Playful Perspective Taking
Practice perspective taking with these three playful activities
Dear collaborative discussion friends,
This week we are highlighting three activities that use imagination and play to help participants practice taking the perspective of another, thus helping expand their understanding of different perspectives on a particular issue. All the activities in the toolkit have an activity key that indicates the level of the activity (beginner or advanced) and other characteristics using icons. Activities that use playful methods are denoted with the following icon.
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This week's activities:
Activity 1.2 – Developing Collaborative Perspective
Activity 4.3 – Understanding Perspectives on a Continuum
Activity 4.9 – Taking the Perspective of Another
Three activities that use imagination and play to enhance perspective taking
Activity 1.2 – Developing Collaborative Perspective helps participants understand the value in seeking out others’ perspectives and collaboratively exploring an issue as a group. This activity uses a fun and playful method to demonstrate that there are often many different facets to a topic that any one person cannot see. It shows how different people can offer new and valuable insights about a complex issue.
This activity uses puzzle pieces to help participants understand that working collaboratively as a group can uncover valuable information and insights that might not be visible when working alone. Participants are first invited to individually guess what image a complete puzzle shows based only on the single piece that they have. They then describe and discuss their pieces in small groups, still without showing their pieces to each other, and share ideas on what the full image might be. Participants then show each other their puzzle pieces and this time venture a guess with their group as to what the complete image might be based on their collection of pieces.
The complete puzzle is then revealed to the full group of participants. The full group reflects on the process of individually guessing what the complete puzzle was and the shifts in perspective they experienced when guessing as a group based on verbal descriptions and then visually seeing others’ puzzle pieces. Now that they can see the full puzzle, they also discuss what key piece or pieces of the puzzle they were missing that would have indicated what the full puzzle looked like.
This activity helps participants gain a deeper understanding of the limitations of any individual viewpoint, as well as a greater appreciation for the perspective of others and the valuable information and insights they can offer.
Activity 4.3 Understanding Perspectives on a Continuum helps participants move beyond binaries and understand the full spectrum of views on a topic. It helps them explore how the complexity of different perspectives can influence their own opinion. This activity also encourages participants to understand viewpoints that are very different from their own.
This activity engages participants through movement and visualization. In the first lightning round, a series of statements, ranging from fun to more serious topics, that offer two positions (position A and B on the continuum) on the topic are shared with participants. Participants are instructed to think about their position on each topic and then choose a position along the spectrum between these two positions (i.e. Strongly Agree with A, Agree with A, Somewhat Agree with A, Somewhat Agree with B, Agree with B, Strongly Agree with B). In the next round, participants are again asked to choose a position on a particular issue and then discuss the reasons for their choice. Even those who choose spots along the continuum on the same side (i.e. different degrees of agreement with position A or B) might be there for different reasons. Participants are then encouraged to practice flexible thinking by giving them the chance to listen to different opinions and reevaluate their initial position based on this new information.
Participants are again given another statement to respond to, once again choosing a spot along the continuum. This time, as they discuss with those on their side (i.e. the three lanes for position A or B), they are also encouraged to take on the other side’s perspective and understand that position by crafting an argument in support of it. The full group then discusses the issue, each side taking turns to share their perspective, until they come to a conclusion on what they believe as a group and/or individually on the issue. Participants then debrief as a full group, reflecting on the process and which spots, the middle or extreme ends, were the easiest or most difficult to choose, as well as imagine when taking on the perspective of the other side.
This activity helps participants stretch their thinking to consider and engage with the full spectrum of views on a particular topic and gain a deeper understanding of perspectives different from their own.
Activity 4.9 – Taking the Perspective of Another is a fun activity that uses fictional characters or historical figures to help participants view an issue from very different perspectives. This activity encourages participants to understand how multiple factors influence a person’s choices in a given situation. It also provides participants with an option to explore how their own values, personalities, experiences and knowledge influence their own choices.
This activity uses a combination of fun and serious topics to help participants practice viewing an issue from different perspectives. Participants are introduced to two very different characters from a popular novel, movie, TV show, painting or photograph, historical figures, or characters that the facilitator of the activity creates. Participants are then invited to work in small groups or pairs and, using what they know about the characters presented, such as their values, personality traits, life experiences and knowledge, discuss and decide what choice that person might make in regards to a fun question, like where to go for vacation. They are asked to discuss with each other why they think each character would make that particular choice. Once they are finished, each group or pair records the choices they decided on for each character on a shared surface visible to the full group.
Participants then repeat the same steps, this time discussing and deciding the choice each character would make on a more serious topic and why. Once again, they record their answers on the shared surface. If participants are comfortable sharing on a personal level, they then discuss in their groups or pairs, what they would personally choose in this serious scenario and why. The full group then debriefs by examining the different choices recorded on the shared surface by each group and discussing whether there is a lot of similarity or difference between all the choices listed and why. They also discuss if any of the choices listed stand out as surprising or unique.
This activity helps participants practice perspective-taking and gain a deeper understanding of the various factors that influence their own and others’ views and choices in regards to a particular issue.
Upcoming Events
Registration is now open for our annual Collaborative Discussion Coach Summer Training! The cost of the training is $265. We are able to offer a discounted price due to the generous support of the Interactivity Foundation. Our programming should never be cost prohibitive. Please contact us if a scholarship is needed. The deadline to register is May 5, 2024. Learn more and register here!
Looking forward to collaborating,
Ritu Thomas & the Collaborative Discussion Team