1. Activity Communication Strategies
Course Name and Title
Activity
Communication Strategies

2. Purpose of this Activity
Identify strategies for effective communication through various media
Written instructions only
E.g. instructions to fill out a claim form
Verbal instructions only
E.g. on the telephone
Intermediary communication
E.g. giving information to a financial advisor or broker to tell their customers

3. Phase 1 Each person has a Lego structure made of 5 pieces
Write instructions for your partner to assemble it
Your partner’s pieces may be different colours, but they have the right pieces
You may not draw pictures and your partner may not ask for clarification; your instructions need to be complete in themselves
You do not know the identity of your partner yet
You have 15 minutes

4. Phase 1 Follow-Up
Take apart your structure and build your partner’s structure according to their written instructions only (5 minutes)
Class discussion (15 min):
What do you notice?
What strategies were helpful?
What was not helpful?
How was it different following instructions compared to writing them?

5. Phase 2 Sit back to back with your partner
One partner is the Designer and one is the Assembler
The Designer creates a simple structure with their 5 pieces
The Assembler must create the same structure with their pieces, with only verbal instruction from the Designer
You can ask questions and clarify but you may not look at each others’ pieces or use pictures or hand gestures (i.e. pretend you are on the phone)
Once you finish, compare and switch roles if time (15 min)

6. Phase 2 Follow-Up Class discussion (15 min):
Was that harder or easier?
Does knowing who your partner is make a difference?
What strategies from Phase 1 still worked?
What didn’t work?

7. Phase 3 Groups of 3: a Designer, an Assembler, and a Runner
The Designer may see the structure at the front of the room and give verbal instructions (including gestures) on how to build it
The Assembler may build with the pieces according to the instructions they receive
The Runner relays the instructions back and forth but may not touch the pieces or see the structure
You have 15 minutes

8. Phase 3 Follow-Up Class discussion (15 min):
How similar are the structures?
What did you find helpful as a Runner? Designer? Assembler?
What strategies worked or didn’t work?
How do these roles relate to how you might interact in a group or team setting?

9. Final Follow-Up and Task
In what situations might you use these communication strategies?
What differences did you notice about the three phases?
Task: write a personal reflection on some interesting things you learned (and might use) from doing this activity (~250 words, about one page double spaced)
Can be informal but must have good grammar/structure/flow
Submit in your portfolio on Monday at noon (please print it ahead of time)