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Exercises/Reflection and Learning/Tandem Drawing
Visual Thinking ยท Reflection and Learning

Tandem Drawing

Participatory Methods Tandem Drawing Tandem Drawing is a collaborative activity that encourages creativity, communication, and teamwork by having participants create drawings together.

5 to 15 minutesTIME
Medium group (9-25), Pairs, Small group (4-8)GROUP SIZE
ActiveENERGY
RemoteSETTING
High cognitive loadCOGNITIVE LOAD
Strengthens Learning Transfer This reflection and learning exercise strengthens Learning Transfer, one of the eight Gathering Effectiveness pillars.

How to run it

  1. Explain that the goal is to work together to create a synchronized and collaborative drawing.
  2. Clarify that perfection is not required; the focus is on coordination and creative connection.
  3. Divide the group into pairs or small teams (3-4 people).
  4. Provide each group with a large sheet of paper.
  5. Define areas on the paper for each participant to contribute their part.
  6. One participant starts the drawing while others follow their lead or expand on the idea. In pairs, one leads while the other follows.
  7. Rotate roles according to the variations or set specific times for each turn (e.g., 1-2 minutes per turn).
  8. Participatory Methods Tandem Drawing Tandem Drawing is a collaborative activity that encourages creativity, communication, and teamwork by having participants create drawings together.
  9. Working in pairs or small groups, each person contributes to a section of the drawing while staying in sync with their teammates.
  10. Prepare the materials: Large sheets of paper or whiteboards.
Live facilitator

Run this exercise live

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Prompts to use +

Explain that the goal is to work together to create a synchronized and collaborative drawing.

Provide each group with a large sheet of paper.

Rotate roles according to the variations or set specific times for each turn (e.g., 1-2 minutes per turn).

Participatory Methods Tandem Drawing Tandem Drawing is a collaborative activity that encourages creativity, communication, and teamwork by having participants create drawings together.

Working in pairs or small groups, each person contributes to a section of the drawing while staying in sync with their teammates.

Prepare the materials: Large sheets of paper or whiteboards.

Run this with your AI assistant +

Works with Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or your own local model: paste this prompt and your AI will co-facilitate this exercise with you.

Adapt this exercise for my exact room. Exercise: Tandem Drawing. Readiness: Publishable Draft. Core moves: Explain that the goal is to work together to create a synchronized and collaborative drawing.; Provide each group with a large sheet of paper.; Rotate roles according to the variations or set specific times for each turn (e.g., 1-2 minutes per turn).; Participatory Methods Tandem Drawing Tandem Drawing is a collaborative activity that encourages creativity, communication, and teamwork by having participants create drawings together.. Return a concise facilitator script with timing, wording, safety notes, and remote/in-person adjustments.

Origin unverified

  • Where we observed it: The strongest current observations come from Participatory Methods; aggregators are listed as additional observations, not origin proof. (1 source observed, including Participatory Methods.)
  • What that means: we track where an exercise has been observed in public sources. We do not claim to know who created it, or how popular it is.
  • No efficacy claims: appearing in this library is not a claim that the exercise is proven effective. Facilitator judgment and context decide whether it works for a given room.
  • Corrections: if you have evidence of an earlier or more accurate source, read our methodology and trust boundary and tell us.

Pairs well with