Experiential Exercise: One Way Communicatio

Experiential Exercise: One Way Communication

Goals

• To recognize the pitfalls of one-way communication.
  
• To identify the necessity (importance) of two-way communication
  
• To label the skills involved in two-way communication.
  

Objectives

Several blindfolded trainees will simultaneously listen to and follow a list of verbal instructions and then compare the final outcomes of the instructions. 

Other trainees will observe the above activity.

Group Size

6 to 8 blindfolded trainees

unlimited trainee observers

Materials

6 to 8 pieces of 81/2 x 11 paper (1 for each blindfolded participant)

A pen or marker for each blindfolded participant.

Physical Setting

Space large enough in front of observing trainees for participants to stand so everyone can see them.

Process

1. Ask 6 volunteers to come up to the front of the classroom.

2. Blindfold each volunteer trainee or ask them to keep their eyes shut throughout the  exercise. 

3. Give each person a  piece of paper and a marker.

4. The following instructions are given by the facilitator:

a) Please follow the instructions I will give you without asking any questions.

b) The observers are asked to watch without giving any guidance.

5. Give the following instructions to the blindfolded Trainees

•   Fold the paper in half
•   Tear off the bottom left hand corner
•   Fold your paper in half again
•   Tear out a half circle at the top of the page
•   Draw a triangle underneath the circle
•   Turn you paper around and write you name down

6. Tell participants to open their eyes or remove their blindfolds and open their papers. 

Disciplined Reflection Questions

Sharing Questions:

1. What went on? What was observed?

2. What  were you aware of?

3. How did you feel doing the activity?

4. What was difficult about carrying out the instructions?

Interpreting Questions:

1. What was significant to you about this exercise?

2. In what ways was the communication unhelpful?

3. How might it have been different?

Generalizing Questions:

1. What does that suggest to you about communication in general?

2. What does that help explain?

3.  How does this help us better understand communication?

Application Questions:

1.  How might this apply in the counseling room?

2. What will you remember from this exercise that you will take with you into the counseling room?

3.  What might be the consequences of one-way communication in the counseling room?