Vocabulary of Values

Activity Details

Activity type: A combination of individual reflection and collaboration.

Group size: Small.

Time to complete: 45 minutes.

Mode: In-person works best (one facilitator and 5 participants per small group), but can be adapted for small groups online using breakout rooms. Note: some preparation is required if facilitated in-person.

How the activity works

This activity encourages students to reflect on their personal values and come together in small groups to create a list of shared values. Students are asked to select words that have value to them and then discuss why they selected these words in groups. From there, the groups will explore a set of questions and scenarios and discuss how they would respond to those situations based on their discussions about values.

Individual task

Give students a set of values-related words and ask them to choose five words that matter the most to them right now. Give them a short amount of time reflect on and select their words.

This is the list of words we used, you can add your own as required:

Successful	Learning	Fun	Risk-taking	Employment
Love	Safety	Support	Respectful	Friendship
Personal fulfilment	Belonging	Balance	Well-being	Freedom
Growth	Change	Diversity	Hard working	Community
Creativity	Faith	Ambitious	Development	New experiences

Small group task

Arrange students into small groups (preferably with people they do not know) and ask them to agree on a set of shared values from their lists of personal values. Students are encouraged to talk about why they selected their chosen words, similarities and differences among the group's choices, and negotiate a shared list of four words. Ask the groups to feedback on their choices and summarise why they chose them.

Feeding back

The facilitator should be taking notes on common words (perhaps writing them on a whiteboard or flipchart paper). The facilitator should ask questions to help draw out how the group decided on these values, such as which ones they disagreed on and which ones they had different definitions of.

The facilitator should reflect on the common similarities or differences, and highlight that we can have a personal set of values that may be the same/different from the shared values we have as a community. Share the Warwick Values and highlight any similarities between the groups' collective choices and the wider Warwick Values.

Questions and scenarios

If possible, shuffle the groups and hand out the 'question and scenario' packs (you can download them from the drop-down tab below). Students take it in turns to choose a question or a scenario and discuss the answer as a group. They should factor in their personal and shared values when thinking about their responses. The facilitator should offer support/guidance if a group is stuck.

Summarising

Facilitating in-person groups

In advance of the session:

Download the PowerPoint templateLink opens in a new window and adapt it, as required.
Download the questions and scenarios packLink opens in a new window, as required. Feel free to update the pack or create your own questions and scenarios.
Print and cut up the values wordsLink opens in a new window to create individual packs for the initial individual activity.
Arrange an appropriate physical space to accommodate your group size:
- Adequate space for students to move in. You can book and view rooms at Rooms and Spaces.
- Allow time to arrange/rearrange the room (students usually help).
Plan your timings (how long for movement, how long to discuss). We recommend 8-10 minutes per section.
Arrange to bring and use flip chart paper and post-it notes and pens, if required.

During the session:

Communicate the culture of the session: be non-judgemental, find out what we have in common, appreciate differences, respectfully listen, and discuss opinions.

Reflection on the experience of delivering the activity

Submitted by Puja Laporte

What worked well? Students said they enjoyed taking the chance to reflect on their values and that the activity helped 'ground' them during a very busy Welcome Week. The chance to meet new people in a relaxed but facilitated environment was appreciated. The very short scenarios helped to prompt conversation and students filled in the gaps (as opposed to longer scenarios that leave no room for interpretation). A number of students reported that discussing the scenarios helped them see things from other people's perspectives which was helpful.

What did students feedback about the activity? Students fed back that they enjoyed participating in a social activity which was set during the day and which did not involve alcohol. Students new to the UK in particular reported enjoying the activity and that it had helped to understand more about shared expectations and values of the Warwick community.

Thank you to Jonny Heron and Puja Laporte for submitting this activity.

"This activity allows participants to explore their personal values and the shared values of the group, to navigate differences in understanding, and to discuss how they would apply their values to everyday scenarios they may face as a Warwick student."

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