VIEWPOINT

This ACTIVITY is designed to enable participants to pool their knowledge and look at situations from a different perspective. To promote an awareness of the European Union and the Erasmus+ Programme. This is not a geography test!

TIME REQUIRED

65 – 70 minutes.

RESOURCES

4  x  A3 (or larger) maps of Europe without any features.

(A copy for educational purposes may be found here: https://www.eduplace.com/ss/maps/pdf/eur_countrynl.pdf)

(an answer map for the Facilitator is here: https://www.eduplace.com/ss/maps/pdf/eur_country.pdf

A list of EU countries and a list of the Council of Europe countries. (for use by Facilitator)

Marker pens.

ACTION

1. The Facilitator fixes the maps to four different spaces around the training room; they are fixed upside down.
2. The large group is split into four smaller groups and each is assigned to a map.
3. The groups must first write in the names of the countries on the map. (20 minutes)
4. Then they must write in the names of the capital cities. (15 minutes)
5. The Facilitator tells the groups that, regarding all the participants in the room, if any of their countries are missing from the map then they should add them to the picture. (depending on the group, it may not be necessary to give this instruction)

DISCUSSION (about 20minutes)

1. “How easy was it to do the tasks?” (there should be some mention of the maps being upside down since it was deliberate in order to alter the VIEWPOINT, to disrupt our conventional thinking)
2. Ask participants if they identified every country and capital. Use all participants as a resource to help groups complete their maps. Facilitator to prompt if they are struggling (for example, not everyone might identify Kosovo or Andorra)
3. “Were any participant’s countries missing from the map?”
4. If yes, ask why? If no, ask why you might ask the question. (For Erasmus+ there is a difference between Programme and Partner countries, so explain)
5. “What skills did they use to achieve the tasks?” (expect knowledge, experience, instinct; anything else?)
6. “Does looking at something from another perspective bring different insights?” Ask for examples.

EVALUATION (10 minutes)

1. Ask how the participants felt doing VIEWPOINT?
2. “Is VIEWPOINT effective and relevant for the use to which it is put?”

ADAPTATIONS

How would the group use this ACTIVITY in the future and would they make changes? Capture, record, circulate.