BE A CARTOGRAPHER/ IDENTIFY HOTSPOTS
(Session 3, 4)
From the bag activity, where the children learnt to keep the user at the centre of their ideas, they will now start their journey in the FEEL process. In this exercise, children will become cartographers by drawing a map of their world and would require them to observe their world with a fresh perspective in order to notice the unnoticed.
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This is a reflective activity & children would require children to step outside the class to observe.
Strategies to Facilitate the Session
- By conducting a dialogue around how important maps are for the world, the children can get excited about their new role as cartographers.
- Since the idea of lenses might be new for children, so it will be a good strategy to frame the guiding questions which can help children understand and identify the three lenses. Some examples are given below:
Structure/physical aspects of the room- Physical
How do the people feel in the space- Emotional
Who uses the space and what is happening there- Social
How do the people feel in the space- Emotional
Who uses the space and what is happening there- Social
- Prepare some guiding questions to lead the discussion such as
Why is it important to view our space from multiple lenses?
Do our assumptions come in play while observing?
Do we keep our user in mind while looking at the space?
Do our assumptions come in play while observing?
Do we keep our user in mind while looking at the space?
- Revisiting the spaces multiple times through the week will allow the children to get new observations and identify patterns of how different users interact with the space. It will be good to decide specific timings and days and arrange for prior permissions, especially if the children are going outside the school for observation.
- Children can be encouraged to work on maps in multiple ways- illustrations, photographs, text etc. This will enable each child to express their thoughts effectively.
- The idea of voting can be implemented in different ways. Each student from a group can share why their hotspot is important (mini campaign) and then a ballot box voting can be done.
Case study of an activity conducted in Riverside School to introduce the three lenses.
Phorum mam gave children three kinds of paper one by one- white paper, yellow and green cellophane paper and leading them to see the space they are sitting in through these eyes to introduce them to different ways of looking at a space. Then she led a discussion amongst them on each paper helped them to see things from a different light such as white (blocked vision); green (visible yet dark); yellow (clear), leading them towards a functional understanding of the three lenses (physical, social and emotional). To know more, refer to this link. |
Things to keep in mind
- As the children will work on the chosen opportunity of change throughout the implementation, trigger them to think mindfully about it by asking them probing questions on why it is important for them.
In the follow up session, the children will share their hotspots first within the group and then both as a class. Listening with a growth mindset (Yes/And) will be highly crucial for the children in this exercise.
By being cartographers, children will develop awareness of how things affect them as individuals/team and how they perceive their surroundings. While closing the session, you can lead them to share what they learnt about self through the exercise.