Description: This opener will gauge the different knowledge and experience levels of the audience. It is a good opener for a session that has a flexible flow and is easy to modify to meet the needs of the group.
Objective: Participants will self-evaluate their level of mastery of the content prior to the start of the content delivery. They will also outline key concepts and suggest a variety of processes.
Audience: Any group where there is a wide range of experience or knowledge levels of the content.
Time: 20 minutes
Group Size: This is best suited for groups of 20-30 people, divided into small groups of 3-7 participants each.
Materials: Chart paper, tape, markers
Process:
- Have the entire group think about their current knowledge of today’s content. Would they consider themselves novices, experts or somewhere in between? They are going to split into three groups. If they are well versed enough to share the content with others, then they are in the Superman group. If they have little or no knowledge of the content they will be in the Spider-Man group. If they have some knowledge, but not totally comfortable with the content then they are in the Elasti-Girl group.
- Have them get together with the other superheroes in their group. If the three groups are larger than seven people each, subdivide them.
- One person from each subgroup will bring markers, one person will get chart paper, and another will get tape to fasten the chart paper to the wall near the group.
- The Spider-Man group will think about what they need from this session in terms of knowledge and support, because they feel the need to construct a “supporting web” to feel comfortable with the new learning.
- The Superman group feels confident that they can “fly” with the content so they will think of the key concepts that they would want to impart to the Spider-Man group.
- The Elasti-Girl group will focus on a slightly different dimension for the day. They will look for things that can be done to make the session “snappy.” This could relate to both content and process for the day.
- Have the groups brainstorm for 4½ minutes and then start creating a poster to share their thoughts with the whole group. They will have an additional 3 minutes to create their poster.
- The groups will select a spokesperson to present the information they recorded to the whole group.
- Determine which items will be addressed in the session and what can be added to either the content or process. Some flexibility is required here on the part of the facilitator. Not every suggestion will be able to be woven in, so do not over-promise and under-deliver.
Debrief:
This activity honors the expertise in the room and helps each group recognize the needs of the other groups. Today we will band together as superheroes to make this session valuable for each of us.
Variations:
- The groups could be numbered 1, 2, 3 instead of named, or the names could be changed to fit a different theme.
- These groups could be the basis for regrouping the participants later. They could form new groups that have at least one Superman, one Elasti-Girl, and one Spider-Man. This would mix the ability levels for an activity or discussion.
Adrianne explains how to do the activity in the video below. Her activity is found in SCORE: Super Closers, Openers, Revisiters, Energizers, volume 3.
