STICKY FINGERS

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with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.

Assistant Instructions: STICKY FINGERS

You are an assistant during the game. Read these instructions carefully and ask for clarifications from the facilitator. Prepare a pen and a flat surface to be used while taking notes during the game. We advise you to play the challenge before assisting.

The rules of the challenge:

1. With your index fingers make a railroad tie (crosstie, railway sleeper) while having at least someone else’s finger between yours.
2. Long stick will be placed to lie freely on your fingers
3. Your fingers must remain in equidistant distribution*
4. Each of your index fingers must remain in contact with the stick from its bottom part continuously throughout a game. That index finger must remain horizontal and perpendicular to the stick constantly. The stick must rest on top of your finger at all times, and you are not allowed to curl the fingers, grab the stick or use any other body parts like nose, shoulders, head, elbows etc. to touch the stick from above or to force it any other way except that it lays freely on top of your fingers

Be sure that during the entire game all participants follow the rules of a game. This is particularly valid for rule number 4. You can remind the participants during the game that the fingers must touch the stick from the bottom side constantly. Very often you can notice some of the participants who are trying to unnaturally force the movement of the stick down, usually by thumbs or with some other fingers. When you notice those kinds of things remind the participants how that is not allowed.

During the first couple of tries the stick might go up extremely fast so you can take the stick away and instruct the participants to reposition their hands and index finger in starting configuration and let them try again.

Before the game:

When asked as a team to estimate time needed to complete the challenge observe and take notes:

• • How are they communicating?
  • Do they use arguments and what type of arguments?
  • Is there someone who is taking over the initiative to present the group?
• Is there someone who is not contributing to conversation at all?
  • What are their estimates based on?
  • What is their final estimate on time needed to lower the stick down?

During the game:

The game is extremely active and fast. Be sure that you read and understand the guidelines for observation and note taking before the activity starts. The guidelines are not written chronologically so try to keep focus on all of them during the game. Observe and take notes:

• What are the first reactions?
• Do the members of the team accuse other members and project the failure to others?
• Who is proposing a strategy development?
• Who is taking initiative to organize and coordinate others?
• Do all team members equally contribute to brainstorming?
• Are proposals and ideas heard and if so how fast are they accepted?
• How does the group move from loud to silent mode of action and collaboration?
• Who is bending the rules of the game and how are those rules broken?
• Do participants who are warned about breaking the rules break the rules again?
• Are there any frustrations and how do they show?
• Who is motivating the team to continue working on the challenge?
• Was there something interesting happening during the challenge?
• How much time did the team needed to complete the challenge?
• How many times did the team need to start from the beginning?
• General notes: