A Read and Do Test Assignment

A Read and Do Test

 

Purpose: To show in a humorous way that people often fail to read and/or follow directions.	Materials: Read and Do Test handout Pencils or pens
Outcomes: Increased awareness of the need to balance speed and carefulness Fun	Approximate time: Five to ten minutes

 

Process:

1. Place a copy of the Read and Do Test handout face down in front of each participant.
2. Ask participants to keep the test face down until everyone has received a copy.
3. Explain that this is a timed test with a maximum time of three minutes allowed to complete the task.
4. Do not give any further instructions of any kind.
5. State: “Okay, are you ready? Get set.  Go!”
6. Call time after three minutes.

 

Discussion Notes:

1. Invite participants to discuss why some people did not pay attention to the instructions in Sentence 1. Some possible responses:
   1. They were in a hurry
   2. They wanted to be the first one to finish
   3. They saw the line in the upper right hand corner for name and forgot what Sentence 1 said
   4. The habit of following printed instructions is ingrained
2. In our culture, we often receive contradictory messages about the need for speed vs. the need to be careful. Ask the group to think about sayings in American culture that encourage speed or being first.  Some examples:
   1. Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing
   2. Strike while the iron is hot
   3. The early bird gets the worm
3. Then ask participants to think about sayings in American culture that encourage carefulness or taking time. Some examples:
   1. Slow and steady wins the race
   2. A stitch in time saves nine
   3. Measure twice, cut once
4. Ask the group to describe some situations where it is crucial to balance the need for speed and the need for carefulness. Some examples:
   1. During an emergency evacuation – people must evacuate quickly but in an orderly fashion to avoid stampeding and trampling others
   2. At the scene of an accident – health professionals must perform quick but careful assessments to determine which injuries are life-threatening and which ones are less serious; a mistake means someone could die
   3. Reporting a news story about an explosion – reporters need to get information to people quickly but inaccurate information can cause a panic
5. Stress that sometimes in our drive to win or to be first, we overlook critical information or make decisions without considering important evidence.
6. Stress the importance of listening carefully, reading carefully, and making sure you understand what is being asked before you start on a task.

 

Source:

Adapted from Scannell, E., & Newstrom, J. (1998). The big book of presentation games. New York, NY: McGraw Hill.

 

 

Name ______________________________________

 

 

READ AND DO TEST

 

Time Limit: 3 Minutes

 

Can You Follow Instructions?

 

1. Read all that follows before doing anything.
2. Write your name in the upper right-hand corner of this page.
3. Circle the word “corner” in Sentence 2.
4. Draw five small squares in the upper left-hand corner of this page.
5. Put an “X” on each square.

_____________________________________________________

6. Put a circle around each square.
7. Sign your name under Sentence 5.
8. After your name, write “yes, yes, yes.”
9. Put a circle around number 7.
10. Put an “X” in the lower left-hand corner of this page.
11. Draw a triangle around the “X” you just made.
12. Call out your first name when you get to this point in the test.
13. If you think that you have followed directions carefully to this point, call out, “I have!”
14. On the reverse side of this page, add 6950 and 9805.
15. Put a circle around your answer.
16. Count out loud, in your normal speaking voice, from 10 to 1.
17. Punch three small pen or pencil holes in the top of this page.
18. If you are the first person to get this far, call out, “I am the first person to get to this spot and I am the leader in following directions.”
19. Say out loud, “I am nearly finished. I have followed directions.”
20. Now that you have finished reading carefully, do only those things called for in Sentences 1 and 2. Did you read everything on this page before doing anything?

 

 

 

NOTE: Please do not say anything at this point.  Just observe how other participants follow directions.