Resource: Pic-A-Card
We love this Pic-a-Card coaching activity so much that we start off all of our Foundational Coaching Courses for teachers with it.
The activity is simple: participants look at a large group of pictures (or cards), and then choose two. One represents where they are, and the other represents where they want to be in the future. These selections are then shared and discussed in small or large groups.
We recently did this activity during a Live Online course. We were about 100 days in to a global pandemic and resulting quarantine; protests were alive in every major city around the world; we were a videoconference full of teachers who didn’t know when they would be back in the classroom. It was an intense time, to say the least.
But, following the activity, as we looked around the ‘room’ at everyone’s selections, themes emerged. Where were people right now? Stop signs, brick walls, fences, a quiet cup of tea. Where did we want to be in the future? Blue skies, holding hands, vast beaches, a bird floating through the sky. Quickly, visually, innately—we knew we were all feeling similar things and grappling with similar challenges. We could see itwithout having to say it: we were all in this together.
We use this activity to exemplify what we call the ‘Heart’ of coaching—to show how first and foremost, coaching is focused on what is important to you, your passions, purpose and connectedness. But the activity’s simplicity is its strength, and it can be used in countless ways.
We recently recommended it to one of our Coaching Schools as an activity that could help students make sense of uncertain times, whilst motivating them in the months to come. It can be used as an icebreaker to quickly connect a group of strangers. It can be used as a check-in between a teacher and a coachee, asking them to pick a card at regular intervals throughout a journey. Or stick it on your fridge for casual conversations with your teenager. Regardless of how it’s used, it speaks to the same thing—where I am now and where I want to be in the future is connected to Heart.
How to use the Pic-a-card Resource for a Coaching Activity
Download the PDF below, and share it with your group. Explain to participants that they are about to do a card sharing exercise. Ask participants to choose any two cards—one that represents where they are now and one that represents where they want to be in the future. They can choose any card (quote, picture, symbol), and ‘future’ refers to any point in the future. This activity is not specific to school, work or home life; they are welcome to choose any area of their life that they wish. Give them about five minutes to select their cards.
They will, one at a time, share their two chosen cards, either with a small or large group of participants, answering the following questions:
• What about the card you chose represents where you are now?
• What about the card you chose represents where you want to be in the future?
After each participant answers these two questions, one person from the group will ask a question about one of the cards shared. Once they have asked the question and the person has answered, the next person will share their cards and so on.
Give each person around one minute to share their cards and be asked a question.
DOWNLOAD PIC-A-CARD
To do this coaching activity with anyone, click the link below and we’ll send you our PDF. It includes a social-distancing-friendly matrix of cards and instructions.
Pic-a-Card Resource
We also produce a Pic-a-Card deck for in-person facilitation. The decks are A5 and include 100 cards. If you are interested in purchasing a deck for your school, classroom or home, please contact Amy at amy.cusack@graydin.com.
Have you used this activity? Let us know how it went below in the Comments, or on Educators With Heart.
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