Purpose
Facilitating a check-in: introducing participants to each other by sharing their background and personal reflections on what brought them to a specific training/project/gathering/meeting.
Description
This activity is useful at the start of inter- and transdisciplinary collaborations, prior to forming inter- and transdisciplinary research teams or any meeting in which a (new) collaboration starts. A check-in ensures that participants are focused on the purpose of the meeting and present with their full selves, including their interests, questions, and emotions.
Instructions
- Place a selection of cards, with images facing upwards, on a table, proportionate to the group size.
- Invite participants to gather around this table.
- Share a specific question and introduction elements you would like to hear from each participant (see example below).
- Invite participants to pick a card.
- Invite participants to share in popcorn style.
- Introduction elements example:
- Name
- Organisation you work for
- Field of study
- Professional background
- Your card and why it speaks to you
- Central question: Think of what brought you to this training/project/gathering. What are your hopes and wishes for this training /project/gathering?
Phase
Convene/Getting to know each other
Competence
Disciplinary Grounding
Time
2 minutes per person
Group size
2 – 20 persons
Required materials
- New Metaphors card desk
- Table
Relevant resources
This activity was brought to CUCo via the Imaginaries Lab, led by Dan Lockton, team member of the Unusual Collaboration Playing with the Trouble.
Tips & Experience
Facilitate this check-in popcorn-style and invite participants to Speak up when you’re ready, but don’t wait too long. Let participants share their thoughts without responding to each other. Start as facilitator to set an example for the duration and depth of sharing.