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3.3
Awareness of Context, Bias, & Assumptions
Submitted by Lori Britt
This activity will help participants to identify their own assumptions about an issue and put those assumptions in plain view of others during a discussion. This activity will demonstrate how these judgments affect how we communicate with others.
Learning Goals
Encourage honest introspection about one’s beliefs, values, and biases.
Learn how to use the knowledge of biases and assumptions in a positive way.
Instructions
Set Up: Prepare for the Activity
Provide sheets of paper, colored markers, and tape.
Organize participants into small groups (4-6 ppl).
Begin by introducing the learning goals of this activity.
Step One: Individually Reflect on Biases & Assumptions (5 min)
Give each small group a controversial topic to discuss. For example:
The government should provide universal basic income to all citizens.
Before engaging in discussion, ask each participant to write down any preconceived ideas, biases, or pre-formed opinions about the topic on a large piece of paper.
Ask participants to tape the piece of paper to the front of their desk.
Step Two: Suspend Biases & Assumptions (15 min)
Participants are now, literally, “suspending” their assumptions about the topic. Take a few moments to allow the groups to review the assumptions in front of them.
Model how to constructively ask for clarification about any assumptions:
What do you mean by this?
Where does this assumption come from?
Can you give me an example or context for this?
Instruct participants not to criticize or debate the value of the assumptions.
Step Three: Engage in Small Group Discussion (20 min)
Ask participants to discuss the prompt in small groups. Encourage them to explore various dimensions or elements of the prompt and examine it from multiple angles or perspectives.
Invite participants to revise their assumptions as the discussion progresses. Invite discussants to constructively point out assumptions and biases as the discussion continues.
Step Four: Debrief as a Full Group (10 min)
Discuss:
What impact, if any, did “suspending” your assumptions have on your own contributions to the discussion?
How did knowing the assumptions of others affect your own communication in the group?
Did you communicate differently with any individual because of their assumptions? Because of your assumptions?
TIME
50
min
MODULE
Critical Collaboration
This activity is more involved or complicated than a beginner activity. This activity is for groups that have established trust or experience with discussion.
This activity is best implemented with in-person learning groups, requiring hands-on techniques that may not be easily replicated online.
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
Sovi Herring
July 24, 2023 at 7:24:46 PM
I adapted this toward skills students can bring to their next group project to learn about themselves and appropriately accommodate others. This complements our course texts "Crucial Conversations" and "Thanks for the Feedback" as well! https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1rbVXIQkViuqmg4nnZdKyGsroHQn-_xsn/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=113770591818162655510&rtpof=true&sd=true
July 10, 2023 at 2:15:53 AM
Sovi
July 7, 2023 at 4:01:49 PM
I think this one went really well, especially when adding in premade roles. I didn't have access to a color printer, so I handmade character cards. I had to modify this activity a bit, but it was a blast. We paired this activity with some of the skills from the book "Crucial Conversations". Some also had to be bad/uncooperative communicators in the scenarios we had. Here's a Google Drive link to the materials I used for this activity. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1nK0F0JxxTLJvBJYgOSJVFGdwPmGjYzYb/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=113770591818162655510&rtpof=true&sd=true
June 28, 2023 at 1:28:26 AM
June 27, 2023 at 3:21:16 PM
June 27, 2023 at 3:07:43 PM
June 26, 2023 at 10:07:17 PM
Sovi Herring
June 26, 2023 at 8:55:50 PM
I did this as a sub for a class and it went really well! The only feedback I have is that the prompts are a little long. I didn't edit them for this class, but I did offer a second prompt. Other than the bulky-ness, it was a great conversation and activity to have students do. Here are the materials I used in a Google folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QOVDnMYkouMsXtM9DfSVO38adPXdqKyM?usp=sharing
June 23, 2023 at 5:57:47 PM
June 23, 2023 at 3:02:10 AM