Communication Reproduced from 50 Communications Activities, Icebreakers, and Exercises, by Peter R. Garber. Amherst, MA, HRD Press, 2008.
How do we spend our time communicating?
Math problems: If Our Class is 45 minutes long… How much time will we spend reading? (16%) How much time will we spend writing? (9%) How much time will we spend talking? (30%) How much time will we spend listening?(45%)
Quote interpretation: Write down what you think this quote means “I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant!”
Communication Model
Directions Get with a partner. Directions Creator: One person with be the “Directions Creator” and the other person will be the builder. Directions Creator: 1. Write directions for placing a pencil top on the eraser side of a pencil. 2. Give your directions to your partner and they will carry them out. Builder: 1. Read the directions and complete the task.
Drawing a Picture Get with a partner. One person will be the communicator. One person will be the drawer. The drawer needs to come to Ms. Pinkney to get a sheet of white paper. The communicator and drawer will sit back to back. Ms. Pinkney will give you all directions after everyone has followed the previous steps.
“Law of Remembering” • Recently: We remember best what we heard last. • Frequently: We remember what we hear most often. • Impact: We remember most the things that are presented dramatically. • Application: We remember most the things we have a use for.
Making Snowflakes I will give you a sheet of white paper in which you will make a snowflake with your eyes closed.
Just Listen Get with a partner anywhere in the room One partner will blindly choose a card and then speak for three minutes on how he feels about the topic. As he/she talks, the other person cannot speak – his/her goal is to listen. After three minutes, the listener has one minute to recap on what his/her partner has said. He/She cannot debate, agree or disagree – only summarize. Next, the roles switch, and the process starts again.