Journey to Gizmoland

Subgroup Size

Entire group

Duration

30 minutes

External Cost

No

Lesson Plan

Source

Created by Aletha Stahl, CILMAR. 

 

"Gizmoland" was closely adapted from JOURNEY TO SHARAHAD, copyright 1999 by Phil Darg, all rights reserved (available online). The reasons for adapting it were to remove explicit and easily inferred national and ethnic references, to simplify it a bit, and to add debriefing questions. In light of the copyright, this adaptation should not be published or distributed widely.

 

Darg, Phil. Journey to Sharahad (1999). globalEDGETM. .

Tags:

  1. acceptance
  2. assumptions
  3. behavior
  4. business
  5. CILMAR staff collection
  6. communication
  7. cultural simulation
  8. cultural style
  9. customs
  10. differences
  11. indirect communication
  12. kinesthetic
  13. negotiation
  14. other awareness
  15. preparation for study abroad
  16. proxemics
  17. self-awareness
  18. simulation
  19. study abroad
  20. worldview frameworks
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  1. User dcjones's profile picture dcjones 9:27 am 02 August 2019

    This is a thoughtful and timely adaptation of the "Journey to Sharahad" activity, that in hindsight is rather insensitive. This activity offers a teamwork setting for practicing knowledge of Worldview Frameworks and Sefl-awareness. The role play aspect also gets at empathy somewhat.
  2. User stahl23's profile picture stahl23 8:22 am 09 August 2019

    I've had very positive responses to this activity, which I've facilitated several times now. In fact, it appears to be of the most memorable activities in a series of 6 workshops I offer. However, I've also had a one or two participants who didn't like it and expressed discomfort with any simulation. In the future, I'll frame the activity by acknowledging potential discomfort and thanking people for being willing to step outside their comfort zones in advance if indeed they are. I'll also offer the option of reading up on Hofstede's dimensions (https://www.hofstede-insights.com/models/national-culture/) and on monochronic vs. polychronic time (https://www.passportcareer.com/monochronic-and-polychronic-cultures-2/) during the simulation in hopes that participants who opt for this will share connections they make between these frameworks and the two extreme "cultures" presented in the activity. This is a more cognitive learning approach, but some people may really prefer it.