INCLUSION IN ACTION III
ACTIVITY 5. (Created by Javier Martínez González-Teacher IES Cantabria)
Uncomfortable shoes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zhq5xC1DYis
Description of Activity
If you were in my shoes…The expression doesn't really mean we need to try on other people's shoes to find out how it feels to be them. It means that if you can imagine how it feels to be someone else in a particular situation, you can understand the situation better.
In this collaborative video, we are going to stand in the shoes of some other people, and see if it helps us imagine how those people might feel, stressing the inclusion and diversity aspects, the importance of tolerance and respect with everybody´s ideas. I our lives, we´ll find many occasions in which we´ll have to face different problems looking at them from different sides.
All the ideas, all the opinions are respectful as long as they are based on tolerance. We want to raise awareness, standing on somebody´s else shoes and recognising the feelings which can be different from your own. These “uncomfortable shoes” will make us think about diversity and respect with a metaphor: a shoe shop to try different shoes to understand other people.
You might think to "switch shoes" and consider the situation from other people's perspective. After reflection standing in the different shoes, we´´ discuss and express what it feels like, what you may need and what you think of the situation.
There´s nothing better for respect than “breaking through to the other side…” The important thing is not to become “the other but to understand him/her). The uncomfortable thing is not standing in different shoes but having just one single point of view.
The goal of this activity is to help the students to see how any situation can have multiple perspectives, and that our feelings toward someone and his/her situation can change when we take the time to step into their shoes. Another goal is to experience that when they take the time to know what another person might be feeling and needing, they are more likely and better able to care about their needs and feelings, to treat them with greater respect, and to act on their behalf.
Tasks:
First, think about possible uncomfortable shoes (contrasted opinions or situations you may think of) you think might be displayed (ex. Understanding non-believers/agnostic by a priest, progress ideas or new cultures by conservative people, oppressed women, radicals, poor people, etc.)
Then, add new ideas to this site (add button-indicating your name)
Finally, record your scene (write the script first and have it checked by the teacher- avoid repeating situations) and submit the short video to be assembled and create a collaborative video with many different perspectives. Deadline: Feb 15th.