Participatory Methods

The Question Ball

The Question Ball is a participatory activity designed to evaluate and encourage engagement in a playful and reflective way. Participants toss a lightweight ball to each other, and the facilitator reads a question for the person who catches it to answer before throwing it to someone else. It’s ideal for fostering interaction, reflecting on a topic, and creating a dynamic, collaborative atmosphere.

Preparation

  1. Define the purpose:
    • Evaluate participants’ level of understanding or reflection on a topic.
    • Encourage active participation in a fun and relaxed way.
    • Promote idea exchange and group interaction.
  2. Prepare the materials:
    • A lightweight ball (beach ball, foam, or plastic).
    • A list of relevant questions related to the workshop or session topic, to be read by the facilitator.
  3. Set up the space:
    • Arrange a spacious area where participants can safely toss the ball.
    • If the group is large, form subgroups of 8–12 people to ensure everyone gets a chance to participate.
  4. To run the activity virtually:
    • Use a collaborative tool to organize turns, with the facilitator reading a question to each participant.
    • Ask participants to choose who they would “throw” the ball to at the end of their turn to keep everyone engaged.
    • Display the questions on a virtual whiteboard or shared list to keep the activity clear and organized.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Introduce the purpose
    • Explain that the goal of the activity is to reflect and share ideas in a participatory and fun way.
    • Create an inclusive and playful atmosphere, reminding participants they can skip their turn if they wish.
  2. Start the activity
    • The facilitator chooses someone at random to throw the ball.
    • When the participant catches the ball, they listen to a question read by the facilitator and answer aloud.
  3. Continue the activity
    • After answering, the participant throws the ball to another person in the group.
    • The facilitator reads a new question for the next person, and the process continues.
  4. Group reflection
    • At the end, guide a discussion about the topics raised in the answers and the insights gained.
    • Ask for feedback on the activity and how it contributed to the session or workshop goals.
Recommendations
  • Prepare clear and focused questions: Make sure the questions are relevant and easy to understand.
  • Keep a dynamic pace: Encourage participants to toss the ball quickly to maintain energy.
  • Encourage voluntary participation: Make it clear that participants can skip their turn if they don’t feel comfortable answering.
  • Manage time: Set a time limit for each response so everyone has a chance to participate.
  • Avoid overly personal questions: Focus on safe topics aligned with the workshop’s purpose.
Inspiration

Sample questions for The Question Ball

  1. What motivates you the most to work in a team?
  2. How do you handle conflicts in your daily life?
  3. What would you like to learn and why?
  4. What is your greatest personal strength?
  5. What changes would you make to improve your environment?
  6. What recent achievement makes you feel proud?
  7. What inspires you about the people around you?
  8. What strategy do you use to overcome a challenge?
  9. What does the word “success” mean to you?
  10. What activity makes you feel the happiest?
Materials
  • A lightweight ball.
  • A list of questions related to the activity’s topic.
Online platforms
Purpose
The purpose of The Question Ball is to encourage reflection and group interaction in a playful way, assess participants’ knowledge or perspectives, and motivate active participation in a dynamic and collaborative environment.
Type of activity
Collective ReflectionParticipatory EvaluationParticipatory InteractionParticipatory Learning
Level of participation
Collaborative assessment, Knowledge generation, Exchange of perspectives
Target audience
Students, NGOs and social collectives, Business teams
Fields of application
Education and training, Community development, Organizational and business management, Urban and rural planning, Health and social well-being, Art, culture, and creativity, Sustainability and environment, Public policies and governance, Research and evaluation, Conflict resolution, Citizen and social participation
Estimated duration
15-30 minutes.
Ideal number of participants
8-20 people.
Topics related to this activity
Active CollaborationActive LearningActive ListeningBall GameCollaborative LearningCollective ReflectionCreative CommunicationCreative ReflectionCritical ThinkingExperiential LearningGamificationGroup EnergizerInclusive ParticipationKnowledge GenerationParticipatory StorytellingTeamwork
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