Winker

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Test non-verbal coordination and shared chance through a rapid physical matching game.

Use it when: Use as a brief, low-energy physical reset between intensive seated tasks.

Skip it when: Skip if participants experience eye fatigue, facial motor difficulties, or discomfort with sustained close-range attention.

Group arrangement: Pairs; an odd person acts as timekeeper or forms a trio taking turns in pairs

Timing: UWT suggested 5-minute pacing based on Playmeo 1 to 2 minute rounds

Materials and tools

• No special materials.

Before participants arrive

1. Arrange room so pairs can stand or sit facing each other about two feet apart with clear walkways.

Say this to open

Find a partner and face each other. Both close your eyes. When I count three, you each pick one of four eye positions: left eye open, right eye open, both eyes open, or keep both shut. Try to match your partner without talking or giving clues.

How to run it

1. Pair and explain rules 1 minutes

   Ask everyone to partner up and stand or sit roughly half a meter apart. If there is an odd number, invite one person to call the signals or form a group of three where two play while one observes, rotating each round. Demonstrate the four allowed states: open right eye only, open left eye only, open both eyes, or keep both closed.

2. Play round one 2 minutes

   Call out: 'Eyes closed. Three, two, one, show.' Partners open their chosen eye or eyes simultaneously, check if they matched, and tally their consecutive matches. Remind them that no talking, finger signaling, or head nodding is permitted. Give 60 to 90 seconds for pairs to run several trials at their own rhythm.

3. Switch partners and repeat 1 minutes

   Direct participants to find a new partner across the room. Run another 60 seconds of simultaneous reveals. Pairs track their highest streak of identical choices.

4. Reflect and conclude 1 minutes

   Call the whole room back together. Ask one or two quick reflection questions. Hear brief responses from two or three volunteers before moving to the next agenda item.

Debrief questions

• What strategies or patterns did you find yourself slipping into?
• How did the restriction on talking affect how quickly you settled into a rhythm?

Finished output: Completion of partner matching rounds with an optional self-reported streak count.

Remote

Pairs enter private breakout rooms or take turns on spotlight view. The caller says 'close eyes... three, two, one, reveal.' Participants look into their webcams with their selected eye position.

Hybrid

In-person participants pair with in-person partners. Remote participants join dedicated breakout pairs online so screen-to-face distances remain equitable.

Access and participation choices

• Participants unable to wink one eye independently can use a hand to cover one eye or substitute four clear hand signs instead (fist, open palm, index finger, two fingers).
• Anyone may opt out of playing and serve as the round timer or scorekeeper without needing to give a reason.

If the session gets stuck

One partner opens eyes a split second late to copy the other.

Remind everyone that choices must be locked before opening, or use a collective facilitator countdown for every single reveal.

An odd number of participants leaves one person without a pair.

Assign the extra person to call the countdown and keep time, or rotate three people so each person plays two rounds.