Objectives:
To understand the importance of values and explore how are values affect us and our decision making
To recognise our own values
To recognise the difference in people's values
Overview:
This session can be run by working with learners remotely (through a learning log or diary – see QAAreflectivediary) or in a group discussion in order to explore individual values. It can be useful to help groups explore their approaches and the values that underpin them.
Activity
This activity takes no more than thirty minutes to deliver in a group setting and needs few resources (have a prepared Flip chart replicating the grid with enough columns to suit the numbers in the group). However if delivered as a prompt within a reflective diary or personal learning document, this task and its outcome can be revisited throughout the learning process.
As a group task:
Ask each individual to take some time to read a list of values and decide which are the most important 5 values.
Once these values have been identified, they are asked to rank them by placing them in order of importance ie 1 being the most important. When they have all finished ask them to go behind the flip chart one at a time and put their scores in the grid when they have all sat down turn the flip chart around to group to discuss the range of findings.
Typically no two sets are the same, indicating the range across the group and ask them to discuss the diversity that they see.
Feedback and discussion should not now be task focused (particularly as values can be deeply held and discussions can be wide ranging at this point) but focused upon how to work together if the values are very different.
Please choose your top five values numbering your selection in order of importance 1 being the top and 5 being the lower value.
List of Values can be generic, task or profession focused or related to group work (see below)
Values listed could include:
- Wealth
- Peace
- Environmental Protection
- Human rights
- Animal rights
- Respect for all religions
- Health
- Family
- Friends
- Culture
- Arts
Amend: it may be possible to alter this generic list to make reference to issues or debates within your sector/industry or a potential profession. This may require some research or background reading by the students which may impact upon scheduling this task to the following week after the issues have been announced.
Amend 2: Reflective Group work task
It may also be useful in developing communication skills for group work to alter these values to key elements of group work and ask the group to explore these elements and explore what is important to those working in the group and how best to work together, where there are recognised differences. These could include:
- group harmony
- time keeping
- task compliance
- client satisfaction
- leadership
- consensus building
- deadlines
- delivery
- high quality
- respect for the individual
- satisfactory outcome
- professional expertise
- business like attitude
- creativity
Skill Development:
This is great exercise for getting people to appreciate how diverse we all are and we should be aware of that when working with others. It is important to ensure that respect for all participants is maintained throughout and it can be helpful to create ground rules at the start of the discussion; however it is also important to build the skills of active listening and build confidence in expressing emotions or strong feelings. It may be helpful to reflect with a colleague on this task, and the group undertaking it, if you wish to be prepared for the range of observations and discussions that may stem from the group.
Group discussions should conclude with consideration of how to take this learning forward into future activities and tasks, whilst individuals can be prompted in their learning diaries or personal reflective logs to explore their emotions in relation to these issues.
As one of the more fundamental elements of communication and improving interpersonal skills, it is important that, as a facilitator, you are able to draw out the learning from this task, rather than allow the merits inherent within each of the values/topics to dominate the discussions.
Resources:
- Paper
- Felt Tip Pens
- Flip Chart