Idea related to the clipboard, but combined with poker chips:
There is a stack of blank note cards on the table, and several pens/markers. If there’s an existing discussion and you want to talk about an unrelated topic, you grab a notecard, write down the topic, and place it face up on the table. At any time, there may be several note cards on the table representing topics people want to talk about. Each person also has a poker chip (or a few) that they may place near a particular card, expressing their interest in talking about that topic. Poker chips are basically upvotes.
I like the index cards approach. I worry that the poker chips start making things distracting, which will discourage their use or reduce their effectiveness.
You’re right, I think poker chips is too messy. Since you already have pens right there, it’d be better for people to just write a little mark / star / [their name] on any card that they were interested in.
Idea related to the clipboard, but combined with poker chips:
There is a stack of blank note cards on the table, and several pens/markers. If there’s an existing discussion and you want to talk about an unrelated topic, you grab a notecard, write down the topic, and place it face up on the table. At any time, there may be several note cards on the table representing topics people want to talk about. Each person also has a poker chip (or a few) that they may place near a particular card, expressing their interest in talking about that topic. Poker chips are basically upvotes.
I like the index cards approach. I worry that the poker chips start making things distracting, which will discourage their use or reduce their effectiveness.
You’re right, I think poker chips is too messy. Since you already have pens right there, it’d be better for people to just write a little mark / star / [their name] on any card that they were interested in.