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2.9
Challenging Taboos to Enhance Creativity
Submitted by Jack Byrd, Jr., Cuda Zmuda, and Eric Schmucker
Our imagination is often restricted by internalized taboos. While these restrictions may be appropriate in some cases, we are often unaware or subconsciously influenced by taboos. Uncovering taboos that affect us can provide creative breakthroughs for how we think about issues.
Learning Goals
Identify the presence of taboos in everyday life.
Challenge self-censorship and expand creative thinking by becoming more aware of taboos.
Instructions
Set Up: Prepare for the Activity
Organize participants into small groups (4-6 ppl).
Share the Ping Pong Ball Challenge on a handout, screen, or projector.
Step One: Introduce the Ping Pong Challenge (5 min)
Review The Ping Pong Ball Challenge as a full group:
An eight inch long metal pipe is embedded in concrete at one end. The pipe is perpendicular to the ground, facing upward. A ping pong ball is at the bottom of the pipe. The ping pong ball fits loosely into the pipe.
You have the following tools available to you:
A one-foot length of rope (0.1 inch in diameter)
A metal file
You need to remove the ping pong ball from the pipe with the following restrictions:
You have no other resources available to you.
You cannot move or bend the pipe.
The ping pong ball cannot be damaged.
Ask the groups if there are any clarifying questions but do not provide any additional information.
Step Two: Individually Generate Ideas (5 min)
Ask each participant to write down their individual ideas. How are they going to remove the ball from the pipe?
Step Three: Discuss Ideas in Small Groups (10 min)
In small groups, invite participants to share their ideas.
As each of the ideas are presented, ask the other participants to build on them.
Instruct the group that they must decide on a single best solution to present to the full group.
Step Four: Present Solutions to the Full Group (5 min)
Invite one representative from each small group to present their final solution to the challenge.
While listening to the solutions, ask participants in the full group to evaluate each small group’s idea with a thumb’s up, thumb’s down, or thumb’s sideways vote. Tell them the criteria for their vote should be: Did the group adhere to the rules? Would the solution work?
Step Five: Explore Taboos as a Full Group (15 min)
If no group came up with the solution, reveal that the most effective solution is to urinate in the pipe and let the ping pong ball rise to the top.
Full group discussion prompts:
What’s your reaction to this solution? Does it make you feel uncomfortable? Did any of you think of this but might have been afraid to voice it in the discussion?
Talking publicly about urination is generally frowned upon or considered taboo. What else do you consider to be taboo?
Generate a list of taboos on the board, flip chart, or shared screen. Discuss:
Are these taboos universal? How do we know when our imagination is restricted by a taboo?
Step Six: Debrief as a Full Group (10 min)
Discuss:
Let’s review our list of taboos. What purpose do these taboos serve? Who or what decides that these topics are off limits?
What are the trade-offs associated with taboos?
How can identifying taboos open up possibilities or imagination?
TIME
50
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.
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
Shannon Wheatley Hartman
December 7, 2022 at 1:41:01 PM
This is also known as "Identity Pie." It's a great warm up and way for participants to get to know one another. I would use this early in a group setting to help build connection.
Shannon Wheatley Hartman
December 7, 2022 at 1:39:24 PM
I think we all know that creating guidelines is important. I introduce activity 1.1 What is Collaborative Learning? first and then use the positive and negative attributes that they generate to help form our group guidelines.
Shannon Wheatley Hartman
December 7, 2022 at 1:36:43 PM
I always recommend that folks start off with this activity and pair it with 1.3 Creating Guidelines. It is a great way to set the tone and emphasize the importance of collaborative discussion.
YD
December 2, 2022 at 9:39:23 PM
Activity 5.4 uses the fun method of role playing and builds on other activities to help participants develop questions and practice gathering information to collaborate effectively with communities as partners. This activity involves working together in small groups and as a large group. It also includes multiple additional resources for participants to continue learning methods and skills to build community partnerships.
YD
December 2, 2022 at 9:39:00 PM
Activity 1.8 provides a very useful survey to gather information on and help support participants' different discussion styles and needs, exploring various areas like preferences for group size, ways of participating in discussions, any fears relating to discussions, etc.
YD
December 2, 2022 at 9:34:46 PM
Activity 5.8 further explores direct democracy by proposing the idea of "legislative juries" to improve the current initiative process through collaboration and deliberation. This activity uses role playing to have participants practice deliberation as part of a mock legislative jury to craft ballot initiatives on a given issue.
YD
December 2, 2022 at 9:27:35 PM
Activity 5.7 uses a fun and tactile activity like building LEGOs to explore the effects of coming together to colloborate and discuss, while also participating together in another physical activity.
YD
December 2, 2022 at 9:22:49 PM
Activity 5.6 uses memes and futuristic zombie scenarios to develop ways to change people's minds, while exploring various aspects of the methods used to change minds, like assumptions behind ideas, sticking to the facts versus stretching the truth, appealing to emotions etc.
YD
December 2, 2022 at 9:16:44 PM
Activity 5.5 uses a fun and visual/craft activity to help participants explore the many different types of knowledge, how they are valued, and the role/importance of each type of knowledge in their own lives.
YD
December 2, 2022 at 9:11:54 PM
Activity 5.3 gives participants to use writing, drawing, and/or speaking to share and discuss the various communities they belong to and/or feel excluded from, the various aspects that define community, as well as the practices of inclusion or exclusion and power distribution in these communities.