Run a workshop with a timer and a vote
Prepare a discussion that ends with a clear next step. Set out the agenda, give each activity a timebox and use Voting to compare a few well-defined choices. Review the results with participants, discuss close calls and record the agreed decision beside the material that explains it.
Canvas → Templates · Timer · VotingWhat you’ll learn
- Start with a usable agenda and adapt it to your discussion.
- Set a countdown and control it during your canvas session.
- Configure options, review results and retain the decision context.
Captured in Boilerrum with an illustrative project. The app interface is shown in English.
In this guide
01
Prepare the agenda
Open Templates, search for Workshop Agenda and choose Use template on its card. Adapt the inserted agenda to the real meeting objective, activities and timing. Place discussion notes near the relevant activity so the board connects preparation with the conversation. Keep the original example wording only where it accurately describes your workshop.
02
Set your activity timer
Click Timer in the header or choose Timer from the tools browser. Open Timer controls, select Countdown, enter the Duration in minutes and click Set while the timer is paused. Start or pause with the timer dial. Use +1m or +10s when needed, and Reset between activities. This clock belongs to your current canvas session.
03
Write a clear voting question
Add Voting from the tools browser and click the Start a Vote card to open Setup Voting Session. Enter Vote Title and fill at least two Options with comparable choices. Use Add Option for more alternatives. A question such as “Which experiment should run first?” is easier to interpret than a title that mixes several unrelated decisions.
04
Set the allowance and start
Set Votes/Person and Timer (minutes), then review the question and option wording before choosing Start Voting. The panel switches to the voting view and shows Total Votes, Your Votes left and a countdown. These controls guide participation in the panel; agree on the workshop rules with participants before using the numbers to make a decision.
05
Vote and review the result
Use Vote beside a preferred option and check that it changes to Voted. The panel displays option counts and percentages and prevents another vote for that option from the same displayed user. Choose Finish Now when the activity is complete, or let its countdown finish. Review close results and ties in the conversation before announcing an agreed outcome.
06
Keep the decision context
Close the voting dialog and use Vote Options → Copy Results to copy the current summary. Place the agreed decision and next action in a note beside the voting object, then save the canvas. Duplicate creates another setup with cleared votes; Reset Vote clears the existing ballot. Preserve the completed result before using either action for another round.
Your workshop leaves an adapted agenda, a visible voting result and a written next action. The completed canvas carries the decision context after the session timer is no longer running.