This practical tool uses a set of playful provocation cards to help teams think differently about their ELOM data. Instead of moving quickly to explanations or solutions, the cards invite educators and programme teams to slow down, question assumptions, and explore unexpected perspectives.
Each card introduces a creative prompt – such as reversing the problem, imagining children in charge, or designing solutions with unusual constraints. These provocations are designed to loosen fixed interpretations, surface hidden assumptions, and open space for curiosity and creativity.
The cards work best in small group discussions after reviewing an ELOM report, but they can also be used individually. Teams draw a card at random and apply the prompt to a specific datapoint, trend, or challenge. The goal is not to produce immediate solutions, but to generate new insights and alternative ways of seeing the data.
By encouraging playful, lateral thinking, this tool strengthens teams’ ability to ask better questions, hold multiple interpretations at once, and move from data to deeper insight, supporting more thoughtful learning and adaptation in programmes.
Download the Playful Provocations cards here.
Authors: Sonja Giese and Dr Jessica Horler
Developed with inspiration from Edward de Bono.
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