Walk About

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Collect participant reactions, questions, and ideas across multiple posted displays within a single room.

Use it when: Use when you have multiple project posters, research summaries, or discussion prompts that need broad participant review and written input in a short window.

Skip it when: Skip when information requires sequential step-by-step review, when confidential reviews are required, or when the room lacks physical space for wall displays and circulation.

Group arrangement: Individual browsing around perimeter stations, pairs at local stations, followed by whole-group debrief

Timing: Source indicates 5 to 15 minutes. UWT standard plan sets 15 minutes to allow browsing, local pair reading, and structured debrief.

Materials and tools

• 3 to 6 posted content sheets or flip charts with project information or prompts
• 1 roll of painter's tape to secure wall charts
• 1 fine or medium felt tip marker per participant, plus 2 spare markers per station
• 1 pad of 3x3 inch sticky notes per station
• 1 countdown timer

Before participants arrive

1. Mount 3 to 6 content charts or information posters spread widely across walls, whiteboards, or easels around the room.
2. Ensure there is at least six feet of clear walkway between stations to avoid bottlenecks.
3. Place spare sticky note pads and felt tip markers at each display for quick access.

Say this to open

Spread out around the perimeter. We have posted project summaries and key questions at stations across the room. Over the next eight minutes, walk at your own pace to each station, read the material, and write your questions, reactions, or additions directly on the paper or on sticky notes. You can visit stations in any order.

How to run it

1. Introduce task and disperse 2 minutes

   Speak the opening script. Direct participants to count off or disperse evenly across different starting stations so they do not cluster at the first display.

2. Independent gallery browsing and commenting 8 minutes

   Participants move independently from station to station. They read each posted item and annotate it with markers or sticky notes. Example: Next to a timeline prompt, a participant writes 'Q3 delivery conflicts with annual audit.' The facilitator gives verbal time checks at four minutes and two minutes remaining.

3. Station review in pairs 2 minutes

   Ask participants to stop at whichever station they are closest to and pair with the person nearest them. Odd participants form one trio. Pairs spend two minutes reading the collected comments on that specific board.

4. Harvest observations and debrief 3 minutes

   Call the room back together. Ask 3 to 4 volunteers from different stations to share one prominent theme, recurring question, or surprise from their board. Address remaining debrief prompts as time permits.

Debrief questions

• What common theme or recurring question appeared across multiple stations?
• Which posted comment raised an issue or risk our group has not addressed yet?
• What is one piece of feedback here that requires an immediate follow-up decision?

Finished output: A series of annotated wall charts and sticky notes capturing collective reactions, questions, and feedback across all posted displays.

Remote

Set up a shared digital whiteboard with each station represented as a distinct frame. Participants spend eight minutes independently browsing the frames and posting digital sticky notes. For the pair review, send pairs into two-minute breakout rooms assigned to a specific digital frame. Convene in the main video room to harvest observations.

Hybrid

Mirror each physical wall chart as a frame on a shared online board. Remote participants post digital sticky notes while present participants write on physical displays. An in-person co-facilitator or scribe photographs physical notes to upload them, or projects the digital board in the room. For the pair review, pair remote participants in virtual breakouts while in-person participants pair at physical boards.

Access and participation choices

• Provide a paper handout or digital PDF of all station text for participants who prefer to read seated rather than walking.
• Writing comments is optional; participants may read and observe without contributing notes.
• Participants may decline to speak during the pair review or plenary debrief by passing to their partner.

If the session gets stuck

Participants bunch up at the first station near the door, creating a crowd.

Direct participants to assign themselves to different stations based on birth month or count off before anyone moves.

Notes are written too small to read from a standing distance.

Provide felt-tip markers instead of ballpoint pens and remind participants to write in clear block letters.

Terms used here

• Updraft: An organizational or agenda term used in source materials to describe a planned collaborative work session or sprint.