Walk the Line is an embodied, discussion-based activity in which participants hold a “standing conversation” about media, technology, and society. Facilitators read aloud a series of provocative prompts. Discuss statements like “Social media has done more harm than good for teenagers” or “Companies should be legally responsible for what their algorithms recommend.” See how participants physically move to a spot along a line or continuum that represents their position, from strong agreement to strong disagreement.
Once everyone has taken a stand, the facilitator invites people from different points on the line to explain their reasoning, and participants may move as they hear ideas that shift their thinking. Because opinions become visible and movement is encouraged, the activity surfaces the genuine disagreement that lives inside any group and makes changing your mind a normal, low-stakes act rather than a concession. Through participation, learners will:
(1) articulate and defend a personal position on a contested issue involving media, technology, and society;
(2) recognize the range of viewpoints held within their own community and identify the values, experiences, and evidence that shape them;
(3) practice active listening and respectful disagreement by responding directly to peers’ reasoning;
(4) evaluate how framing and word choice in a prompt can shape an opinion; and
(5) reflect on their own openness to revising a belief in light of new arguments or information.
In this session, you’ll learn how to use this instructional strategy in face-to-face and online learning contexts!