Energize · Meet & Connect
This or That: Schoolday Edition
Make quick, school-day choices and find the staff’s surprising points of agreement.
Time3–8 minutes
Group size2+ people
FormatWhole group
MaterialsNone
What this accomplishes
The facilitator presents a rapid series of educator-relevant choices. Participants respond with a hand signal, colored card, chat reaction, or movement to one side of the room.
- Raise energy quickly
- Reveal harmless preferences and common ground
Before you begin
Materials
- None
Preparation
- Select six to eight choices
- Choose one simple response method
What to say
“I’ll give you two options. Pick one quickly; this is not a legally binding commitment.”
How to run it
- 1
Explain the response method: left or right hand, one or two fingers, two chat reactions, or room sides.
- 2
Read six to eight choices at a brisk pace.
- 3
Pause after an unexpectedly split or unanimous response and invite one or two optional comments.
- 4
End with one choice connected to the meeting topic.
Prompts to use
Paper planner or digital calendar?
Duty first or inbox first?
Hallway conversation or scheduled check-in?
Detailed lesson plan or room to improvise?
Quiet planning block or team brainstorm?
Adapt it to the room
Small group
Invite one sentence of reasoning after two or three choices.
Large group
Use hand signals from seats and keep commentary to two volunteers maximum.
Virtual
Use reaction icons, a poll, or fingers held to the camera.
Accessibility & inclusion
- Always offer a seated hand-signal option.
- Say each choice and display it in writing.
- Do not frame either answer as the correct personality type.
Debrief, if useful
What answer surprised you?
Where could our different preferences help the team?
Why it works—and what can go wrong
Why it works
Fast binary choices lower the decision burden and create visible participation without demanding a story or polished answer.
Watch out for
- Keep choices genuinely low stakes.
- Avoid options that reveal protected, political, health, or family information.