Train the Trainer Resources

Activity title: Golden Parrot

Short description

Group discussion concerning the cost of a gift offered to a friend.

Students must be aware how they influence other’s opinion, how decisions are made and how they communicate in the group.

Key competences in life skills:

Numeracy
Literacy and communication / ü
ITC
Interpersonal / ü
Use of foreign languages
Entrepreneurship / ü
Job seeking
Learning to learn

Situation:

Activity must be carried out in groups of 6 students, as a minimum. Groups with 8 members are the most interesting ones, but it is not advisable to have groups over 8.

The teacher must explain the situation which is about to be discussed and the purpose of the activity.

Initial information that there is no unique right decision and that the activity may have several solutions, should be omitted. However, this information might be important for specific groups, such as disadvantaged students.

Aims and objectives

To learn about the decision-making process

To learn about problem solving

To learn about communication in groups: to listen, to answer

To become aware of difficulties in communication, decision-making, problem solving and other skills related with respective processes

Detailed description

·  The preparation:

The teacher explains the activity to students

Subsequently, he/she provides them with an A4 paper sheet describing the activity, as follows:

You are a generous person and recently offered a parrot to a friend, as a gift.

Its cost was 1000 euro 4 years ago and now it’s worth about 4000 euros, because he talks wonderfully.

Which of following options best represent how much it costs you to offer that parrot as gift?

A-  Nothing, I already paid for it

B-  1000 euros, this was how much I spent on it

C-  4000 euros, this is the amount I need now to buy a new one

D-  1000 euros, plus the interest rate on that money over four years

E-  Nothing. I saved 3000 euros, because I offered a 4000 euros gift that cost me only 1000 euros.

Then ask students to read the description and clarify any doubt.

The session

·  Upon acknowledgement of the activity by all students, the groups must be set up. The class can be divided into several groups and the teacher walks between them as facilitator

·  It is possible that one group only carries out the activity, in which case the remaining students should act as observers, with a specific task, for instance, to observe and make notes on non-verbal communication (such as hand gestures, body posture, etc.)

·  The teacher initiates the activity, asking the group to discuss which is the correct option. He/she must call for a volunteer to start answering. Information on the duration of the exercise is optional.

·  Discussion continues, but the teacher should guide the group(s), in order to avoid them losing focus.

·  At the end of activity, students shall be required to think about what they learned with this activity. They can do it individually and explain to group verbally.

·  The teacher provides feedback to the group in terms of communication, interpersonal and entrepreneurial skills.

·  Notes of “external” observers shall be presented and commented by teacher.

·  20 minutes will be enough to complete the activity, but timing must be adjusted in accordance with the characteristics of groups.

Requirements and Resources

Description of Activity on an A4 paper sheet, delivered to students

Assessment:

Observation

Discussions

Hints and tips:

The teacher must permanently observe perceptions which students bring into the discussion, avoid invalidating their opinion, but adding other perspectives which extend the students’ visions.

In certain groups (e.g. disadvantaged), help will be needed during the activity. In such cases, the activity must be interrupted, so that teacher can provide that help and then proceed normally.

On completion of the activity, the teacher may request a written summary of what was learned, regarding skills worked out in the exercise.

Commentary:

The teacher will play a facilitator role so that groups can develop their ideas freely, but guidance has to be firm, in order to ensure that objective is accomplished.

In this sense, this is also an exercise for the teacher.