Web of Connectedness
Overview
In this activity, the class sits in a circle while the facilitator poses a discussion question or questions. A ball of yarn, twine, or string is passed to each person who speaks. After a participant speaks, they hold on to part of the string and pass or toss the ball to the next speaker. By the discussion’s end, the string will form a web between the students, showing who spoke. This can be used as an icebreaker activity with a low-stakes question like “what is your favorite hobby?” or to track the discussion of more course-centric topics.
Activity Goals:
The goals of this activity can shift depending on how the instructor chooses to implement it. Its primary goal is to encourage participation.
- In classrooms where instructor finds they are having to drive discussion, the activity can be used as a way for the instructor to step back from the discussion by letting students initiate the passing of the ball of yarn.
- If used during regular course-content discussion, the activity can make students more aware of how much they are speaking in class in comparison to their peers. Instructors can encourage students to step-up (speak more if they are not frequent participants) or step back (speak less if they are frequent participants).
- At the discussion’s conclusion, the web will help students visualize their and their peers’ contributions to the exploration of the topic at hand. The web symbolizes the complex understanding on the topic as arrived at through the sharing and discussion of everyone’s perspectives.
Application in a STEM Course:
Fostering a sense of community in your classroom can create a sense of belonging. According to a CRLT study on retention in STEM courses, “students reported that classroom climate (including their anxiety levels, how welcome they felt in class…and instructor rapport with students) significantly influenced their decisions to stay in or leave STEM disciplines.” If students feel that they are part of a community, they will feel more comfortable engaging and participating in the classroom. In another study, peer interactions and support in STEM courses led to gains both academically and socially. The Web of Connectedness is a great way for students to engage with each other on a personal level, creating connections that otherwise would have gone unnoticed. Taking the time to complete this activity at the start of the semester will help students form meaningful bonds, allowing them to better collaborate and support each other throughout the semester.
