Human Bar Graph

Intentional Close
An intentional close makes space for participants to reflect on their learning and progress, assess their level of confidence, and identify personal next steps. It encourages participants to recognize the contributions they and others have made to the meeting or learning session and highlights the importance of the work.
Description

Participants form a human bar graph by standing in a row that best represents their response to a prompt, perpendicular to a “line” created by the facilitator. The prompt can reflect their current level of understanding of the content that was presented, their level of agreement, or any other questions that have a range of responses.

When and Why

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This activity gauges participant understanding or agreement at the end of a session and helps both the facilitator and participants plan for the next session. Be mindful of the level of vulnerability you’re asking of participants as they publicly reveal their level of mastery or comfort with the topic. During this activity participants can become more aware of their own understanding and appreciate the range of understanding within the group.

How to Facilitate

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  1. Reflect on the current context, the demographics of participants, and the purpose of this engagement. 
  2. Clear space in the room for participants to gather in 3 or 4 parallel lines or set up posters if space does not allow for movement.
  3. Ask participants to silently reflect and self-identify along a range of levels of understanding or mastery (e.g., beginning–developing–accomplished OR confused—I’m okay—I am rocking!). 
  4. Identify 3 or 4 adjacent parallel lines in the room. Using removable blue painter’s tape makes it easy to lay down and take up the lines.
  5. Invite participants to form a human bar graph by standing on the line that best represents their current level of understanding or agreement. 
  6. Debrief the process by asking for volunteers to share:
    • What they notice about the distribution along the lines
    • Why they chose the row they stood in.
    • What would have enabled them to stand in a different line.
    • What this means for the work ahead.
    • What they most need or want next to make progress.

Modifications

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  • Prepare a piece of chart paper with the labels at the bottom and invite participants to add a sticky note to their bar in the graph without their names on the sticky notes. 
  • In a virtual environment, use an online poll app for a rapid and anonymous response. If it is important for participants to “own” their responses and see the responses of others, incorporate an option for that into the online tool you choose and/or invite participants to speak for themselves during a whole group debrief.

References

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Adapted from EL Education

How does Human Bar Graph support SEL?

Self-Awareness/Identity: Participants have an opportunity to understand their own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior across contexts. Facilitators consider their own and participants’ identities in the design of the practice.

Social Awareness/Belonging: Participants are encouraged to understand the perspectives of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and contexts. Facilitators create an experience of acceptance, respect, and inclusion within a group or community.
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