun method, like a bag of beans, to have participants experience what it is like to have different amounts of power in a conversation. This activity also highlights how we base our ideas of how power is distributed on stereotypes.
YD
December 3, 2022 at 1:48:29 AM
Activity 4.6 employs useful tools like the Question Chart to help participants learn how to craft "good questions" that move beyond any assumptions they have about the views of others based on stereotypes or third party descriptions, and unearth their true views on the issue.
YD
December 3, 2022 at 1:45:08 AM
Activity 4.5 uses visual aids like the Emotion Wheel to push participants to move beyond just cognitive empathy and shows how to reflect back the emotions and understand their source through dialogue. It also helps participants differentiate between messages of intentional empathy and problem-solving.
YD
December 3, 2022 at 1:39:46 AM
Activity 4.4 uses both individual written reflection and discussion in small and large groups to explore the which aspects of a person's identity we use to determine if they should be included in the conversation on a particular issue. This activity also give participants to practice explaining and negotiating who is chosen.
YD
December 3, 2022 at 1:33:37 AM
Activity 4.3 uses physical movement and both lighthearted and serious topics to help participants see how positions on different topics lie on a continuum and how positions can change as one is exposed to new information or perspectives. Participants also flex their imaginative and creative muscle by arguing for the position opposite to theirs.
YD
December 3, 2022 at 1:28:28 AM
Activity 4.2 breaks down the individual aspects of active listening into separate rounds/steps to help participants consciously and methodically learn and practice this skill.
YD
December 3, 2022 at 1:25:28 AM
Activity 4.1digs deep into the many facets of social identity, by using drawing, as well as both written silent reflection and verbal discussion in small and large groups.
YD
November 29, 2022 at 6:26:51 AM
Activity 3.8 easily helps visualize the many dimensions of a topic by using the fishbone diagram.
YD
November 29, 2022 at 6:24:44 AM
Activity 3.7 provides useful mind tricks to help practice patience and giving people the benefit of the doubt, thus creating the sense of psychological safety required in collaborative efforts.