Association exercise
Enhance cross-disciplinary dialogue through association exercises based on the interpretations of either a topic or various photos.
Association exercises can be used to uncover and discuss differences and similarities between the teachers’ preconceptions. The underlying idea is that the topic or photos elicit different thought associations by the teachers, which can give an insight into the different disciplinary and cultural backgrounds of the teachers. These insights can help to make it clear that people rarely understand and interpret subjects in the same manner. The exercise works well in the beginning of a collaboration process to facilitate a dialogue and develop a shared language about values and disciplinary rationales in the teacher team. In addition, it can enable a better awareness of the limitations and blind angles of the different disciplines represented amongst the teachers.