Looking at the Dimensions of a Topic

• Forming a line in the room: one end represents (…), for example the individual, one end the opposite, for example the social
  • Situate yourself in the line – do you want to go to one end or somewhere in the middle?
  • Do you feel more comfortable in the individual or in the social?
  • Embody your position, not being fixed but able to move
  • Is this the right place? Do you want to move still? Is this where you want to be?

• The dimensions:
  • Past – Future (tradition – innovation)
  • Individual – Collective/society
  • Subject-oriented – Cross-curricular 
  • Recognition – Alienation (Affirmation – Provocation; Affirmative – Destructive)
  • Learner-driven – Curriculum-driven
  • Discipline – Freedom (Expression – Impression; Divergent and Convergent thinking)
  • Engagement – Entertainment

Purpose:

• To look at a certain dimension of a topic, for example individual – social experiences
• To position a thought in space
• Standing up and moving, not only sitting at the table and discussing
• A good start for conversation
• This exercise can be fast and then move on to discuss the experience and insights
  • In the exercise, one has to seize agency, to make choices.
  • It is an opening to talk about topics.
  • Multi-voicedness, different ways to approach the task.
  • Combinations of embodiment and language.

Who with:

• May be used with people of different ages and backgrounds.
• May also be done as a team: How does our team position itself in relation to a topic?

Variations:

• Different themes and questions may be selected, suitable for the group and the aims

This way of embodied reflecting on topics is used by Gudrun Beckmann at the master’s programme in Groningen.