Module 2
Theoretical Framework
Chapter 2: Good Practices
2.9 Good Practice in Slovenia: Diversity Bingo Method
The activity was tested several times as part of the KeyCode project and proved important since it encourages empathy, motivation and social skills of participating children and youth. As it is a participatory activity, each participant can and is encouraged to participate. Activity also strengthens relationships among pupils since they get to know each other a bit better in a fun and relaxed way.
Besides, it also gives teacher an opportunity to address stereotyping, prejudices and discrimination. Bingo statements are formulated in a way teacher can identify possible grounds for discrimination in the last part of the activity – debriefing, in which children have an opportunity to share how they feel after the activity, what they think about it, how they would explain the concept of diversity, and what are their thoughts and feelings about diversity in their class and in the society, how do people behave in real life? Does it ever happen that we predict how people are even before we know their stories? How would they explain what a stereotype is? Which stereotypes about different social groups do they know? How can a generally prevalent stereotype about some social group influence our behaviour towards a member of these social groups?
Activity encourages the perception of diversity in the classroom, reflection on it and what it can mean to participants themselves and others around them. Children start appreciating the world of diversities, where people are different in terms of appearance, age, personality traits, gender… and they realize that there is a high possibility we would quickly begin to get bored in that kind of world.
They understand that fortunately nature offers us an unimaginable variety and diversity of all kinds living beings, as well as our society is much more diverse than the one we tried to imagine at the beginning.
They understand that we have different interests, different needs, different history, experience and culture, and that we have to respect these differences, try to understand each other’s perspectives and that this will make us stronger and better as a humankind.
This exercise also encourages better self-awareness and understanding oneselves, it encourages children’s independence to make choices and act on them. It can promote wellbeing, participation, relationships, empathy and make positive impact on the whole community.
Besides, it also gives teacher an opportunity to address stereotyping, prejudices and discrimination. Bingo statements are formulated in a way teacher can identify possible grounds for discrimination in the last part of the activity – debriefing, in which children have an opportunity to share how they feel after the activity, what they think about it, how they would explain the concept of diversity, and what are their thoughts and feelings about diversity in their class and in the society, how do people behave in real life? Does it ever happen that we predict how people are even before we know their stories? How would they explain what a stereotype is? Which stereotypes about different social groups do they know? How can a generally prevalent stereotype about some social group influence our behaviour towards a member of these social groups?
Activity encourages the perception of diversity in the classroom, reflection on it and what it can mean to participants themselves and others around them. Children start appreciating the world of diversities, where people are different in terms of appearance, age, personality traits, gender… and they realize that there is a high possibility we would quickly begin to get bored in that kind of world.
They understand that fortunately nature offers us an unimaginable variety and diversity of all kinds living beings, as well as our society is much more diverse than the one we tried to imagine at the beginning.
They understand that we have different interests, different needs, different history, experience and culture, and that we have to respect these differences, try to understand each other’s perspectives and that this will make us stronger and better as a humankind.
This exercise also encourages better self-awareness and understanding oneselves, it encourages children’s independence to make choices and act on them. It can promote wellbeing, participation, relationships, empathy and make positive impact on the whole community.
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