How it works: Grap Bag step-by-step
In this example, Grab Bag and will be used along with the 4square format to exemplify a typical process of transformative learning. At the beginning, the learner is informed of the basic outline of the learning model, intention / exploration / disocovery / insight. The learner is briefed about the process at hand. In this example, the process is initially focused on capturing a set of data. Grab Bag is the tool for generating this data set.
Note: For the purpose of summarizing procedures and concepts, each thing a learner does will be attached to an index number [1...] and each concept used for the sake of framing the process will be attached to an index letter [a...] and arrayed in a summary index at the end of this example.
STEP 1:: developing a powerful intention. (This step is "mission critical" so there's much more about this elsewhere on the SQ1 site.) For the purpose of the example the learner has articulated their personal intention in the form of a question: What do I need to explore and/or know more about to discover if it's time to make a lateral career move?
Tool: GRAB BAG
The Grab Bag is a bag with stuff in it. What's in it?
Here's a peek. The learner, after some instruction, will be asked to reach into the grab bag. These instructions provide a guideline for pulling items out of the Grab Bag.
Step 2:: Instructions for Exploration. Any guidelines for choosing items from the serve to in some way constrain the learner's choice. Constrained choice is a way of framing learner choicemaking. Almost everybody would prefer to evaluate all the available choices and choose the items they like the most. There are many ways to impose constraints. The choice can be limited to a small quantity. The choice can be made by touch alone. The choice can be made without any opportunity for thorough evaluation being also granted. Very often the learner will be guided to quickly, without looking, feel around the diverse contents of the Grab Bag and pull out the first item that they like, or, alternately dislike.
In this example the learner was directed to make three different choices for the purpose of gathering data in the form of items pulled out of the Grab Bag.
without looking.
First: "quickly pull out the very first thing your fingers contact"
Second: "slowly feel around the contents and pull out an item you like the feel of"
Third: slowly feel around the contents and pull out an item you do not like the feel of."
Three items are pulled out of the bag. Together they comprise the set of data to be further explored. Note that the underlying initial earning is manifested: by contact with the external world-phenomenal items; in the sensual and somatic translation-by feel-of the items , and by the cognitive, ie. thoughtful (or intuitive,) appreciation of negative and positive value immediately apprehended in contacting, relating to and evaluating the items.
Our facilitator's eyes' view presents a blend of informal theorization underneath these procedures. This doesn't read as being playful but in the next section, the interaction between facilitator and learner is presented as dialogue to showcase the openness and playfulness of the experiential tool. Jack is the name of the student in this example, and, Stephen is facilitator. What came out of the Grab Bag? |PART 2|