Stream of Consciousness Dialogue
Using timed speaking turns, alternating roles (speaking and listening), and carefully crafted ‘prompts’ (sentence starters), this method gradually moves pairs into deeper layers of exploration and sharing, while fostering reflection, attentive listening, and connection.
On-campus
The activity takes about ± 60 – ± 90 minutes and may be done with 2 – 200 students in an on-campus setting.
The activity can be done both on-campus and online, using break-out rooms. The process is very similar.
Manual
Supplies needed
- A topic, theme, or question to be discussed, framed in an open, accessible way
- Several ‘prompts’ (sentence starters) that invite speakers to reflexively explore their own understanding of, and experience with, the topic
- A timer
- Optional: pen and paper to be handed out for note-taking
Set- up classroom
Possibilities to work in pairs, with people sitting across from each other. (Alternatively people receive a hand-out of the prompts, so they can self-organize the dialogue in another space, or even while sitting or walking outside.)
Step 1- Preparation
- Content and session design: Frame the meeting topic, invitation, and purpose.
- Design the prompts (see the manual for more on this).
Step 2- Preparation classroom
Create a clear session setup by dividing the time in short blocks, including:
- Welcome (± 2-3 min)
- Introduction to frame topic, relevance, and purpose (± 10-15 min)
- Explain dialogue practice (± 5 min)
- SoC Dialogue (± 30 min: 2 people x 5 prompts x 2 min per prompts + 5 min for transition + 5 min for completion = ± 30 min. Or a longer version of ± 1 hour: 2 people x 7 prompts x 3 min per prompts + 5 min for transition + 5 min for completion = ± 55 min.)
- Optional: Silent journaling to support participants to articulate what they learned or what value they got out of this practice (± 3 min)
- Open group sharing to ‘harvest’ experiences and insights (± 15 – 30 min)
7. Closure (e.g., ± 5 min)
Step 3 - During the class
Explain the practice, and let people pair up (e.g., ± 5 -10 min). See the manual for more on this.
Step 4- During the class
The actual dialogue:
Round 1: Facilitator gives the first prompt.
- Person 1 speaks, Person 2 listens.
- Ring the bell. Participants switch roles. Facilitator repeats the first prompt.
Round 2: New prompt → same process, with this time person 2 starting.
Continue through all prompts, keep alternating who starts with the new prompt.
Step 5- During the class
Time for debrief and completion between pairs (e.g., ± 3 – 5 min).
Optional: time for silent journaling to write down insights (± 3 – 5 min).
Step 6- During the class
Closing reflection: Group shares experiences and insights (e.g., 15 – 30 min).
Step 7- After class
Optional: time for silent journaling to write down insights (± 5 min).