ZOOM (the Basics and a Variation)

12/15/2016

I've been reconnected to the ZOOM activity since I've been working for an outings company here in Texas (Group Dynamix - Carrollton Texas). ZOOM is a "straight up" verbal communication challenge - the only way to succeed is to share information through talking. (A while back I posted What's Missing? using the Qwirkle Game pieces - same behaviors needed for this one.) I want to share the basics here at my blog for easy access to those who want to get started. There are at least a half-dozen ways I know of to lead ZOOM. (Michelle Cummings and I co-wrote the ZOOM activity for my most recent book, Portable Teambuilding Activities - there are several presentation variations included.)

Zoom is a picture book written by Istvan Banyai. As a teambuilding activity you first need to cut the spine off of the book. (Well, the first thing is actually buying the book - find your copy on Amazon. I've also picked up several copies over the years from the brick-and-mortar Half Priced book stores as well.) Once the spine is cut off you will have about 30 usable pages. So, you could lead ZOOM with up to 30 participant. (I tend to go with 10 to 24 - it can get really long with more players.) The picture incuded above shows the first seven pages of the book. (Advice: Laminate the pages.)

(The ZOOM Book cover)

The Basic ZOOM Lead Once you know how many participants you will have for the activity - let's say 18. Choose 18 sequential pages from the set (choosing 18 random pages from the set can make it a bit more challenging). Hand out a page to every person in your group and ask them not to show their picture to anyone else. In other words, when I get my picture/page I am the only one that can see it. Then, I say something like this:

The pictures you are all holding connect together in a linear order - there is a beginning and an end to the sequence. Your challenge is to arrange the pictures into the correct order by only verbally describing the picture you have in your hand. You must keep your picture in hand and you are not allowed to trade your picture with anyone. In the end, you all need to position yourselfs in a circle formation. One person will ultimately be holding the first picture of the set and someone will be holding the last picture in the set. The rest of you will be in sequential order in between the two. When you all believe you are in the correct sequential order we will reveal (turn around) all the pictures to see how you did.

There you have it. The basics. Players can move around and they can use any words to describe the picure they have. I don't let my groups use outside resources (e.g., smart phones "I didn't show them MY picture"). When you play with up to 24 (or more people) it can take a good 45 minutes - so, be ready. This one's very challenging.

Note: There is also a second helping - Re-Zoom. This (book) sequence of pictures is MUCH tougher to solve with only verbal communication. When I want to give a group some "help" before presenting ZOOM in the traditional way, I start with Re-Zoom. However, the players are able to show their pictures to each other and then get into sequential order. This "practice" gives the group an idea of how pictues fit together and the complexity involved. This step takes about 5 to 10 minutes depending on the number of pictures. But, what I've found is that it cuts the solution time to ZOOM in half.

A ZOOM Variation My Friend Scott Goldsmith recently shared a presentation to ZOOM (that he told me he learned from Steve Ockerbloom) that I have yet to try - but looking forward to.

Each person can look at his/her picture/page then put it face down somewhere in the area. Then, players go out and discuss what they remember about their picture with other people in the group for a predetermined period of time (say 5 minutes - could be more if you think it's needed). After the 5 minutes, everyone can go look at his/her picture/page again for 1 minutes. Then, they all go back out to talk again (for another 5 minutes).

Finally, everyone can look at their picture a 3rd time (for 1 mimute). After this third look players keep hold of their page but cannot look at it again. Participants come back together to openly discuss one more time then put the pictures/pages face down in the order they believe is correct - there will be a first and last picture/page and all the rest in between. The reveal is one card (starting with the first card) at at a time. "It's awesome!!! Best variation I have seen," says Scott.

I'm sure more versions of ZOOM will find there way to FUNdoing. So, go get your ZOOM, give it a try, and be ready for more. Let us know how it goes. Leave a comment below.

All the best,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

6 Comments

bRian

1/22/2017 01:01:47 pm

I learned about ZOOM from Dr. 'Doing a couple years ago and it has become a go-to favorite for adult programs. I found a copy at a Salvation Army store for 10 cents. I cut the spine off and slipped the pages into plastic sheet protectors (rather than laminating, which is costly, time-consuming, and will fray with use) and I'm able to put the sheets into a ring binder to keep organized. I reduce the number of pages according to group size, and have notes in the binder so I can adjust quickly. I find removing pages from the start (beginning with the "rooster comb") works well, as the end of the book adds some challenge to the activity so I want that part intact.

Chris

1/23/2017 11:09:11 am

Thanks bRian!! Great idea to use the sheet protectors - I especially like how the pages can then be stored in a binder, and then the binder goes on the shelf. (I have been known to drop all my Zoom pages during prep which then lead to taking time - and time-pressure stress - to put all the pages back in order.)

Christine Ann Varacalli link

7/2/2022 05:22:00 am

Good morning! I came across this page when searching for activities to do with the picture book, Zoom. I know it has been quite some time since this post was made, but I wanted to know if you ever tried the Goldsmith variation you mentioned and what your thoughts were. I'm planning on using this book as an introduction to my 9th grade history class for our first unit that focusses on practices and skills of historians. Thank you in advance!

Chris

8/31/2022 06:58:04 am

I still have yet to try it. However, I think this would be a good one for a larger class. I would pair up students with one picture that they both study and then set down. Both pairs go out to talk about their picture (two historians going out to find connections). I think the task could be a little easier since they will have fewer pictures to line up. And it would be a nice opening to talk about how 'historians' see things and describe them from their point of view - and whose view is more accurate?

Christine Ann Varacalli

8/26/2022 03:19:31 am

Good morning! I purchased Zoom and cannot wait to try an activity with my class when we return to school in September. I haven't decided yet on which strategy to go with as I will most likely have 34 students (yet there are only 30 pages). I was looking for suggestions on how I could address this. Perhaps two students per page and I eliminate pages from the beginning? I also wanted them to work in their teams (4 students) in some way before we go to the large group. Any suggestions are welcomed! Thank you in advance!

Chris

8/31/2022 07:01:02 am

I've paired up participants with one image and it works well. One can go off to find connections without having the picture, the other has the picture and also looks for connections. I've also had participants without pictures help connect other people together - they take in information from others and 'look' for connections and bring people together. You might also try this latest variation of ZOOM I've been doing: Image Changing (search this term at the FUNdoing blog). When changing, those without a page will then be involved in the change and new people will be without a card. I'm not sure how this would fit from a historians point of view - you might have a better idea about this.

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ZOOM (the Basics and a Variation)

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