Copy Me
Start: begin immediately. Prepare: save your settings for reuse.
A makes something while giving instructions. B copies without looking! Then compare and switch roles.
Activity
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Step-by-step instructions
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Steps
- Work in pairs: A is the describer, B the copier (back to back or with a screen between them).
- The describer explains a figure/drawing in words; the copier draws what they hear (timer).
- Compare together: what matches, what differs, and why.
- Swap roles for the next round.
- Repeat the rounds and close with a short reflection.
Settings
- Number of rounds — optional, an even number (default 4) so A and B describe equally.
- Time per round — optional, default 90 s.
- Preparation: provide paper and pens; choose a few figures to describe in advance.
Tip: come up with figures using AI
Ask Microsoft Copilot: “Describe 6 simple figures or scenes a student can explain in words for another to draw (for age [age]).” Print or draw them as example cards for the describers.
Tips for the facilitator
Giving clear instructions and following them precisely
Extra relevant in the AI era: precise wording shapes the outcome
Precise language skills or reflection after a task
A task or material that can be reproduced based on instructions: a drawing, diagram, sequence of actions, mathematical notation, and so on.
Number of rounds — configure this in the settings (use an even number so that A and B have the same number of rounds).
Time per round — configure this in the settings (default 90 seconds; includes both execution and instructions together).
More time per round: for more complex tasks or if participants are not yet used to formulating instructions.
With a debrief: the pair analyses what was unclear in the instructions and how it could have been expressed more precisely.
With drawing: A draws a figure or diagram and describes it — B reproduces it based on words alone.
With mathematics: A solves a problem and explains each step — B writes it down based on the instructions.
Mathematics: explain the steps of solving a problem or constructing a figure.
Technology / craft: describe a sequence of actions in a production process.
Geography: describe the location of objects on a map.
Training and teams: an exercise in communication precision and active listening.
The activity is based on the classic communication training exercise — «describe without showing». Develops metacognitive skills: awareness of how precisely we formulate our thoughts.
Pairs well with
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