On Monday, November 18th, an everyday walk down the hall became a much different experience for Mrs. Harney’s psychology class at Camden High School. The activity was an annual class favorite called the Sensory Perception Trust Walk learning lab.
The Trust Walk is the culmination of the class’s Sensation/Perception unit. The activity challenges students to set down their own perspective, and pick up someone else’s while working as a team. It is a hands-on experience designed to build trust, enhance communication, and explore sensory awareness. Students alternate roles as a sighted “Guide”, and a blindfolded “Follower”. Alumni may remember this experience from before Harney’s time teaching the course, as her predecessor, Mr. Norton, also conducted this activity.
The goal of the Guide was to lead the Follower through a variety of sensory experiences, such as feeling different textures and listening to different sounds while maintaining trust and safety. The sighted guide worked at arm’s length and had to follow strict guidelines. This set important personal and safety boundaries while also encouraging students to use more direct and precise verbal communication with each other.
The Follower’s job is to listen carefully, communicate honestly about their limitations, and follow directions. They were encouraged to try different things in the building based on their comfort level. Some of the greater challenges they took on included climbing stairs, or grabbing a drink from the water fountain. Often, what a pairing accomplished was a direct reflection of the trust and communication between them.
Some students reflected on how they were able to determine where they were in the building based on the feel of sunlight in the foyers vs in hallways without windows. Others noticed the varying textures of the floor surfaces as they navigated the building.
After the activity, students wrote a reflection answering prompts about their partner, sensory use, leadership qualities, and personal preferences. They analyzed their experiences as both a leader and follower, and discussed the challenges of unsighted experiences that represent a small glimpse into the reality some members of society face every day.
This activity emphasized teamwork, empathy, and sensory awareness, while offering a reflective and interactive way to develop interpersonal skills and self-awareness.
