Featured Activity

an electronic newsletter from Stratevative Learning International AB

Vol. 2, Issue 3, March 2003

Featured Activity

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Da Vinci IceBreaker

When frustrated by a problem, Da Vinci would take a paint filled sponge and throw it at the wall. Then he would study the shape of the paint-splatter, finding different images in the random splotches. He would look at these images, searching for inspiration, connecting the image to the problem he was working on.

Reading this inspired an icebreaker idea for me. This is an extremely simple activity with big impact and is quite appropriate for diversity, differences in perception, problem solving, etc. training.

Soak a sponge (a sea sponge works best) with colored paint, throw it at a sheet of paper (or flipchart), let dry, and color copy it.

Give a copy to each participant and ask them to share what they see.

The debriefing would cover such items as:

	Everyone perceives an item or situation in a different manner
	Our history, where we are at the moment, what is happening at this moment in our lives, etc. all factor into how we make judgments, react, and perceive what's going on around us.
	One reason that problems can be so hard to solve is because we are too deep in the focus of them
	Sometimes forcing ourselves to connect our past experiences or current visions with a problem we are facing is the best way to overcome it
	Make yourself look at an image and try to see how it connects to a problem you are facing -- it's called creative problem-solving

Sample debriefing questions:

	Was it easy or difficult to see something in this image? Why?
	How many saw similar images or images that represent the same family?
	Could you see what others saw when they described their vision?
	If not, did you listen to the explanation of how they saw it and why? Could you see it then?
	How can you use this activity to explore others' visions or to solve a problem in the future?