Each month, we highlight a card in every newsletter so you can get to know the deck one at a time. This month, allow us to introduce you to one of our favorite ways to get a gauge on what the group is thinking: Spectrum Questions!
Here’s how to do it
Set up a spectrum. In-person we do this by making a large, easily move-about-able space in the middle of the room.
For virtual Spectrum Questions there are a few options:
- Use software with a spacial canvass like Gather.Town so you can more closely recreate the feeling of physical movement
- Set up a spectrum on a digital whiteboard (if the software you’re using has one built in, awesome!), and have everyone stamp or put a sticky where they fall
(For more on virtual, check out this video detailing how we set up Spectrum Questions in Mural!)
Once you’ve got your spectrum set up, read the prompt, and have folks move to their corresponding spot on the spectrum. Have everyone take a look around and notice where other people are.
Once they’re on the spectrum, you as the facilitator have a few options. You can immediately read the next prompt, pair folks who are nearby each other for a debrief, or ask if anyone wants to share why they placed themselves where they did.
We find the debrief necessary whenever a prompt has brought up a lot of emotions—or if it’s about a topic that people will feel compelled to speak about. It’s also easy to invite specific people to respond because they’ve already made a statement about where they fall and you’re just asking them to expand their ideas.
When it’s useful
Whenever there’s a variety of feelings regarding different topics, ideas, experiences, etc. Spectrum Questions is a great way to have the whole group show rather than tell!
It’s an efficient way to get an immediate read on your group’s perspective, which makes it ideal when you want to find a starting place for deeper exploration in the conversation.
We also find it really helpful when people are not speaking from their own position, but bringing in an imagined perspective (”Devil’s advocate” vibes). Run Spectrum Questions to have people solidify their position.
It’s also an easy way to break up the monotony of sitting in one place for too long. It doesn’t have to be a long activity to be impactful!
Prompt Pro Tip
You can always change up the spectrum on which people are answering, so you can always tailor the activity to whatever information you’re getting from the group.
- Agree ←→ disagree
- Excited ←→ Anxious
- 1 ←→ 10
- Always ←→ Never
- Very Important ←→ Not Important
When it comes to Spectrum Questions, the Question part is referring to the question of where people will fall on the spectrum. The prompts themselves are best phrased as evocative statements. No yes or no’s here!
Getting a sense of the entire group (strongly agree <—> strongly disagree)
“Feeling confident as a student leader is important to me.”
“I am anxious about the upcoming school year.”
“I am excited about the upcoming school year.”
“I know how to run a really great student meeting.”
Solidify Your Positions (strongly agree <—> strongly disagree)
“I feel confident facilitating heated discussions between students.”
“I am often thrown off and triggered by things my students say.”
“I find it difficult to invite students to share their opinions if I know I disagree with them.”
“I think it’s more important to teach students how to think rather than what to think.”
Clarifying Questions
“I feel ready to move to a vote.”
“I am onboard with what was said in our last conversation.”
“I understand the purpose of my tasks for this next project.”
“I need more time to discuss [a topic] before we move on.”
Check-in series
“I felt satisfied with how the conversations went yesterday.”
“I feel like we are doing a good job as a group meaningfully listening to each other.”
“I have shown up as a participant in ways that I am proud of.”
“I am feeling ready to move this discussion towards making the decisions we need to make as a group.”
Icebreakers
“It’s important that all the dishes are done before the end of the night.”
“Pizza is the best takeout option.”
“Luck has nothing to do with success.”
“Flying is the best way to travel.”
“Composting is fun.”
Now it’s your turn!
This month, try out Spectrum Questions! Whether as an icebreaker, quick check-in, or a way into an emergent session, it’s a fun activity that hikes up the energy in the room and gets everyone participating! Got a few folks standing in the same place? Have everyone come back to a starting zone between prompts.