The Blind Man and the Guide

The Blind Man and the Guide

The aim is to increase confidence and communication among team members.

1. The teacher pairs students together. One of the students is blindfolded and the other student acts as a guide. The guide helps the blindfolded student walk round the room avoiding any obstacles.  After 5 minutes, the roles are reversed and the experience is repeated.
2. The students reflect on the activity and take note of their points.  They could use the following as a prompt "I have discovered ...".
3. The teacher should suggest the following to help the students:

• Did the guide inspire confidence by the firmness of their voice or by the clarity of their indications?
• Did the guide give incorrect instructions?
• What do we feel when we are guiding someone else - responsibility, affection, nothing special, protective instinct?
• How do you feel being guided? Like a toy at the mercy of the guide?  Like a younger brother?  Like a well-treated guest, but with a certain coldness?

4. The teacher brings the students together to discuss the responses and to identify the degree of trust existing among the members of the group.

This is a well-known and traditional activity in Social Education.