The flow module fosters team spirit and helps participants grow into a European community of practice. It accompanies the core and focus modules throughout the training: participants get to know each other, connect across countries and languages, and stay energised (→ Energisers). Together with the grow module (blank\" rel=\"noopener\">→ Grow Module), the flow module serves the aim Growing as Reflective Practitioners in a European Community (blank\" rel=\"noopener\">→ Aims & Learning Outcomes).
\n| Activity | \nWorking setting | \nRequires | \nRequired for | \n
|---|---|---|---|
| Living Map | \nPlenary | \n– | \n– | \n
| Wonderful Wendy | \nPlenary | \n– | \n– | \n
| Hello, Hola, Hallo | \nPlenary | \n– | \n– | \n
| Bingo | \nIndividual, then changing pairs | \n– | \n– | \n
| → Energisers | \nPlenary | \n– | \n– | \n
The room becomes an imaginary map. Participants need to agree where north and south are and where the places they arrived from lie on the map, and then position themselves accordingly.
\nVariation
\nParticipants line up alphabetically by first name. To find their place in the line, they have to ask each other's names and agree on the order.
\nAlthough playful, Living Map already prepares participants for the intensive collaboration ahead: they have to negotiate quickly and agree on a shared solution.
The trainers gain a first impression of the roles participants take on in the group: who takes the lead, who joins in, who holds back or grumbles, and who encourages others.
The activity can also be done virtually on Padlet: pins fly in as participants position themselves on the map, and participants can upload a picture of themselves. The trainers then go through the pins one by one, and each participant introduces themselves (→ Wonderful Wendy).
Each participant chooses a gesture that is typical of them and an adjective that suits them and begins with the same sound as their first name. One after another, they introduce themselves, for example with "Hi, I'm Wonderful Wendy!", and the whole group responds in unison, "Hi, Wonderful Wendy!", repeating the gesture.
\nAfter every three or four introductions, the trainer asks a participant to repeat all the names and gestures so far.
\nParticipants feel welcomed, connect with each other, and begin to recognise each other's names.
The trainers model the activity with their own names first. Over the following days, name stickers and name games such as Ball Toss or Look Who's Sitting There (→ Energisers) help participants memorise each other's names.
Participants introduce themselves in their first language. Everyone gives the same information in simple sentences, for example: "Hello! My name is … I'm from … I'm a teacher."
\nThe trainers round off the activity by setting out the ground rules for working together: participants respect each other's backgrounds and perspectives, engage thoughtfully in discussions, including on controversial socio-scientific issues, and do not share each other's personal data, photos, or contributions outside the course without consent (→ Course Policies).
\nThe many languages in the room can be heard from the very beginning. Participants experience the diversity of the group: they come from different countries and have different first languages, and for most of them English is a second or foreign language.
The trainers can prepare the ground rules for a safe space on a flip chart in advance and go through them with the group, for example:
\nThe activity can be combined with → Living Map, → Wonderful Wendy, or both, on-site as well as online.
Participants fill in their own SciLMi Bingo sheet with brief answers drawn from their teaching experience with socio-scientific issues and meta-scientific literacies. They then move around the room, look for colleagues whose answer matches one of their boxes, and write that colleague's name in the box. Each name may appear only once on a sheet. When participants have four in a row, column, or diagonal, they shout "Bingo!" and then try for more. Finally, they share how many bingos they completed and which answers or connections surprised them.
\nParticipants make connections with each other and discover the experiences they share.
Display a countdown timer that everyone can see.
The activity can replace → Living Map or serve as an afternoon energiser.