Dialogue

Fishbowl

Use this tool to: 
  • Have a structured and guided group dialogue
  • Understand different perspectives from stakeholders
  • Deepen your argumentation and collective wisdom

What is it?

In a Fishbowl dialogue, students seated inside the “fishbowl” actively participate by asking questions and sharing their opinions connected to a statement, while students standing outside the fishbowl listen carefully to the ideas presented. Students take turns in these roles, so that they practice active speaking and listening in the fishbowl and listening and reflecting outside the fishbowl, and take on multiple perspectives.

Fishbowl

  • 1 file

Download the Film Activity Plan to incorporate the activity into your classes

Extras

Apart from doing a "Fishbowl for Opposing Positions", you can also do:

A Fishbowl for Multiple Perspectives

Use this variation, if you want your students to understand how perspectives create the arguments made

The set up is similar to the fishbowl in the Film Activity Plan – you only run the fishbowl more times. Make sure to select a film clip showing or prompting a complex topic or question suitable for multiple perspectives, and already define certain stakeholders for the students. 

Extra: 'Tap' System

Another option for both Fishbowl variations is using the ‘tap’ system. In this approach, the outer circle can tap the inner fishbowl participants on the shoulder to switch roles or ask a question at any time. 
 

Related activities

Keep me in the loop!

Are you interested in bringing critical thinking into your classroom?
Join our email list to get regular updates on new materials and resources.

You're signing up to receive emails from FlickThink.