Three-Stage Fishbowl Decision (Stimulating Class Discussion)

OVERVIEW

A fishbowl is a discussion format in which a portion of the class forms a discussion circle and the remaining students form a listening circle around the discussion group (see “Ten Methods to Obtain Participation at Any Time”)

PROCEDURE

1.  Devise three questions for discussion relevant to your subject matter. In a class on ecology, for example, the questions might be:

• How is the environment being endangered ?

• What steps can the government and private industry take to deal with the problem?

• What can we do personally?

Ideally, the questions should be interrelated, but that is not required. Decide in what order you would like the questions discussed.  

2.  Set up chairs in a fishbowl configuration (two concentric circles). Have the students count off by 1, 2, and 3. Ask the members of group 1 to occupy the discussion-circle seats and ask the members of groups 2 and 3 to sit in the outer-circle seats. Pose your first question for discussion. Allow up to 10 minutes for discussion. Invite one student to facilitate the discussion or act as the facilitator yourself.  

3.  Next, invite the members of group 2 to sit in the inner circle, replacing group 1 members who now sit in the outer circle. Ask the members of group 2 if they would like to make any brief comments about the first discussion, and then segue into the second discussion topic.  

4.  Follow the same procedure with members of group 3.  

5.  When all three questions have been discussed, reconvene the class as one discussion group.  Ask them for their reflections about the entire discussion.  

VARIATIONS

1.  If it is not possible to have circles of chairs, have a rotating panel discussion instead.  One-third of the class become panelists for each discussion question. The panelists can sit in front of the classroom facing the remainder of the class. If you are using a U-shaped classroom arrangement or a conference table, designate a side of the table as a panel group.  

2.  Use only one discussion question rather than three. Invite each subsequent group to respond to the discussion of the preceding group.