World café
The world café helps students to have a structured and calm groups discussion on a topic with more listening and less arguing. In a café setting with different groups of 5-7 in a circle or around tables students engage on a topic or theme.
On-campus
The activity takes about 60 minutes and could be done with the maximum of around 30 – 60 students in an on-campus setting.
Manual
Supplies needed
- A case, literature or problem to be discussed
- Paper and pen/whiteboard and marker
- Timer
Set-up classroom
Using a large classroom is suggested. Create an setting of groups in a round for 5-7 persons.
Optionally: using a Learning Plaza or the Teaching & Learning Lab could be suggested, due to its extra flexibility in set-up.
Step 1. (Preparation)
Prepare a case, literature or problem that students have to discuss. Optionally students could study a more difficult case in advance, so they are well informed about the topic.
Step 2. (During class)
Divide your class into groups of 5-7 students.
Step 3
Start with a plenary debrief on the structure and theme of the activity and questions per round. The questions are specially formulated for the specific context and desired purpose of the learning activity.
Step 4
The first minutes of each round each student shares his or her thoughts and feelings on the theme. The other group members listen and show respect on the attribution of the speaker. After this introduction insights on the topic are written down on collectively created mind maps.
Step 5
After the first round everyone except the table hosts find a new table (new groups) for a second discussion round. The host briefly summarize the topics discussed by the previous group, what insights the group has arrived at and what questions require further research. The new participants build on this round of discussions and expand the mind map on it.
Step 6
After a number of rounds, the mind maps are hung on the wall so that the participants can take note of the results. The hosts try to achieve a synthesis of results during a plenary feedback session. After the feedback session you as a teacher wrap-up the discussion.
Online
The activity takes about 60 minutes and could be done with the maximum of around 30 – 60 students in an online setting.
Manual
Supplies needed
- A case, literature or problem to be discussed
- An online tool, such as Microsoft Whiteboard to let the hosts write down results/ insights
- Timer
Set-up classroom
Use the Microsoft Teams environment of your course.
Step 1. (Preparation)
Prepare a case, literature or problem that students have to discuss. Optionally students could study a more difficult case in advance, so they are well informed about the topic.
Step 2. (During class)
Create breakout rooms in Microsoft Teams with around five to seven students per room.
Step 3
Start with a plenary debrief in the main channel on the structure and theme of the activity and questions per round. The questions are specially formulated for the specific context and desired purpose of the learning activity.
Step 4
The first minutes of each round each student shares his or her thoughts and feelings on the theme in the breakout room. The other group members listen and show respect on the attribution of the speaker. After this introduction insights on the topic are written down on collectively created mind maps on the online whiteboard.
Step 5
After the first round everyone goes to another breakout room except the table hosts for a second discussion round. The host briefly summarize the topics discussed by the previous group, what insights the group has arrived at and what questions require further research. The new participants build on this round of discussions and expand the online mind map on it.
Step 6
After a number of rounds, the mind maps are published in the main channel under files, so the participants can take note of the results. The hosts try to achieve a synthesis of results during a plenary feedback session in the main channel. After the feedback session you as a teacher wrap-up the discussion in the main channel.
Hybrid
The activity takes about 60 minutes and could be done with the maximum of around 30 – 60 students in an hybrid setting.
Manual
Supplies needed
- A case, literature or problem to be discussed
- An online tool, such as Microsoft Whiteboard to let the hosts write down results/ insights
- Paper and pen/whiteboard and marker
- Timer
Set-up classroom
Using a large classroom is suggested. Create an setting of groups in a round for 5-7 persons and use the Microsoft Teams environment of your course.
Step 1. (Preparation)
Prepare a case, literature or problem that students have to discuss. Optionally students could study a more difficult case in advance, so they are well informed about the topic.
Step 2. (During class)
Divide the on-campus class into groups of 5-7 students, and create breakout rooms in Microsoft Teams with around five to seven students per room.
Step 3
Start with a plenary debrief in the classroom while visible in the main channel on the structure and theme of the activity and questions per round. The questions are specially formulated for the specific context and desired purpose of the learning activity.
Step 4
The first minutes of each round each student shares his or her thoughts and feelings on the theme in the breakout room. The other group members listen and show respect on the attribution of the speaker. After this introduction insights on the topic are written down on collectively created mind maps on the online whiteboard or the physical whiteboard.
Step 5
After the first round everyone goes to another breakout room or table except the table hosts for a second discussion round. The host briefly summarize the topics discussed by the previous group, what insights the group has arrived at and what questions require further research. The new participants build on this round of discussions and expand the (online) mind map on it.
Step 6
After a number of rounds, the mind maps are published in the main channel under files (the physical ones as a photo), so the participants can take note of the results. The hosts try to achieve a synthesis of results during a plenary feedback session in the main channel. After the feedback session you as a teacher wrap-up the discussion in the main channel.
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