The instructor randomly assigns the class into groups of four. It is important that group membership is truly randomly decided, not done by seating, friendships, or preferences. Without discussion, each group member first answers the following question on paper:
2-7. How diverse is your group, on a scale of 1–10, where 1 = very dissimilar and 10 = very similar?
Putting that paper away, each person shares with the group his or her answers to the following questions:
• What games/toys did you like to play with when you were young?
• What do you consider to be your most sacred value (and why)?
• Are you spiritual at all?
• Tell us a little about your family.
• Where’s your favorite place on earth and why?
Each group member then answers the following question on paper:
2-8. How diverse is your group, on a scale of 1–10, where 1 = very dissimilar and 10 = very similar?
After groups calculate the average ratings from before and after the discussion, they will share with the class the difference between their averages and answer the following questions:
2-9. Did your personal rating increase after the discussion time? Did your group’s average rating increase after the discussion time?
2-10. Do you think that if you had more time for discussion, your group’s average rating would increase?
2-11. What do you see as the role of surface-level diversity and deep-level diversity in a group’s acceptance of individual differences?