Method guide · Progress through phases
Workshop gifts
Use for a short closing reflection through an imaginary gift or a concrete learning, without evaluating anyone’s interpretation.
- People
- 5–20
- Base procedure time
- 15 minutes
- Recording
- No record
Purpose: Reflect and learn; Begin together.
English guide
Text acceptance is not approval of this rendered page, its media, or publication.
How this method works
Reflect briefly by connecting an imaginary gift with what you will take away from the session. Prepare word-only cards that do not borrow from cultures, religions or product names. Each participant chooses one of two cards. If neither fits, exchange once, answer “One learning to take away” without using a metaphor, or pass. Within 30 seconds each, explain how to use the gift or describe the learning. Simply showing the card is also enough. The person decides the meaning; others do not correct, evaluate or score the interpretation. Return the cards to the people at the end and do not record content or passes. Do not use this where an alternative to metaphor cannot be provided.
Phase schedule
Minutes are cumulative from the start of the base plan, not a live timer. Read scaling for any additional time. Phase controls do not advance automatically.
Use the arrow keys, Home or End while these controls have focus. The complete phase schedule remains below, including without JavaScript.
- Choose metaphor, concrete learning or passing0–2 minutes from the start (2 minutes)
Action: Choose. Participation: One group where people can speak in turn.
No record
- Connect the gift to the session experience2–4 minutes from the start (2 minutes)
Action: Consider. Participation: One group where people can speak in turn.
No record
- Explain its use within 30 seconds each4–14 minutes from the start (10 minutes)
Action: Speak. Participation: One group where people can speak in turn.
No record
- Return cards without evaluation14–15 minutes from the start (1 minute)
Action: Close. Participation: One group where people can speak in turn.
No record
Facilitation steps
- For 2 minutes, take two word cards that do not borrow from cultures, religions or product names and choose one to use. One exchange, a concrete-learning card and passing are also choices.
- For 2 minutes, quietly consider how you would use the gift on the card in relation to this session’s experience, or the learning you will take away.
- For 10 minutes, each person explains the gift’s use or their learning within 30 seconds. Treat simply showing the card and passing equally.
- For 1 minute, finish by returning cards to the people without evaluating the originality or depth of their contributions.
If something changes
If
Before starting or after cards are distributed, at least one person does not want to use a metaphor.
Then
Let the person choose the text card “One learning to take away”, one exchange for another card, or passing.
If
One contribution exceeds 30 seconds, or someone evaluates another person’s card meaning once.
Then
Use a signal to end the contribution and move to the next person. The person decides their own meaning; do not correct interpretations or score them.
If
At the 12-minute point from the start, at least one person has not yet spoken.
Then
Let remaining people choose one brief comment, showing the card only or passing. Close with everyone within 15 minutes.
Preparation
Materials
- Original cards with the words blank paper, key, light, bridge, map, mirror, seed, sail, window, chair, thread, bell, water bottle, pocket, ruler, compass, blanket, ladder, umbrella and pencil: one set per group, using the supplied printable cards
- “One learning to take away”, exchange and pass cards: one set per person
- One set of 30-second and end signal cards for the facilitator
Room and setup
- Provide a circle where one speaker at a time can be heard, and a place to choose card exchange, concrete learning or passing.
Adjust for people and time
With fewer than 5 people, do not use gift metaphors: switch to a reflection where each person speaks about learning to take away. For 5–20 people, use one circle with no more than 30 seconds per person. For 21 or more people, divide the participant count by 10 and round up for the number of groups, distribute people evenly with 5–10 per group, and provide the same card set in every group. Do not take contributions or cards back outside the group, and do not aggregate completion counts, passes or originality. Give the non-metaphor choice the same amount of time.
Safety and non-applicable situations
Offer one exchange, concrete learning and passing as equal alternatives to metaphor. The person determines meaning; do not correct, evaluate or score it. Do not record content or passes, or aggregate completion or originality. Use words that do not borrow cultures, religions or product names, and do not run this without a non-metaphor alternative.
Historical translation and source notes
These original notes are retained verbatim with their fixed source versions. This historical label does not resolve a source-specific concern or establish current acceptance.
- The materials list one set of cards with 20 word labels per group, while participants each take two cards and a single group can contain up to 20 people. The source does not specify duplicate copies or sequential reuse to meet that quantity. The translation retains the stated set and two-card choice without adding copies.
Manuscript's recorded references
These translate the original manuscript's source and rights claims. They remain separate from any current-page notice below; they do not establish new verification.
- Seeds for Change Facilitation Tools: Workshop gifts
https://www.seedsforchange.org.uk/tools
anti-copyright adaptation; changes made
- Conditions applying to anti-copyright
https://www.seedsforchange.org.uk/resources
anti-copyright
Diagram, print, and video language
Original Japanese guide, diagram, and print view. Their labels and print text have not been translated; an English print edition is not provided here.
English video-library navigation. Original Japanese audio, subtitles and transcripts remain labelled Japanese resources. Their translations are separate later work. No remote player is embedded here.
The manual English phase controls are a navigation aid, not a live facilitation timer. Interactive diagram motion remains pending.
Editorial provenance
Japanese source status and logs are provenance only. They do not mean this English text or interface was field-tested. Historical fixed-text acceptance and hold records remain specific to their recorded versions; displaying them neither asserts current acceptance nor resolves source-specific restrictions.