TASKs for democracy

Tips and potential difficulties
1. The role play will work if you take care to ensure that the middle group has a few more participants than
the other two.
2. While describing the communication process (Task sheet 1), it should be said that words comprise only
7% of communication, so equal attention should be paid to other components, such as body language,
expression of emotions, etc. One should also point out that the awareness of barriers is halfway to overcoming
them.
3. It can be useful to use slides to introduce the communication process (Task sheet 2) and barriers to communication
(Task sheet 3).
4. The technique with four initial groups and four expert groups is called a “jigsaw puzzle”. While using this
technique it is essential to explain the whole task at the beginning.
5. It is important to inform the participants that three groups (“Judgments”, “Control”, “Avoidance”) will have
a more reflective task, while the fourth group (“Other barriers”) will have more information to study and
relay.
6. There is a rectangle in the right upper corner of each page in Task sheet 4. It will help to avoid confusion
while the initial groups recompose into the mixed groups. For that purpose, when you prepare copies
for each member of the four initial groups, mark the rectangles with different colours. That means that
each member of one group gets the same text, but the rectangles are different: red, yellow, blue and
green. When the groups reconstitute themselves, the only instruction you have to give is, “Now make
new groups according to the colour you have in the right upper corner of your handout”.
7. The ideal number of participants in the training group for the “jigsaw puzzle” activity is 16. Use your
creativity if the number is different (e.g. some participants may share one role).
TASK SHEET 1
Instructions for three groups
Group A
Today during the break there will a possibility to choose between two options: coffee and cakes or water
and fruit. Together with Group B you can order one of the options. But there’s one condition – both Groups
A and B have to agree on it. Arrange it with Group B. Remember that you must not leave the place where
you are standing.
Group B
Listen to what Group A wants to tell you and respond. Remember that you must not leave the place
where you are standing.
Group C
Your task is to not let Group A and Group B communicate. You can use everything you wish for this purpose:
your voice, your bodies, additional materials you can find in the room. Remember that you must not leave
the place where you are standing.
Activity 33 – Communication breakdown? Page 177