Card Game: Digital Reflections

A dialogical card game that combines personal media experiences with structural mechanisms of the digitalisation. Participants use question cards to discuss their individual experiences in the digital world and reflect together on the underlying social and technological structures.

Goals

Reflection on own media use and everyday digital practices
Establishing connections between personal experiences and structural mechanisms
Developing an awareness of the political and economic dimensions of digital media

Steps

Preparation

Preparation of the space:

First option: Space to walk around and stand together in pairs or small groups
Second option: Place chairs in pairs facing each other
Third option: Prepare small group tables

Preparation of the material:

Sort question cards into sets and lay them out ready
If necessary, select question cards that are particularly suitable for the specific age group.

Preparation of the group:

Prepare communication rules (respectful behaviour, no pressure to answer personal questions).

Required material

Card game (two sets of questions). Set 1 is easy, set 2 medium. Set 1 | Set 2
Optional: hourglass or timer
Optional: pinboard for shared insights

1. Introduction (3 Min.)

Welcome and introduction to the method. Explain the game concept: combination of personal experiences and structural reflection. Agree on common communication rules : Emphasise that there is no obligation to answer all questions Brief explanation of the two sets of questions:

In the first set of questions (pink cover sheet), participants examine their own usage habits on digital platforms
In the second set of questions (turquoise cover sheet), participants examine the structure of the platforms (e.g. mechanisms, power relations, impact of algorithms). This set is more suitable for young people aged 15 and above.
If you do not know the answer to a question from the turquoise set, think together about what the answer might be. Make a note of the questions that particularly interest you and that you would like to know more about.

2. Options for implementation

The following game variations are designed for both sets of questions. If the participants are younger or the questions are too complex for the group, only the pink set of questions (question set 1) can be used.

A) Speed Dating Carussel (10 minutes)

Participants form two circles: an inner circle and an outer circle (facing each other)
A pink and a turquoise card are placed between each pair of people
In discussion rounds of 3 minutes each, the pairs first discuss the question on the pink card, then the question on the blue card.
After each round, the outer circle rotates one position to the right and the inner circle one position to the left – the cards remain in place.
The new pairs are given another 3 minutes to discuss the new questions.

B) Dialogue Groups (10 minutes)

Participants form small groups of 3-4 people
Each group receives 1-2 turquoise cards and 3-4 pink cards
The group takes turns drawing a pink card
First, a joint exchange of personal experiences (pink card)
Followed by a discussion of the structural question (turquoise card) in the context of the previous exchange
The group decides together which question from the turquoise set of questions they would like to learn more about

C) Media Quartett (20 minutes)

Form small groups (4-6 people)
Each group receives 3 turquoise and 3 pink cards
Task: Find the most suitable combinations of personal and structural questions
Discuss the questions in the small group
Present the ‘card pairs’ to the whole group, explaining the connections between them

Reflection

Discussion in the plenary of particularly interesting moments from the conversations (10-20 Min.)

Insights and open questions
Opportunity to provide background information on individual questions (by team leader)
Discussion of surprising connections between personal experiences and structures
Optional: Joint visualisation of important insights

Variations

Set a focus topic: Focus on specific platforms or media phenomena (e.g. only TikTok-related questions)
Extended reflection: Addition of a creative phase in which alternative platform designs are developed
Digital version: Implementation as an online workshop with digital card sets