# Frequently Asked Questions Here are some of the questions we typically hear from educators who are training to facilitate the Examina. Feel free to send us your questions at [email protected] or [email protected]! ## How long should each Examina Session be? Each card deck is designed for a 60-minute session with 4 players, divided into 3 main rounds plus a closing round. Generally, each round lasts about 15 minutes. However, some rounds—like the storytelling round (round 2) in _Story Crafting_ or the support questions round (round 3) in _Intention Setting_—may take a bit longer. For flexibility, gameplay can be shortened to fit within a 45-minute session or extended to 80 minutes to allow players more time to share. ## As a facilitator, am I supposed to play or do I just facilitate? As a facilitator, you're encouraged to play! What makes the _Examina_ unique as a learning tool is that everyone, including the facilitator, practices Reflective Intelligence together. There’s no need to teach or instruct; instead, by fully participating and modeling reflection, you’ll help guide the Council in collective reflection. ## What should I do if people are hesitant to participate? While the Examina experience is most powerful when everyone actively participates, it's natural for some participants to feel hesitant. Participants might be uncomfortable with who they were assigned with in their Council, not yet ready to share personally, or simply not in the right headspace that day. As a facilitator, you can help create a welcoming environment by modeling openness and enthusiasm yourself. Consider taking the lead by responding to the first prompt, or share a brief story about your own positive experience with Examina during training. Remember that full participation is the goal, but giving people space to engage at their own pace often leads to more meaningful involvement. ## What should I do if someone is sharing too much? Managing participation time can be addressed through thoughtful structure and clear time boundaries. If you notice one or more participants dominating the conversation, consider shifting to more structured "tight rules" by establishing specific time limits for each round. For example, announce that each person will have three minutes to share their response. Many participants who speak at length may simply be unaware of how much space they're taking up, and time boundaries can actually help them distill their thoughts to the most meaningful elements. Before beginning each round, consider giving everyone a quiet minute to gather their thoughts and prepare their response. This preparation time often leads to more focused sharing and helps ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute. ## What do I do if someone experiences strong emotions? Strong emotional responses are a natural part of the Examina experience, as reflection often surfaces feelings that rarely find space for expression in daily life. If this happens, gently check in with the participant and honor their agency by asking whether they'd prefer to continue playing, take a brief break, or conclude their session. The key is to maintain a non-judgmental presence—avoid trying to "fix" their emotions or make them "feel better." Instead, model acceptance of these natural emotional responses and let the participant guide their level of continued engagement. Remember that their emotional response is valid and may be an important part of their Examina experience. ## Should we play the Examina as a person or a professional? For your first experience with each Examina game, we strongly encourage playing from your personal perspective rather than your professional role. This approach allows for deeper connection and authentic belonging as whole people, not just colleagues. Purpose, after all, extends far beyond our professional lives and can be explored in all aspects of our experience. If have an opportunity to play the games again, that's an excellent opportunity to explore them through a professional lens.