Inclusion
The Sketch Game
This drawing exercise highlights the diverse perspectives we can have on different subjects and objects, showcasing cultural differences. It can aid in uncovering our unconscious assumptions and biases. The task is easy to complete, only requiring 6 A4 pages or post-its and a pen for each participant, or a virtual whiteboard like Miro or Mural.
Workshop steps
Simple Actionable Instructions: 1. The facilitator should select 6 objects or subjects for participants to draw on A4/post-it notes. 2. Allow enough time for each participant to think about and visualize their interpretation of the object or subject. 3. For groups that work together regularly, consider using words from their daily work to enhance understanding. 4. Instruct participants to write the chosen word at the top of the A4/post-it note and then draw their interpretation of it. 5. Example words: happiness, family, interests, teacher(s), language, and vacation. 6. For online sessions, use a virtual whiteboard (Miro, Mural, or your choice) and have participants draw, take a photo, and post their drawings on a shared platform where they can view and group the drawings together.
The facilitator should display 6 topics on a wall or virtual whiteboard, ensuring sufficient space between each topic.
Please gather your drawings and place them near the TOPIC. Wait for everyone to finish. After all drawings are displayed, take a moment to observe them all. You'll notice some drawings share similarities, while others seem unrelated. What can we learn from this? - Our understanding and experiences of things vary greatly due to our diverse backgrounds.
Reflect and Discuss The facilitator prompts each group to consider and discuss these questions: 1. What similarities do you notice? 2. What differences can you identify? 3. What aspects have surprised you?
Group Discussion The facilitator encourages the participants to express their thoughts and highlight any valuable learnings from this activity.
Action Steps: 1. Compare drawings of 'family' from different participants, noting the differences in the number of parents depicted, which could indicate their experience with single or dual-parent households. 2. Observe the variations in 'vacation' drawings, such as one participant illustrating a hotel resort in Gran Canaria and another depicting a relative's house in Tunisia. 3. Analyze the 'teacher' drawings, even from actual teachers, who may still portray a traditional image of a person in front of a board with a stick, despite not identifying with that role themselves. 4. Utilize this exercise when you need to comprehend how people interpret specific words, such as in teamwork or general communication. 5. Apply this activity to uncover unconscious biases and assumptions about how we perceive and convey various words and concepts.
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