This activity provides students with a model for processing new and different experiences in their daily lives. Students will learn to differentiate between observations and judgments, as they practice slowing down their thought process and thinking critically to draw more accurate and culturally relevant conclusions.
Learning Goals
By the end of the activity, students will be able to…
- Define each step of the DIVE Model in order.
- Distinguish the differences between observations and evaluations/judgments.
- Demonstrate critical thinking and analysis skills through describing, interpreting, verifying, and evaluating.
- Describe at least 3 reasons how this model can be useful in both every day and intercultural interactions.
Target audience
This activity can be targeted to learners from primary school onwards. In this particular case, the target audience were students in higher education.
Materials
A good picture with an ambiguous content. You can select one online, or create a collection from newspapers.
A flip-over or worksheet to note the different elements of the exercise on.
Time
The activity will take between 5 minutes (plenary only) to 30 minutes (individual, peer and plenary).
Organization
The DIVE exercise can be done as part of a training or workshop on global competence development. It serves as an excellent ice breaker or conversation starter. It ususally has 2 rounds:
- Introducing the DIVE model
- Practicing the DIVE model
A full and detailed description, including worksheet can be found here.
If you do it as part of a lecture, do not work with a flip-over, just have a spontaneous interaction with the audience by having them raise hands, describing what they see on the picture.
Assessment
This is formative learning and should not be assessed. However it can be part of a student’s reflection on a course. We have nothing but positive experiences with this exercise. People tend to judge really quickly and start interpreting while in the description stage. The look on the faces of people as they realize what they are doing is priceless.
For more information please check How teachers can D.I.V.E into intercultural topics.