Conversations

A textra game requires the participants to interact with the contents of a text document and with each other. In this sample textra game, let us assume that you have asked a group of participants in a trainer-the-trainer workshop to read the article, Content Is Abundant.

Synopsis

The participants read the article and review a list of study questions. They pair up with each other and discuss the content of the articles. Once every 3 minutes, the participants stop their conversation with their current partner and re-start the conversation with a new partner.

Purpose

To understand the content of an article in depth.

Participants

Minimum: 4

Maximum: Any number

Best: 10 to 20

Time

45 minutes (15 minutes to read the article and 30 minutes for conversations)

Handout

List of Questions

Equipment

Timer

Whistle

Room Set-Up

Arrange the room to permit one-on-one conversations

Flow

Brief the participants. Explain that they would read an article (or a chapter or a book). Later, they will repeatedly pair up with other participants and discuss what they read.

Read the article. Distribute copies of the article. Announce a suitable time limit. Encourage the participants to underline key words and sentences and to take notes. Ask them to read rapidly. Reassure them that it does not matter if they do not finish their reading within the assigned time.

Distribute the List of Questions. Explain that these questions are to prompt their thoughts about what they read. Ask the participants to skim through the questions and think of suitable responses based on the content of the article.

Explain the discussion procedure. After a suitable pause, blow the whistle and ask the participants to get ready for one-on-one conversations. Each participant should pair up with another and talk about what they read. This should be a spontaneous, two-sided conversation. The participants do not have to work through the list of questions but use them only as suggested topics.

Explain the time limit. Announce that you would blow a whistle at the end of 3 minutes. The two participants should stop their conversation (even if they have not completed discussing their current topic), and immediately find a new partner.

Conduct a 3-minute conversation. Ask the participants to pair up with a partner. Announce the beginning of the first conversation. Set your timer for 3 minutes and start it.

Repeat the conversations. At the end of 3 minutes, blow the whistle. Ask the participants to stop their conversation, find a new partner, and begin a new conversation. Continue this procedure in 3-minute intervals for about 10 rounds.

Conclude the activity. Announce the end of all conversations. Ask the participants to reflect silently for a minute on the content of the article and their conversations. At the end of the minute, thank your participants and move on to the next activity.

Handout

List of Questions

  1. How would you persuade someone else to read this article?

  2. How would use the ideas from the article to your workplace?

  3. How would you explain the main point in this article to a 7-year old?

  4. How would you summarize the main points of the article in two sentences?

  5. What are some key points in the article?

  6. What points in the article that surprised you?

  7. What feedback would you give to the author?

  8. What personal examples can you relate to the main points in the article?

  9. What points in the article that you disagree with?

  10. What practical ideas from the article that you could immediately use?

  11. What seems to be the primary objective of the author?

  12. What would be an appropriate alternative title for the article?