Card
Step In, Step Out, Step Back
This strategy helps students analyze and understand differing social and cultural perspectives by putting themselves in the shoes of another person or character.
Step In, Step Out, Step Back
Summary
This strategy invites students to take on others' perspectives (cultural, linguistic, religious, class, generational, etc.) and provide textual evidence for the thoughts, feelings, and values these individuals may hold. After identifying people or characters who have differing perspectives in a situation, students reflect on how their day-to-day experiences, roles, and relationships shape their perspectives.
Procedure
Choose a person or character in a particular situation for students to analyze. Then, have students put themselves in this person or character’s shoes by going through the following steps.
Step In: What do you think this person or character might feel, believe, know, or experience in this situation? Why? Provide textual evidence to explain your reasoning.
Step Out: What other information do you need to understand this person or character’s perspective better? Remember that a first impression is not enough to fully understand a person.
Step Back: After exploring a different perspective, what have you noticed about your own? What does it take for you to adopt and understand someone else’s perspective?
Project Zero. (2019). Step In - Step Out - Step Back. Harvard Graduate School of Education. https://pz.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/Step%20In%20-%20Step%20Out%20-%20Step%20Back_1.pdf
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Placement In Lesson
- Engage/Opening
- Evaluate/Assessment
- Explain/Closing
- Explore/Learning Activity
- Extend/Additional Learning Activity
Intention/Purpose
- Analyze
- Compare & Contrast
- Critical Thinking
- Interpret
- Reflection
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