3-2-1 Bridge

Instructions

Intellectual humility requires that students acknowledge the limits of their own understanding. The following exercise helps students practice recognizing and acknowledging such limits.

• Announce the topic that students will learn about in the current lesson or over the course of several lessons.
• Ask students to write down 3 thoughts/ideas that come to mind, along with 2 questions they have, and 1 metaphor/simile about the topic.
  • For instance, if the topic is “democracy,” then students should write down 3 thoughts, 2 questions, and 1 metaphor.
  • Let students know that it is okay if they do not know much about the topic. They should simply focus on what comes to mind, and not worry about whether it is right or wrong.
• Have students complete the same 3‐2‐1 writing exercise after finishing the lesson or series of lessons on the topic.
  • For example, students might read an article, watch a video, or engage in an activity having to do with democracy. Note that provocative experiences that push students’ thinking in new directions are best.
  • After the experience, students complete the second 3-2-1 exercise.
• Next, ask students to form pairs–taking turns to share their initial thoughts as well as their new thoughts. Have students bridge their first response with the second by discussing how and why their thinking shifted.
• Remind students that their initial thinking is not right or wrong, it is just a starting point. New experiences take our thinking in new directions.

Source

The 3-2-1 Bridge thinking routine was developed by Project Zero, a research center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Evidence That It Works

Research suggests that humble children spend more time noticing and reflecting on errors made, which can help them understand the areas where they need to grow.

Why Does It Matter?

Intellectually humble individuals are not afraid to acknowledge when they do not know something. Instead, they ask questions when they do not understand. Further, intellectual humility is related to a greater willingness to hear others’ perspectives on a topic.

Intellectual humility allows students to engage more deeply with material and with each other. Instead of trying to pretend they know everything or refusing to listen to each others’ perspectives, students with intellectual humility help create a safe space for learning and to challenging alternative perspectives in a respectful manner.