Reflections on "War"

I facilitated a simple game that proved very difficult with my classes last week. Each time I learned something new. Each time was a different experience. I'll explain the activity quickly for the audience outside the classroom. Finally, I'll share some recurring thoughts and questions.

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The game is deliberately ambiguous. The class is divided in half (two teams). The teams were given a few minutes to plan, then 10 minutes to have a "War." I instruct them that the goal is to win. I place a stack of paper (recycled) in the front of the class and invite them to use this paper for their war.

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Any questions? We work through the language barriers, and then there are no questions. Okay, begin planning.

"What should we talk about?" asks a student. I say I don't know, anything you like.

Another student asks quietly, "Teacher how do we win?" I say this is a great question, but why are you asking me? He goes on to organize his team, proposes they create a mini-game to decide a winner.

"Teacher, can you give us more specific norms?" No.

"Teacher, can you tell us what to do." No. I will not tell you what to do and how to do it. It would be counter productive to the discovery of your own leadership styles/abilities. I will not tell you how to walk, talk, think, or lead.

"답답해요" I recognize that Korean word a student utters aloud. I write it on the chalkboard. The environment is quiet. Eyes dart one way then the other... then to me. They are looking for someone to tell them what to do. They are looking for a leader. Some are just hiding. The Korean word means stuffy, frustrated, grey inside. I explain that many times our activities this semester may trigger frustration. ; )

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At the end of the game I draw a circle, write study, then ask "Did we study?" "Yes." I draw an overlapping circle asking, write practice, asking "Did we practice?" Most say yes... I point out that the activity is the practice. I draw the third overlapping circle, write reflect, ask "Did we reflect?" "No"... Okay we start now.

I ask some questions... Was there a leader? How was communication? Did the teams make efforts to be inclusive? Did you talk to the other team? Who won? etc...

I change the word on the chalkboard from win to success. I ask for the translation. I now ask "Were you successful?" We go around the room. A somewhat upset student says, "I only learned about Chinese and American culture." I smile. There are two Chinese students in that class. I learned about Korean culture too. 'I'm Korean, you must tell me what to do." Did I go too far? (take a moment to learn about Korean culture, Korean management style, Confucius values, Korean education system and its current headlines)

This same student walks with me to my office. He suggests that I mix the teams more. He suggests that the left side has older students, and the right side has too many girls. I laugh and ask if he is trying to create change... He is the same student who asked for "more specific norms."

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Here are some recaps of what happened in some of the classes. In each class someone immediately stole the paper stack for his team, but then did not know what to do. In one small class each and every student ran to the paper stack when I said "Start."

Many students made weapons. Some students drew pictures of weapons. Many students made paper airplanes but were very wary of throwing them. I assume they were afraid to do something that in their mind was 'wrong.'

Many students made gestures of paper-ball fights. However, not a single student rolled up a paper-ball, or threw one. Though, one student made a paper bomb... he threw it at an empty desk.

One student walked over to the other team with a 'sword.' He took his friends life (figuratively). This particular student also wrote a treaty and ended the war by signing it with his friend from the other team. "We don't want war. We want to stop. East/West." And signed.

One class under the leadership of 'Moto' created an English game. They wrote words on their paper in smaller teams, then made rules for a game to play using these written words. They didn't have time to finish the game. They asked for more time. I couldn't give it because I wanted to reflect.

I was very happy with the students. Good work.

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Moving forward I would like to open a discussion on defining success. Challenging authority and norms. Defining values and leading by them. Living life by your own rules and values.