Poetic Motivations
Poetic Motivations helps participants explore their intrinsic motivations for change through creative writing and sharing. By crafting 'I poems,' individuals connect with their values and articulate their passions, fostering both personal reflection and collective understanding.
Use this method when you want to encourage self-reflection, build empathy within a group, and uncover shared values related to a specific change initiative or theme.
Solves: Difficulty articulating personal values and motivations; lack of connection and shared purpose within a group.
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Step 1: Introduce the 'I Poem' concept and learning objectives. Explain the goal of expressing identity, values, feelings, and motivations for change through poetry. (5 mins)
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Step 2: Provide the 'I Poem' template and instruct participants to silently draft their poems, encouraging free-flowing thoughts and ideas. (20 mins)
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Step 3: Guide participants to refine their poems, focusing on clarity, flow, and personal meaning. Encourage them to revise, reorder, or remove sentences as needed. (10 mins)
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Step 4: Facilitate a sharing circle where participants read their poems aloud. Create a supportive atmosphere with applause after each poem. Offer alternative sharing options for those who feel uncomfortable. (20 mins)
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Step 5: Lead a reflective discussion, starting with plenary reflections on the writing and sharing experience. Then, have participants reflect in pairs on their learning and how the activity contributed to identifying their intrinsic motivation for change. (10-30 mins)
- Emphasize the importance of a safe and supportive environment.
- Offer a theme related to the course or workshop topic to focus the poems.
- Be prepared to share your own 'I Poem' to model vulnerability.
- Use different poetic forms (e.g., haiku, free verse).
- Have participants create collaborative poems in small groups.
- Incorporate visual elements or music into the activity.