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3-Stage
Online Fishbowl |
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- Make up 3 related questions.
- Post the first open-ended question on a discussion web
or chat.
- Form 3 groups of students, and have Group 1 discuss the
question first. Groups 2 and 3 should "lurk"--just reading
responses. Set a time limit (e.g. a couple days for a
discussion forum, a half-hour for a chat).
- Ask the observing groups to comment on the
discussion held by Group 1 on the first question, perhaps
evaluating the procedure, whether everyone got a fair shot
at contributing to the discussion, or the length of answers.
- After this trailblazing on the first question, Group 2
discusses the second question for the same time period.
- Ask the observing groups (1 and 3) to comment on the
discussions so far.
- Group 3 discusses the third question with the same time
limit while Groups 1 and 2 read only.
- Finally, the entire class offers final, wrap-up comments
on the question and the discussions.
As a final step, gather evaluation data by having the class
reply to an assessment question about the exercise.
Silberman offers this variation: Use one question
instead of three.
It is reasonable to expect that this exercise would, in
effect, train students in your course to discuss open-ended
questions. Groups 2 and 3 aren't starting from scratch; they've
seen and hopefully reflected on the discussion of Group 1. In
later exercises, you might have students suggest the questions. |
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1999