Timer Tab
The Timer tab manages the timing of your breakout session and automatically broadcasts updates to all breakout rooms. It is available to all participants, not just hosts.
Timer Phases
A session runs through four phases in sequence:
| Phase | Default | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Check-in | 2 min | Group introductions |
| Round 1 | 3 min | First person shares |
| Round 2 | 3 min | Second person shares |
| Round 3 | 3 min | Third person shares |
| Fadeout | 2 min | Wrap-up and closing |
At the start of each round, the timer automatically sends a chat message to all open breakout rooms, for example:
“1. person can start now ∞ 1. Person kann jetzt beginnen”
The message template is customizable — see Settings.
Setting Up the Timer
- Enter your desired Check-in, Round, and Fadeout durations in minutes
- Set the number of rounds to match your group size (3 for triads, 4 for quads, etc.)
- Press the play button to start
Quick Start
Enable Quick Start in the settings to skip the confirmation dialog and begin the timer immediately when you press play.
Timer Controls
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| Play | Start or resume the timer |
| Pause | Pause without resetting |
| Stop | Stop and reset the timer |
| Progress Slider | Drag to any moment in the session |
| Fullscreen | Pop out a large timer window for screen sharing |
The progress slider shows phase markers: 1, 2, 3, F (Fadeout). You can drag to any phase to jump directly to it.
Fullscreen Mode
Click the fullscreen button (appears after starting the timer) to open a large timer display in a popout window. This window shows a big countdown that you can share via Zoom screen share so all participants can see the remaining time.
Broadcasting to Breakout Rooms
When breakout rooms are open, the timer broadcasts:
- A round message to all rooms when each round starts (configurable text)
- A fadeout message when the fadeout phase begins
The broadcast uses Zoom’s Meeting SDK running in a background window. If messages aren’t reaching the rooms, check that popup windows from the app aren’t blocked in your browser.
Optional: Enable “Sync time with Zoom” to automatically close the breakout rooms when the fadeout timer ends.
Sound Settings
The timer can play a sound at each phase transition to signal participants:
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| Sound choice (cymbals / none) | Timer settings or Settings tab |
| Volume (0–100%) | Slider in timer settings |
| Ring bell on transitions | Toggle in timer settings |
| Play sound after check-in | Toggle in timer settings |
| Computer audio sharing | Routes sound through Zoom’s audio broadcast |
Tip: Enable “Computer audio sharing” to route bell sounds through Zoom’s audio so ALL participants (including those in breakout rooms) hear the notification.
Persisting Timer State
The timer state is saved in your browser. If you accidentally close or refresh the app during an active session, the timer will resume from where it left off when you reopen Triad Tool.
Recommended Settings by Session Format
Triad (3 people per group)
- Rounds: 3 | Round duration: 3–5 min | Group size: 3
Quad (4 people per group)
- Rounds: 4 | Round duration: 3 min | Group size: 4
Sharing Circle (any size, no turn structure)
- Rounds: 1 | Round duration: 15–30 min | Group size: 6–12
Dialogue / Fishbowl
- Rounds: 2–4 | Round duration: 5–10 min | Group size: 4–8