Personal object exercise

Why to use?

This exercise helps group members to become acquainted.

When to use?

This is probably the first thing you do in your first group meeting.

How to use?

Preparation

Each group member brings a personal object. Spontaneously choose an object that:

• you think of spontaneously
• inspires you
• gives you energy
• you like
• excites curiosity
• or the like

Part 1

In the group, but individually, reflect on the following questions and write down the answers (5 minutes):

• Why did you choose to bring this specific object?
• What could the object reflect about your interests and approaches?
• What could the object tell about your motivation of joining this EiT theme?

Part 2

Each of you get 3 minutes to tell:

• your name
• where you come from
• what your expertise (study program) is
• why you brought your specific object
• what the object tells about your interests and approaches, and your choice of EiT company/theme

The others listen and write notes on how they connect to each of the other colleagues – what you see, hear, think, feel while listening

Part 3

The group now focuses on each of the group members in turn. Each group member respond how he or she connects to the focus-person. For instance:

• What touches, inspires or fascinates?
• What triggers your curiosity and activates associations?
• What is familiar?
• What is new, strange, surprising?

Everybody responds shortly (30 seconds) one by one to the person in focus until every team member has got feedback from all the others.

Reflective practice

Individually (maybe make an entry in your personal log)

• How well do I know my fellow group members now?
• Did we succeed in carrying the exercise through in a good way? Why? Why not?
• Can I think of other (better?) ways of getting acquainted?
• ...

In the group (maybe make an entry in your group log)

• Did this exercise help us? Why? Why not?
• What else can we do to get to know each other?
• How important is is actually for us to know each other weel?
• ...