Fishbowl

Description

The main room watches an individual, pair, or small group perform an assignment and gives private evaluations. The facilitator leads the room in analysis, feedback, and discussion for group learning.

Why we like it

This activity works well after individual or small group activities have concluded and everyone is familiar with the activity and their abilities. By focusing attention on a single performance, the entire room learns from the feedback, learns by giving evaluation, and better understands best practices and program requirements.

Process

Note: While fishbowls could be run before an activity to serve as an example to others to follow, we approach this activity as a conclusion and review after others have performed.

1. After participants have completed their activity (individually or in breakout rooms), the facilitator chooses a participant or group to perform again in front of the main room. Asking for volunteers to be “on stage” or notifying participants in advance are great options.
2. The participant or group performs in front of all other participants. In some cases, participants simply redo their activity (ex: delivering a persuasive presentation). In other cases, activities are fluid and change depending on their partner (ex: negotiation exercise). If a specific delivery is needed, consider using a video example instead of a live performance.
3. All other participants take notes and/or prepare feedback during the performance.
4. After the performance, the facilitator leads the room in feedback and analysis.

Daisy chain options

a) Make written feedback or analyze a project or graded assignment.
b) Select multiple performers for multiple rounds.

Feedback and tech options

Facilitators and participants can give feedback in many ways. Change things up for variety. Possibilities include:
a) Spoken discussion
b) Online form or rubric which could be sent to the performer (Google forms: https://www.google.com/forms/ or Typeform:  https://www.typeform.com/)
c) Breakout room discussion
d) Shared whiteboard (Limnu: https://limnu.com)
e) Poll (Mentimeter: https://www.mentimeter.com/ or WooClap:  https://www.wooclap.com/)
f) Transcription or conversation mapping, which could be combined with annotations (Otter:  https://otter.ai/ or Trint:  https://trint.com/

Share using the icons below or direct link to this activity: https://knowmium.com/tools/2020/6/2/fishbowl