Raise your hand if you’ve done an activity with pairs that involves sitting back-to-back with each other and each partner has a set of identical materials like popsicle sticks and poker chips or pick up sticks and dominos (nod to Michelle), or toothpicks and M & M’s (my favorite).
One partner (the Artist) creates, in front of them, a 2D sculpture of sorts and then communicates the construction directions to their partner (the Builder) with enough details to replicate their work of art. During round one, the Builder may not ask questions of the Artist, simply doing their best to follow directions. When the Artist is finished with instructions the Builder’s replica is compared to the original – including some verbal exchange about the experience between partners. Then, right into round two. (I don’t debrief here.)
During the second round, the first Builder is now the Artist, the Artist the Builder. However, the Builder is allowed to ask clarifying or confirming questions of the Artist this time. When both Artist and Builder believe an accurate replica has been made, they check the results. Then the debrief of this activity is heavily focused on communication behaviors – which ones were helpful, and which ones were unproductive and, “How can we learn from this experience.”
One partner (the Artist) creates, in front of them, a 2D sculpture of sorts and then communicates the construction directions to their partner (the Builder) with enough details to replicate their work of art. During round one, the Builder may not ask questions of the Artist, simply doing their best to follow directions. When the Artist is finished with instructions the Builder’s replica is compared to the original – including some verbal exchange about the experience between partners. Then, right into round two. (I don’t debrief here.)
During the second round, the first Builder is now the Artist, the Artist the Builder. However, the Builder is allowed to ask clarifying or confirming questions of the Artist this time. When both Artist and Builder believe an accurate replica has been made, they check the results. Then the debrief of this activity is heavily focused on communication behaviors – which ones were helpful, and which ones were unproductive and, “How can we learn from this experience.”
I stumbled across ‘Business Team-Building Activities That Use Playing Cards’ at the CHRON. (Don’t ask me how I got there!?) Ms. Measom shared a similar activity using ‘Card Diagrams.’ In the spirit of taking her description to another level (a card flower diagram is good too), I wanted more abstraction to make it more challenging.
So, I created a couple of ‘scapes’ for us to use with our partner-back-to-back-artist-builder communication activity. One is a landscape, the other a seascape. One partner needs a scape, the other a deck of the standard 52 playing cards variety. The scapes (as you can see) are outlines of cards that were set down in a specific way. The objective is for the Builder to lay out the cards, directed by the Artist (holding the scape), to match the outline. (Downloads below.)
So, I created a couple of ‘scapes’ for us to use with our partner-back-to-back-artist-builder communication activity. One is a landscape, the other a seascape. One partner needs a scape, the other a deck of the standard 52 playing cards variety. The scapes (as you can see) are outlines of cards that were set down in a specific way. The objective is for the Builder to lay out the cards, directed by the Artist (holding the scape), to match the outline. (Downloads below.)
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The Builder in the first round is attempting to set out the cards that would produce the outline of landscape above – the picture below. (The lower left corner is a 'TEN'-T!)
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The Builder in the second round is attempting to set out the cards that would produce the outline of the seascape above – the card picture below.
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When I try this one, I’m going to let partners ask questions during both rounds. Each round will be 10-minutes long. After 10 minutes pairs get to see how they did. (This timed aspect ensures all the pairs are transitioning at the same time. Adjust the time if needed.)
Between the rounds I’ll ask the partners to identify the type of questions and the type of instructions that were really helpful. I’ll let them share for about 3 minutes. Going into the second round I will encourage everyone to remember the feedback that was shared in order to improve their communication exchange. For round two, the previous Artist becomes the Builder and the previous Builder, the Artist.
After the second round, I will go into an all-group debrief about communication behaviors and how they influence our interactions with others.
Let us know what you get from this one. And, for sure, what other scapes you create!
All the best,
Chris Cavert, Ed.D.
Between the rounds I’ll ask the partners to identify the type of questions and the type of instructions that were really helpful. I’ll let them share for about 3 minutes. Going into the second round I will encourage everyone to remember the feedback that was shared in order to improve their communication exchange. For round two, the previous Artist becomes the Builder and the previous Builder, the Artist.
After the second round, I will go into an all-group debrief about communication behaviors and how they influence our interactions with others.
Let us know what you get from this one. And, for sure, what other scapes you create!
All the best,
Chris Cavert, Ed.D.
NOTE: These files do not automatically download, you get a preview first. Then you can choose to download. Also, sorry, my scans aren't super clean – you can replicate!
| landscape.pdf |
| seascape.pdf |
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