The Pages activity: a fun approach to examining complex documents

Are you often faced with complex documents? Good news! The Pages activity, developed by Thiagi, is the method that will save you. Say goodbye to hours of yawning page-turning: this method is not only effective, it’s fun too. Designed for groups of 16 to 48 participants and lasting around an hour, this method is ideal for examining and discussing the information contained in a document. Here’s how it works!

Aim of the method

The main aim of the Pages activity is to turn the chore of reading long, complex documents into an interactive, collaborative experience. Each participant dives into just one part of the document, then discusses it with their peers who have read other parts. The idea is then to collectively extract the essential information from the whole document. This approach enables the key elements of the document to be better understood and applied, while encouraging active, collaborative participation.

The benefits

This method has many advantages for everyone:

  • For the facilitator: It ensures that each participant explores the document in depth. It’s all hands on deck!
  • For the participant: It makes learning more engaging and meaningful. You’ll never again be passive in front of an interminable text, that’s a promise.

How the method works

Pages takes place in several stages, involving reading, discussion and collective selection of the key elements of the document. It relies on participants working together to identify the most important information.

How does it work?

The activity

  • Introduction to the activity: The facilitator explains the objective of the activity and the protocol to be followed.
  • Reading and individual selection: Participants are divided into groups. Each group receives a page of the document to read and individually selects three important elements.
  • Sharing and collective selection 1: Participants with the same page discuss and select three important elements together. A spokesperson is appointed to present these choices to the group. This is where it gets social.
  • Feedback 1: The spokespersons present their groups’ choices to everyone, and the elements selected are noted.
  • Sharing and collective selection 2: New groups are formed, with an ambassador from each page. They discuss and select three important elements for the whole document.
  • Feedback 2: The spokespeople for the new groups present their choices, which are also noted. Well done, mission accomplished!

Glowbl: The ideal platform for the Pages method

Glowbl is THE platform for implementing Pages. So why not?

  • Independent tables: With Glowbl, you can easily create small discussion groups around independent tables. Each group can focus on one page of the document, facilitating collaboration and discussion.
  • Shared documents: Glowbl lets you share and annotate documents in real time. Participants can access the documents they need, make annotations and share them with their groups. It’s like having one big virtual work table.
  • Global announcements: The moderator can send global announcements to manage timing and coordinate the various stages of the activity.
  • Collaborative notes: Pages is based on the collection and presentation of key elements. Glowbl’s collaborative notes allow participants to compile and share information in real time.
Read also: Letters and Numbers 

Case study

Let’s take a concrete example: a company wants to introduce a new teleworking policy. Here’s how it would work using the Pages method on Glowbl :

Stage 1: Presentation of the activity

The facilitator uses the Glowbl live stream to explain the objectives and protocol of the session. Presentation slides are shared to clarify each stage of the process.

Stage 2: Reading and individual selection

Participants are divided into sub-groups around tables, each containing a different section of the teleworking policy. Each participant reads their section and individually selects three important elements, which they note down in their personal note on Glowbl. This is the equivalent of a studious moment in a library, but online.

Stage 3: Sharing and collective selection 1

The moderator sends a global announcement to start the group discussion. The participants discuss the elements selected and together choose three important elements. We designate a spokesperson for each group.

Stage 4: Feedback 1

The spokespeople return to the central table and present their choices. We record their choices in a collaborative note on Glowbl.

Stage 5: Sharing and collective selection 2

New groups are formed, each comprising an ambassador from each section of the policy. The groups discuss and select three important elements for the entire document. Glowbl’s shared documents and collaboration tools make discussions easy. It’s like a big brainstorming session where everyone contributes something.

Stage 6: Feedback 2

The spokespersons for the new groups present their choices around the main table. We add the selected elements to the final collaborative note, accessible to all participants. Everyone leaves with a clear and shared understanding of the document.

Conclusion

Pages is a fun, interactive approach to examining and discussing complex documents. By encouraging active participation and collaboration, it enables key information to be better understood and applied. Glowbl, with its tailored functionality, is the ideal platform for successfully implementing this method.

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